Cape Sable, Nova Scotia's History with Tropical Systems

(br) = Brush (ts) = Tropical Storm (bd) = Back Door, meaning coming from over land from opposite coast. Not all names are noted. Also, storms before 1950 were not named. Not every stat on every storm description is given. (since 1871) Unless "extreme", extratropical systems will not be noted. "?" indicates unknown at landfall.

Cape Sable most likely to be hit by a hurricane between September 14th and September 20th

Years affected

1871-2br
1872xtropst
1875ts
1877ts
1877xtropst
1879ts
1879xtrophbr
1880br
1882ts
1886br
1887xtropstbr
1888xtropst
1888xtroph
1889ts
1891extratroph
1891xtropstbr
1893m
1900xtropst
1904xtroph
1918xtropst
1924xtroph
1927extratroph
1933xtropst
1933br
1936extratroph
1936br
1937tsbr
1937ts
1940tsbr
1940
1944xtropst
1946ropstbr
1950
1953-2br
1959xtropstbr
1960tsbr
1961xtropst
1962
1963extratroph
1964xtropstbr
1969brm
1975
1981subts
1982subtsbr
1988tsbr
1995xtropst
1996xtropst
1996br
1996xtropst
2001ts
2005tsbr
2006ts
2007extratroph
2008
2009br
2010ts
2014xtropst
2019xtrophbr
2020xtroph
2023xts
2025br not in stats

62 times in 153 years (as of end of 2024)

Names from list above (B storms most likely to impact the area)

Able
Barbara
Carol
Cindy
Cleo
Frances
Daisy
Ginny
Gladys
Gerda
Blanche
Alberto
Allison
Josephine
Hortense
Bertha
Karen
Ophelia
Beryl
Noel
Kyle
Bill
Earl
Arthur
Dorian
Teddy
Lee
Erin

Tropical Storm to Hurricane ratio

TS = 34, 54.84%
H = 28, 45.16%

only 2.08% of all tropical systems affecting Cape Sable are major hurricanes this includes brushes

Longest gap between storms

13 years 1904-1918

How often this area gets affected?

Brushed or hit every 2.47 years

Average years between direct hurricane hits. (hurricane force winds for at least a few hours)

Once every 10.2 years. (15 hits)

Average years between major hurricane hits.

Not enough data to calculate (1 hit)

Average MPH of hurricane hits. (based on sustained winds from advisories, not gusts)

85 mph

Statistically when this area should be affected next

Brushed in 2025

This is just a statistical average & does not mean the area will be affected by that year.

Last affected by

2025 Aug 22nd hurricane Erin Brushed well to the south by 200 miles with 90mph winds.

This area's hurricane history

1888 November 28th 90 mph while moving northeast center passes just north & west.
1891 October 15th 90 mph moving northeast
1893 August 22nd 115 mph moving northeast
1904 September 15th, extratropical hurricane hits with 85 mph winds from the southwest
1924 August 27th, extratropical hurricane hits with 75 mph winds while moving northeast
1927 August 25th a fast moving Extratropical ex-hurricane hits with 105 mph winds
1936 an extratropical ex-hurricane hits with 80 mph winds on September 25th
1940 September 17th 75 mph moving north-northeast.
1950 Hurricane Able August 21st just south moving east-northeast with 75 mph winds (HURDAT).
1962 hurricane daisy hits with 75 mph winds on October 8th. NHC Wallet
1963 ExtraTropical Storm Ginny hits with 105 mph winds on October 29th.Racing north-northeast. NHC Wallet
1975 July 28th, Hurricane Blanche, 80 mph from the south-southwest. NHC Wallet
2007 Extratropical storm Noel hits with 75 mph winds on November 4th. Coastal floods and significant wave action washed out sections of coastal roads in Nova Scotia and many roads were littered with large rocks and boulders that washed ashore during the storm. Several waterfront buildings also suffered damage and some docks were destroyed. Damage shot #1 | Damage shot #2 | Wave action | Damage shot #4
2008 September 28th, Hurricane Kyle passes just west with 75 mph winds while becoming extratropical.Minimal damage reported with minimal surge, approximately 40,000 without power at height of landfall. NHC report
2020 September 22nd Xtrop Hurricane Teddy passes 87 miles to east with 80 mph winds. Hit map

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Stat sources:

Text Sources:

"Divine Wind" by Kerry Emanuel
"Florida Hurricanes and Tropical Storms" by John M. Williams and Iver W. Duedall
"Florida's Hurricane History" by Jay Barnes
"Hurricane Almanac" by Bryan Norcross
HurricaneCity.com calculations by Jim Williams
"Hurricanes and the Middle Atlantic States" by Rick Schwartz
"Hurricane Watch" by Dr. Bob Sheets and Jack Williams
"Inside the Hurricane" by Pete Davies
"Isaac's Storm" by Erik Larson
"Killer 'Cane" by Robert Mykle
"Lunatic Wind" by William Price Fox
Miami Herald newspaper (microfilm)
"Path of Destruction" by John McQuaid and Mark Schleifstein
Sun Sentinel newspaper (microfilm)
"The Major Hurricanes To Affect The Bahamas" by Wayne Neely
"The Ship and the Storm" by Jim Carrier
Plus many more......