Fort Walton Beach, Florida'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)

Fort Walton beach most likely to be hit by a hurricane between August 31st and September 6th

Years within or near core

1875ts
1877
1877brm
1879ts
1880ts
1882m
1885tsbr
1885-2ts
1887
1887tsbr
1889ts
1894tsbr
1894m
1896
1898bdts
1901ts
1902ts
1903br
1904ts
1907tsbr
1911
1914tsbd
1916m
1917
1919tsbr
1924br
1926m
1932br
1936
1939ts
1948ts
1950br
1953
1956
1957ts
1959ts
1964xtropstbd
1965ts
1975m
1979brm
1985tsbr
1985m
1985br
1994ts
1995
1995m
1998
2000ts
2001ts
2004m
2005ts
2005m
2009ts
2018bts
2018mbr
2020-2br
2021tsbr

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

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

Baker
Florence
Flossy
Irene
Debbie
Eloise
Frederic
Elena
Kate
Alberto
Beryl
Erin
Opal
Earl
Helene
Barry
Ivan
Arlene
Dennis
Claudette
Alberto
Michael
Sally
Zeta
Claudette

Tropical Storm to Hurricane ratio

TS = 30, 50.85%
H = 29, 49.15%

only 21.43% of all tropical systems affecting Fort Walton beach are major hurricanes this includes brushes

Longest gap between storms

9 years 1965-1975

How often this area gets affected?

Brushed or hit every 2.59 years

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

Once every 8.05 years. (19 hits) State stats

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)

105 mph

Statistically when this area should be affected next

1 year overdue

Last affected by

2021 June 19th Tropical Storm Claudette passes to north-northwest by 131 miles with 40 mph winds while weakening to a depression.

This area's hurricane history

1877 September 19th 80 mph from the west-southwest
1882 September 9th 125 mph from the southwest passes directly over. Hit map
1887 85 mph from the south-southwest, heavy flooding in Walton County, July 27th
1894 October 8th, 120 mph from the west-southwest.
1896 July 7th hurricane causes heavy damage here 90 mph from the south.
1911 August 11th 80 mph from the southeast just west.
1916 October 18th 115 mph from the south-southwest.
1917 September 28th, 95 mph gusts to 135 mph gusts pressure 28.29 7.5ft storm surge heavy damage from the southwest.
1926 September 20th 125 mph to the south from the east-southeast.
1936 July 31st, pressure 28.47 inHg, 90 mph winds, 4 killed, gusts to 125 mph, 6 foot storm surge from the south-southeast.
1953 September 26 Hurricane Florence just east with 85 mph winds 5 ft storm surge & minor damage here from the south.
1956 September 24th Flossy 100 mph (HURDAT) 8 killed while 25 miles to south from the west-southwest
1975 Hurricane Eloise September 23rd hits with 130 mph winds with some gusts over 150 mph 14 ft storm surge heavy damage from the south-southwest. NWS report
1985 September 2nd Hurricane Elena passes south with 120 mph while moving west-northwest
1995 August 3rd, Erin hits with 80 mph winds, some roof damage, pressure 28.76 inHg, from the east-southeast
1995 Opal October 4th, same year hits with 125 mph winds, pressure 27.89 inHg, 13 foot storm surge. Highway 98 washed out. Lots of roof damage. 2 billion damage. Was a category 5 just before landfall, major damage, spawned a dozen tornadoes. Michael Laca in Ft Walton | Newspaper headline | Newspaper headline 2 | Newspaper headline 3 | Newspaper article | Damage photos | Newspaper damage shot | Average model error | More on Hurricane Opal here | Surge animation | FEMA declaration map
1998 September 3rd, Hurricane Earl hits 30 miles east with 80 mph winds, minor damage here due to winds being on east side from the west-southwest.
2004, September 16th, Hurricane Ivan passes approximately 70 miles to the west with 130 mph winds moving north-northeast over Eastern Alabama with Ivan having a wind field approximately 85 miles out.Heavy beach damage. Eglin AFB 88 mph gusts. Mary Esther 117 mph gust. Models 6 days before hitting | Damage shot | USGS surge info | Radar animation (Brian McNoldy, Univ. of Miami, Rosenstiel School)
2005 July 10th Hurricane Dennis hits with 120 mph winds near Navarre. North of U.S. Highway 98, structures survived with nary a scratch. South of the major highway, the damage to beaches and buildings, particularly in Holiday Isle and Crystal Beach, was significant. Gulf Shore Drive has been compromised in four to six places.Water up to 4 feet in places. Dennis video | Surge animation | USGS surge info | Radar animation (Brian McNoldy, Univ. of Miami, Rosenstiel School)

Please keep these stats free. Donate to HurricaneCity.

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......