Key west,Florida's history with tropical systems
Current weather

(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 near or within core winds
1871ts,1876,1878tsbr,1878br,1886br,1891ts,1892ts,1894,1895tsbr,1897ts,1900ts,1906,1906m,1909m,1910m,1916xtr,1919m,1924brm,1926brm,1928ts,1929br,1933,1933brm,1934ts,1935m,
1935brm,1941ts,1944m,1945ts,1946br,1947ts,1947,1948-2m,1950,1952ts,1960m,1964m,1965m,1966,1966m,(1981ts Dennis not in stats 26 miles to east all winds on east side),1987,
1990ts,1994ts,1998,1999,2005-3br,2005m,2008ts,2012ts,2017m,2018br,2020tsbr,2021tsbr,2022mbr
57 times 152 yrs end of 2023






Names from list above
Easy,Donna,Isbell,Betsy,Alma,Inez,Dennis,Alberto,Floyd,Marco,Gordon,Georges,Irene,Dennis,Katrina,Rita,Wilma,Fay,Isaac,Irma,Michael,Eta,Elsa,Ian,

Tropical Storm to Hurricane ratio
TS=20, 35.09% H=37, 64.91%

Longest gap between storms
20 years 1966-1987

How often Key West gets affected?
brushed or hit every 2.67 years

Average years between direct hurricane hits in Key west.(hurricane force winds for at least a few hours)
(25h)once every 6.08 years state stats

Average years between major hurricane hits in Key west.(15)
every 10.13 years

Average MPH of hurricane hits. (based on advisories sustained winds, not gusts)
111mph

Statistically when Key West should be affected next
before the end of 2025

Last affected by
2022 Sept 27th Hurricane Ian brushes 63 miles to the west at closest approach with 120mph winds while moving north.

Key west hurricane past
1876, October 19 Eye passed over Key West 105mph from the south. Barometer 28.73. Calm from 6pm to 8:15pm. Maximum wind 88mph at 8:45pm.
1894 sept 25th,85mph from the south gusts to 105mph,press 29.10 2 ships capsized
1906 June 16th,80mph from the S.W passes just east
1906 Oct 18th,120mph from the SSW ,over 150 killed in the keys
1909 Oct 11th,115mph from the WSW bar 28.50 13 inches rain before eye hit & only 1 inch afterwards 400 buildings destroyed,2 killed,400 buildings either collapsed or were swept away. Damages to the railroad were not near as great as in 1906
1910 Oct 17th 125mph winds from the SSW a 15ft storm surge reported & press 28.47, 7 ft of standing water in key west
1919 sept 10th,130mph from the ESE bar 927mb in dry tortugas killed 400+ in marine casualties winds over gale force for 38 hrs,10 ships lost . Highest sustained winds were estimated at 110 mph., the steamer Valbanera was found sunken between Key West and the Dry Tortugas with 488 aboard. All perished. Hurricane Grotto shrine
1933 Sept 1st, 120mph to the south from the ESE(hurdat2)
1933 Oct 5th, 110mph just SE from the SW(hurdat2)
1935,Sept 3rd, 130mph just north from the S.E labor day hurricane lowest bar pressure ever before gilbert in 1988,lower matecumbe key press 26.35,key west pressure 29.41 middle keys 150mph to 200mph passes well north of Key west as a small system but hurricane force wind field did reach Key west.
1944 oct 18th just west press 28.02 ,120mph from the SSW very slow moving,key west press 29.14 60mph
1947 oct 11th ,85mph(hurdat) from the S.W reported gusts to 150mph just west at dry tortugas .
1948 sept 21st,125mph(hurdat) from the S.W bar 28.45 , a 6 ft storm surge at low tide,several centers reported on hurricane 3 killed.Winds recorded at 122 mph at Boca Chica airport. Gusts were said to have reached 160 mph.
1948 oct 5th,125mph from the S.W , moving fast,ket west pressure 29.17
1950 Sept 3rd,85mph Hurricane Easy passes just west from the south
1960 Sept 10th,140mph just north from the S.E Hurricane Donna. NHC Wallet
1964 Oct 14th Hurricane Isbell passes approx 30 miles north of here with 125mph winds from the SW. NHC Wallet
1965,Sept 8th,120mph Hurricane Betsy Key West got gusts to 81mph even though Betsy was well to the north by 40 miles from the east. NHC Wallet
1966 June 8th,125mph Hurricane Alma passes just west from the south.
1966 hurricane Inez oct 4th,85mph from the East gusts to 100mph while moving into the gulf,Key west in the eye for approx 3 hrs. NHC Wallet
1987 hurricane floyd oct 12th, 80mph from the WSW bar 29.32 gust of 75 to 94mph minor damage. NHC Wallet
1998 Sept 25th hurricane Georges hits direct with 105mph winds from the ESE houseboat row destroyed key west moderate damage heavier further av model error | USGS surge info
1999 oct 15th hurricane Irene hits with 75mph from the SSW winds causing overall minor damage with some flooding while moving slowly NNE press 29.14 Newspaper article
2005,Oct 24th, Hurricane Wilma passes approx 65 miles north of keywest with 120mph winds while moving NE as a very large hurricane .Intense winds remained approx 15 miles north of lower keys but a surge ranging from 50 to 8 ft inundated many homes in the lower keys. Official final report from NHC 72mph sustained with gusts to 82mph.| Wilma satellite picture max intensity western Caribbean
2017 Sept 10th Hurricane Irma passes just east by 16 miles with 130mph winds while moving north. Key West suffers moderate damage but the worst wind & surge was just north in the island chain.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 | Radar animation (Brian McNoldy) | NWS Key West map info | Our live coverage | Aftermath video tour

Early Alert inc Hurricane information for the private sector


Stat sources: NHC Track maps/hurdat2/cyclone reports Hurricane research division
Text Sources:(alp)....Divine Wind Kerry Emanuel.....Florida Hurricanes & Tropical Storms John M. Williams & Iver W.Duedall.....Florida's Hurricane History Jay Barnes.....Hurricane Almanac Bryan Norcross.....hurricanecity.com (calculations) Jim Williams.....Hurricanes and the Middle Atlantic States Rick Schwartz.....Hurricane Watch Dr. Bob Sheets & Jack Williams.....Inside the Hurricane Pete Davies..... Isaac's Storm Erik Larson..... Killer Cane Robert Mykle.....Lunatic Wind William Price Fox....Miami Herald newspaper(microfilm).....Path of destruction John McQuaid & Mark Schleifstein.....Sun sentinel newspaper(microfilm).....The Major Hurricanes to affect the Bahamas Wayne Neely.....The Ship & the Storm Jim Carrier.....plus many more.............
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