Cat Island, Bahamas' 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)

Cat Island most likely to be hit by a hurricane between September 7th and September 13th

Years within or near core

1871
1877tsbr
1877ts
1879
1880tsbr
1883br
1884
1887ts
1887tsbr
1888
1889tsbr
1891
1893-2m
1899brm
1901tsbr
1903br
1906m
1908m
1916ts
1919
1923
1926-2m
1928tsbr
1928m
1929brm
1931ts
1932tsbr
1932-2m
1933
1933m
1935ts
1936ts
1937tsbr
1938tsbr
1939ts
1941
1942ts
1942tsbr
1944tsbr
1945brm
1945br
1946tsbr
1949
1952m
1954-2br
1956
1956ts
1960ts
1960mbr
1973ts
1981tsbr
1995
1996
1996br
1999m
2001
2004m
2005tsbr
2008tsbr
2011m
2012
2015m
2015ts
2016brm
2017brm
2020br

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

Names from list above (F and G storms most likely to impact the area)

Fox
Edna
Gilda
Hazel
Betsy
Greta
Donna
Gilda
Gert
Fran
Bertha
Lili
Floyd
Michelle
Frances
Rita
Hanna
Irene
Sandy
Joaquin
Kate
Matthew
Irma
Isaias

Tropical Storm to Hurricane ratio

TS = 27, 39.13%
H = 42, 60.87%

30% of all tropical systems affecting Cat Island are major hurricanes this includes brushes

Longest gap between storms

13 years 1981-1995

How often this area gets affected?

Brushed or hit every 2.19 years

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

Once every 5.1 years. (30 hits)

Average years between major hurricane hits.

Once every 10.2 years. (15 hits)

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

113 mph

Statistically when this area should be affected next

2 years overdue

Last affected by

2020 July 31st Hurricane Isaias passes well south while moving northwest with 80 mph winds.

This area's hurricane history

1871 August 23rd 105 mph from the east-southeast
1879 August 16th, 90 mph just north from the southeast
1884 October 12th, 85 mph from the south just east
1888 August 15th, 80 mph from the east-southeast
1891 August 23rd, 95 mph from the east-southeast just south
1893 August 19th, 120 mph just north from the southeast. Hit map
1893 August 26th 120 mph from the east-southeast just north. Hit map
1906 September 6th, 130 mph to the northeast from the east-southeast
1908 September 13th, 120 mph to the west from the south-southeast. Book reference page 370
1919 September 7th 110 mph from the east-southeast
1923 September 27th 75 mph from the south-southeast
1926 July 25th, 140 mph just south from the east-southeast
1926 September 17th, 145 mph just south from the east-southeast
1928 September 16th a hurricane with 155 mph winds from the east-southeast causes major damage to many roads bridges & homes. Wayne Neely book on 1928 hurricane
1932 September 5th a Major Hurricane hits with 150 mph winds from the east-southeast, the first of 2 majors the same year.
1932 November 10th, The major Hurricane that killed thousands in Cuba hits the southern part of the island with 120 mph winds while moving very quickly northeast.
1933 July 28th 90 mph from the southeast
1933 September 2nd, 140 mph while moving west-northwest
1941 October 5th 105 mph from the east
1949 August 25th 105 mph from the east-southeast
1952 October 26th, 115 mph from the west Hurricane Fox
1956 August 14th Hurricane Betsy passes just north from the southeast with 110 mph winds.
1995 August 1st, Hurricane Erin hits with 75 mph winds from the southeast minor damage. NHC report
1996 July 10th, Hurricane Bertha passes 50 miles to the northeast coming from the southeast with 105 mph winds area got gusts to 90 mph. NHC report
1999 September 14th Hurricane Floyd hits 30 miles to north from the east-southeast with 155 mph winds causing very heavy damage here. Recon data suggest 100 mph winds at landfall on the island. Two medical centers lost roofs, 2 and 1/2 miles of roadway washed away. NHC report
2001 November 5th Hurricane Michelle passes to the north from the west-southwest with 80 mph winds. Newspaper article | Ham radio news reports | NHC report
2004, September 3rd Hurricane Frances hits with 120 mph winds from the east-southeast. Eye passed over island & caused very heavy damage. 115 mph on the islands north end. Radar image
2011 August 25th, Hurricane Irene passes just south while moving west-northwest with 115 mph winds causing heavy damage. Ham radio reports of very heavy damage.Flooding has been reported in north Cat Island where Irene has caused serious damage in Arthur's Town and Dumfries. The roof was blown off the Arthur's Town police station when officers tried to leave for another shelter during the storm. Police vehicles were also flooded. The roof of St Andrew's Church in Arthur's Town, as high winds ripped through the settlement.Arthur town reported winds of 115 mph in gusts. Hurricane Warning Show | Irene Model history | Aftermath video
2012 October 25th, Hurricane Sandy hits directly from the south while moving north-northwest with 105 mph winds. Sandy model history
2015 October 2nd Hurricane Joaquin passes just east of the island while moving northeast with 125 mph winds. Southeast part of the island under hurricane force wind field for several hours qualifies as a hit rather than a brush. NHC final report | Wind bar graph | Satellite shot

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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......