Homestead, 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)

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

Years within or near core

1876tsbr
1876br
1878ts
1878
1888m
1888ts
1889ts
1891ts
1891
1892bdts
1895bdts
1895bdtsbr
1899ts
1903br
1904
1906
1906m
1909tsbr
1909
1916-3ts
1924ts
1926-2m
1926tsbr
1929
1932ts
1933m
1935m
1935
1935brm
1936-2ts
1941m
1945m
1947m
1947bd
1948-2
1949brm
1950
1952bdts
1953bdts
1956ts (HURDAT)
1960m
1964
1964m
1965m
1966
1976ts
1981ts
1987br
1992m
1998br
1998bdts
1999ts
1999
2005
2005bd
2006ts
2010ts
2017brm
2018ts
2020tsbr
2022mbdbr
2024-2bdbr

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

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

Donna
Cleo
Isbell
Betsy
Inez
Dottie
Dennis
Floyd
Andrew
Georges
Mitch
Harvey
Irene
Katrina
Wilma
Ernesto
Bonnie
Irma
Gordon
Eta
Ian
Helene
Milton

Tropical Storm to Hurricane ratio

TS = 29, 42.65%
H = 39, 57.35%

26.56% of all tropical systems affecting Homestead are major hurricanes this includes brushes

Longest gap between storms

9years 1878-1888 & 1966-1976

How often this area gets affected?

Homestead Brushed or hit every 2.25 years

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

Once every 5.28 years. (29 hits) State stats

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

Once every 11.77 years. (13 hits)

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

109 mph

Statistically when this area should be affected next

Before the end of 2027

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

Last affected by

2024 October 9th Hurricane Milton passes well to the northwest by 152 miles with 105 mph winds while moving east-northeast from the Gulf.

This area's hurricane history

1878 October 21st a category 1 80 mph from the southwest moves by just east
1888 August 16th a category 3 hits from the east-southeast with 125 mph winds just north by 27miles. Hit map
1891 a category 1 80 mph hits on August 24th from the east-southeast
1904 October 17th a category 1 80 mph weakens to T-Storm from the south
1906 June 17th the first of 2 hurricanes to hit from the south this year comes in with 80 mph winds
1906 October 18th a 120 mph hurricane hits from the south-southwest
1909 October 11th a hurricane comes in from the southwest with 95 mph winds
1926 September 18th a 130 mph cane comes in from the east-southeast just north of here. Newspaper headline
1926 October 21st 115 mph, 31 miles to southeast while moving northeast away
1929 September 29th a cane comes in from the east with 95 mph winds after earlier being major. Sustained wind speeds between 90 and 100 mph were recorded in Everglades City, 3 killed in the area.
1933 October 5th 125 mph from the southwest passing just southeast of here.
1935 September 3rd labor day hurricane hits approximately 45 miles to the south with 150 mph winds
1935 November 4th 75 mph from the east-northeast
1941 October 6th a category 3 120 mph hits from the east.
1945 September 15th 130 mph (HURDAT) gusts to 140 mph while moving northwest pressure 28.09, some gusts could have been up to 195 mph due to damage to steel structures storm surge 14 ft at cutler ridge 4 dead in florida, heavy crop damage, Homestead AFB pressure 28.08 Newpaper Headline
1947 September 17th a category 4 150 mph comes from the east in southern Palm Beach County but this large powerfull hurricanes is a hit on Florida City passing about 50 miles to the north.
1947 October 12th 80 mph winds (HURDAT2)from the southwest
1948 September 21st 110 mph from the south-southwest passes just west
1948 October 5th, 90 mph from the southwest pressure 28.92 5 foot storm surge 9 inches of rain
1950 October 18th Hurricane King hits from the south-southeast with 105 mph winds
1960 September 10th, 130 mph Hurricane donna hits south in the keys. Gordon Dunn talks about forecasting Donna | NHC Wallet
1964 August 27th Hurricane Cleo passes just east with 105 mph winds from the south. NHC Wallet
1964 October 14th Hurricane Isbell hits just west from the southwest with 125 mph winds. NHC Wallet
1965 September 8th Hurricane Betsy hits with 125 mph winds gusts to 170 causes heavy damage here. Betsy page | Betsy as it happened video | Miami Herald Newspaper article (Betsy won't turn back)
1966 October 4th Hurricane Inez passes by just south from the east-northeast with 100 mph winds. NHC Wallet
1992 Hurricane Andrew area had total devastation ground zero August 24 165 mph gusts to 180 mph 90% mobile homes destroyed 16 ft storm surge at coast. Still some question as to wind speeds over land but over water winds were reported at 165 mph, 922 mb. | Weather map from the 21st | Satelite image | Newspaper headline | Newspaper article | #2 | Andrew radar animation (Brian McNoldy, Univ. of Miami, Rosenstiel School) | Andrew page | Average model error | More on Hurricane Andrew here | Notes from best track change committee upgrading Andrew to cat 5 | Dr Ted Fujita wind map | Dr Ted Fujita wind map explanation | Hurricane Andrew "the movie" | NHC 36 hrs before landfall discussion | NHC Wallet
1999 October 15th hurricane irene passes approximately 40 miles to the west area reports gusts to 85 mph very heavy flooding many trees down.Irene moving north-northeast at 12 mph pressure 29.09. NHC Report | News coverage
2005, August 25th Hurricane Katrina hits with 75 mph while moving west-southwest. Many trees down & up to 15 inches of rain in areas of south dade.| Radar animation (Brian McNoldy, Univ. of Miami, Rosenstiel School)
2005 Hurricane Wilma passes just north October 24th while moving northeast with 110 mph winds. | 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......