Fernandina Beach, Florida's History with Tropical Systems

Current Weather | Fernandina Beach Major Hurricanes Video

(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)

Fernandina Beach most likely to be hit by a hurricane between September 14th and September 20th

Years within or near core

1871-2bdts
1873ts
1874bdts
1877bdts
1877bdtsbr
1878bd
1878bdts
1880bdts
1880bdtsbr
1881br
1882bdts
1884tsbr
1885
1885-3bdts
1886bdtsbr
1886tsbd
1888bd
1889bdts
1893bdts
1893-2m
1894
1894bdbr
1896bdm
1898m
1899bdtsbr
1900bdts
1906ts
1907bdts
1910bdts
1912ts
1914ts
1915ts
1916bdts
1926tsbr
1928bd
1932bdts
1934tsbr
1936tsbr
1938tsbd
1944bdts
1945bdts
1947ts
1949bdtsbr
1950bdbr
1952br
1953tsbd
1959brm
1960bdts
1960bdbr
1964tsbd
1964
1966bdts
1968ts
1968bdbr
1972subts
1976subts
1979
1984tsbr
1984tsbd
1988tsbr
2000tsbd
2005ts
2008tsbr
2012ts
2013bdts
2016-2-bdts
2016bdtsbr
2016br
2017bdts
2019br
2020bdts
2022-2br
2023bdbr
2024bdts
2024-2bdbr

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

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

Able
Gracie
Donna
Brenda
Cleo
Dora
Alma
Abby
Gladys
Agnes
David
Diana
Isadore
Chris
Gordon
Tammy
Fay
Beryl
Andrea
Colin
Hermine
Julia
Matthew
Irma
Dorian
Eta
Ian
Nicole
Idalia
Debby
Helene
Milton

Tropical Storm to Hurricane ratio

TS = 57, 69.51%
H = 25, 30.49%

only 5.63% of all tropical systems affecting Fernandina Beach are major hurricanes this includes brushes

Longest gap between storms

11 years 1989-1999

How often this area gets affected?

Brushed or hit every 1.87 years

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

Once every 12.75 years. (12 hits) State stats

Average years between direct major hurricane hits. (major hurricane in advisory upon passage)

Once every 38.25 years. (4 hits)

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

101 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

2024 October 10th Hurricane Milton brushes well to the south by 139 miles at closest approach with 85 mph winds while moving offshore.

This area's hurricane history

1874 September 28th 75 mph from the southwest
1878 September 11th, category 1 90 mph just east while moving north from the south-southwest.
1885 August 24th, category 2, 105 mph just east while moving north
1888 October 11th back door category 1 80 mph from the southwest
1893 August 27th 115 mph from the south-southeast just east. Hit map
1893 October 13th 120 mph from the south just east. Hit map
1894 September 26th 80 mph from the south-southwest
1896 September 29th 125 mph from the south-southwest just west. Hit map
1898 October 2nd 130 mph, pressure 28.95 inHg, 4 foot storm surge $500,000 damage, Fort Clinch flooded up to 8 ft winds of 90 to 100 mph reported here as the Hurricane hit near Brunswick, Georgia as a cat 4. Hurricane was moving west-northwest @ 15 mph, Fernandina Beach inundated during this event. Hit map
1928 September 17th a category 1 85 mph from the south
1964 September 10th, Dora hits with 110 mph just south from the East. Hit map | Video Dora as it happened | NHC Wallet
1979 September 4th, Hurricane David passes 30 miles to the east with 95 mph winds while moving north. NHC Wallet

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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......