Dominica'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)

Years within or near core

1872ts
1875br
1878ts
1879tsbr
1880tsbr
1883m
1888ts
1889br
1889-2ts
1891m
1893
1894m
1894br
1896
1896tsbr
1898br
1899m
1901ts
1903br
1908ts
1916ts
1916
1917ts
1926ts
1928m
1930
1931tsbr
1934ts
1945ts
1950br
1951ts
1956
1958ts
1959tsbr
1961tsbr
1963br
1963tsbr
1964m
1966m
1970tsbr
1979m
1981ts
1988tsbr
1989brm
1993ts
1995ts
1995
1996tsbr
2009tsbr
2011ts
2012tsbr
2013tsbr
2014ts
2015tsbr
2016tsbr
2017m
2018ts
2018tsbr
2021br
2022ts
2023br

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

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

Baker
Charlie
Betsy
Ella
Edith
Frances
Edith
Helena
Cleo
Inez
Dorothy
David
Gert
Gilbert
Hugo
Cindy
Iris
Marilyn
Hortense
Erika
Emily
Isaac
Chantal
Bertha
Erika
Matthew
Maria
Isaac
Kirk
Elsa
Fiona
Tammy

Tropical Storm to Hurricane ratio

TS = 37, 59.68%
H = 25, 40.32%

Longest gap between storms

10 years 1935-1944

How often this area gets affected?

Brushed or hit every 2.47 years

Average years between direct hurricane hits.

Once every 10.2 years. (15 hits)

Average years between major hurricane hits.

Once every 17 years. (9 hits)

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

114 mph

Statistically when this area should be affected next

Before the end of 2026

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

Last affected by

2023 October 21st Hurricane Tammy brushes east by 47 miles with 80 mph winds while moving north-northwest.

This area's hurricane history

1883 September 4th 125 mph winds from the east-southeast just south. Hit map
1891 August 18th 125 mph from the southeast. Hit map
1893 August 15th 80 mph from the southeast
1894 September 20th 115 mph from the east-southeast. Hit map
1896 August 30th 80 mph from the southeast
1899 August 7th 145 mph winds just north while moving west-northwest
1916 August 28th a strengthening tropical storm becomes a hurricane 85 mph from the east.The hurricane advanced over the island with but little warning; a number of lives were lost and much property was destroyed on the northern and eastern sides It was evidently of small diameter and great intensity while passing over Dominica.
1928 September 12th 125 mph winds just north from the east-southeast
1930 September 1st, 90 mph winds hit the area from the east.
1956 August 11th Hurricane Betsy, 95 mph from the east-southeast
1964 August 22nd, Hurricane Cleo passes just north from the east-southeast with 130 mph winds. NHC Wallet
1966 September 27th Hurricane Inez hits from the east with 125 mph winds just north. NHC Wallet
1979 August 30th, Hurricane David hits, 145 mph, 56 killed, 5000 injured and 75% left homeless. Damage photo | Mountains stripped | Homes destroyed | David page
1995 September 15th Hurricane Marilyn hits from the southeast with 80 mph winds area reports sustained winds of 72 mph for 10 minutes, some roofs blown off pressure 29.06 inHg. Disaster survey report
2017 September 18th Hurricane Maria hits direct with 165 mph winds 922mb, 22.8 inches of rain causing very heavy damage. Maria caused 31 direct deaths in Dominica with 34 missing. VIA NHC report Maria caused catastrophic damage in Dominica, with the majority of structures seriously damaged or destroyed, and most trees and vegetation were downed and/or defoliated. According to media reports, the estimated damage total in Dominica is at least $1.31 billion. The agricultural sector was essentially eliminated. The once-lush tropical island was effectively reduced to an immense field of debris. In a Facebook post just after the hurricane hit, Dominica�s Prime Minister,Roosevelt Skerrit, described the damage as �mind-boggling�. The roofs of the majority of buildings and homes were either damaged or blown off. There was extensive damage to roads. Power, phone, and internet service was cut off, leaving the country almost incommunicado with the outside world. Canefield Airport (TDCF) gust to 133 mph Douglas�Charles Airport sustained 150 mph. Probabilistic tracks | Main models | MJO as Maria was hitting | Before & after photos | Roof damage | Raseau damage | Our coverage | Radar animation (Brian McNoldy, Univ. of Miami, Rosenstiel School). | NHC report

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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......