Key Largo, 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)

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

Years near or within core winds

1876tsbr
1876br
1878ts
1878
1885tsbr
1888m
1888ts
1889ts
1891
1891tsbr
1895ts
1897tsbr
1898ts
1899ts
1904
1906
1906m
1909m
1916ts
1916
1919m
1924tsbdbr
1926m
1926
1928tsbr
1929
1932ts
1933m
1935-2m
1935br
1936ts
1941m
1945m
1947brm
1947
1948-2m
1950m
1952ts
1953tsbr
1956ts (HURDAT)
1960m
1964
1964brm
1965m
1966
(1981ts Dennis not counted small 40 mile wind field to west)1987ts
1991ts
1992m
1998br
1998tsbd
1999
2005br
2005
2006ts
2012tsbr
2017m
2018ts
2020ts
2022mbdbr
2024br

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

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

King
Donna
Cleo
Isbell
Betsy
Inez
Greta
Floyd
Andrew
Georges
Mitch
Harvey
Irene
Katrina
Wilma
Ernesto
Isaac
Irma
Gordon
Eta
Ian
Helene

Tropical Storm to Hurricane ratio

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

33.33% of all tropical systems affecting Key Largo are major hurricanes this includes brushes

Longest gap between storms

20 years 1966-1987

How often this area gets affected?

Key Largo Brushed or hit every 2.47 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 major hurricane hits.

Once every 9 years. (17 hits)

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

113 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 September 26th Hurricane Helene passes well to the west-northwest with 110 mph winds while moving north-northeast.

This area's hurricane history

1878 October 21st a category 1 hits with 80 mph winds from the south-southwest
1888 August 16th, 125 mph to the north from the east-southeast. Hit map
1891 August 24th, 80 mph just north from the east-southeast
1904 October 17th, 80 mph from the south
1906 June 17th, 85 mph from the southwest
1906 October 18th, 120 mph from the south-southwest pressure 28.55 hundreds killed while working on railroad. A ship with 150 men aboard washed into the Atlantic of which 83 survived. Another houseboat washed into the bay and back to shore with no causalities. The St. Lucie sank off Elliott Key killing 25. On Lower Matecumbe Key, two houseboats with 45 men were carried to sea.
1909 a Hurricane passed over area from the west-southwest October 11th with 115 mph winds.
1916 November 15th, 75 mph from the west-southwest
1919 September 9th, 125 mph well south from the east-southeast
1926 September 18th, 130 mph just north from the east-southeast
1926 October 20th, 110 mph from the southwest just east
1929 September 28th, 105 mph from the east-southeast, pressure 28.00 inHg, gusts to 150 mph, heavy damage. Reportedly, storm surges were 6 to 9 feet at Garden Cove. Railroad service was out for a week. Sections of highway were washed out as far as Big Pine Key. The Coast Guard had to provide mail service for Key West.
1933 October 5th a category 4 with 130 mph winds passes just southeast of here while moving east-northeast.
1935 September 2nd 185 mph from the southeast causing a storm surge of 10ft with 6 ft breakers on top. In Key Largo gusts to 230 mph with 150 mph to 160 mph sustained winds passed approximately 20 miles to the south of here. Water rose at a rate of 1 ft every 10 min. 1935 newspaper headline | 1935 newspaper headline | 1935 newspaper headline | Monument | Monument close | Video aftermath
1935 September 28th, 115 mph just east while moving northeast away from the keys.
1941 October 6th a category 3 from the east-southeast with 120 mph winds just north
1945 September 16th a major hurricane with 130 mph winds from the east-southeast causes heavy damage in this area with moving northwest into south Florida passing just north of Key Largo. Newpaper Headline
1947 October 12th, 80 mph (HURDAT2) to the west while moving northeast.
1948 September 21st, 120 mph from the south-southwest passes just west
1948 a category 3 120 mph hits from the s.w on October 5th.
1950 October 17th, 125 mph (HURDAT) Hurricane King from the south-southeast.
1960 Hurricane Donna September 9th pressure 27.55 heavy damage just south with 140 mph from the southeast, heavy damage storm surge6 ft here, winds measured above 120 mph for 45 minutes in tavenier to south with 100 mph winds for 7 hrs. More here | Gordon Dunn talks about forecasting Donna | NHC Wallet
1964 August 27th, 105 mph, Hurricane Cleo from the south. NHC Wallet
1965 Betsy hits September 8th with 125 mph winds from the east gusts to 165 mph pressure 28.12 heavy damage occured. Betsy had a large of of approximately 40 miles in diameter. Betsy page | Miami Herald Newspaper article (Betsy won't turn back)
1966 October 4th Hurricane Inez hits with 100 mph winds from the east, pressure 29.03 sustained winds here at 98 mph. NHC Wallet
1992, August 24th, andrew passes just north of here with 160 mph winds from the east area gets gusts over 100 mph some roof damage.| Satelite image | Andrew page | More on Hurricane Andrew here | Dr Ted Fujita wind map | Dr Ted Fujita wind map explanation
1999 October 15th Hurricane Irene just west while moving north-northeast with 85 mph winds causes some flooding & tree damage pressure 29.09. NHC Report
2005 October 24th, Hurricane Wilma passes 73 miles to the north while moving northeast with 110 mph winds carrying a very large wind field expanding to Key Largo while passing. Radar animation
2017 September 10th Hurricane Irma passes just west by 57 miles while moving north with 130 mph winds causing heavy damage. Key Largo reports 4.11 ft inundation, estimates from FEMA indicate that 25% of buildings were destroyed, 65% were significantly damaged, and 90% of houses sustained some damage. Approximately 75% of the residents in the Keys evacuated before Irma.. Power outage photos before & after | Best performing models 5 days before hit | EURO model 3 days out | Long range GEFS many days out | UKMET model 2 days out | Relief concert 5 former presidents attend | Best track data | USGS surge info | NWS Key West map info | Radar animation (Brian McNoldy, Univ. of Miami, Rosenstiel School) | Our live coverage | Aftermath video tour.

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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......