Key West, 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 West most likely to be hit by a hurricane between September 21st and September 27th

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
1998ts
1999
2005-3br
2005m
2008ts
2012ts
2017m
2018br
2020tsbr
2021tsbr
2022mbr
2024tsbr
2024br

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

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

Easy
Donna
Isbell
Betsy
Alma
Inez
Alberto
Floyd
Marco
Gordon
Georges
Mitch
Irene
Dennis
Katrina
Rita
Wilma
Fay
Isaac
Irma
Michael
Eta
Elsa
Ian
Debby
Helene

Tropical Storm to Hurricane ratio

TS = 22, 36.21%
H = 38, 63.79%

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

Longest gap between storms

20 years 1966-1987

How often this area gets affected?

Brushed or hit every 2.55 years

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

Once every 6.12 years. (25 hits) State stats

Average years between major hurricane hits.

Once every 10.2 years. (15 hits)

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

111 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 brushes well to the west-northwest with 105 mph winds while moving north.

This area's hurricane history

1876, October 19 Eye passed over Key West 105 mph from the south. Barometer 28.73. Calm from 6pm to 8:15pm. Maximum wind 88 mph at 8:45pm.
1894 September 25th, 85 mph from the south gusts to 105 mph, pressure 29.10 2 ships capsized
1906 June 16th, 80 mph from the southwest passes just east
1906 October 18th, 120 mph from the south-southwest, over 150 killed in the keys
1909 October 11th, 115 mph from the west-southwest, pressure 28.50 inHg, 13 inches of 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 October 17th 125 mph winds from the south-southwest a 15ft storm surge reported & pressure 28.47, 7 foot of standing water in Key West.
1919 September 10th, 130 mph from the east-southeast, pressure 927 mb in Dry Tortugas, killed 400+ in marine casualties, winds over gale force for 38 hours, 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 September 1st, 120 mph to the south from the east-southeast. (HURDAT2)
1933 October 5th, 110 mph just southeast from the southwest. (HURDAT2)
1935, September 3rd, 130 mph just north from the southeast Labor Day Hurricane lowest barometric pressure ever before Gilbert in 1988. Lower Matecumbe Key pressure 26.35 inHg, Key West pressure 29.41 inHg. Middle keys 150 mph to 200 mph. Passes well north of Key West as a small system but hurricane force wind field did reach Key West.
1944 October 18th just west, pressure 28.02 inHg, 120 mph from the south-southwest, very slow moving, Key West pressure 29.14 inHg, 60 mph.
1947 October 11th, 85mph (HURDAT) from the southwest reported gusts to 150 mph just west at dry tortugas.
1948 September 21st, 125mph (HURDAT) from the southwest, pressure 28.45 inHg, a 6 foot 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 October 5th, 125 mph from the southwest, moving fast, Key West pressure 29.17 inHg.
1950 September 3rd, 85 mph Hurricane Easy passes just west from the south.
1960 September 10th, 140 mph just north from the southeast Hurricane Donna. NHC Wallet
1964 October 14th Hurricane Isbell passes approximately 30 miles north of here with 125 mph winds from the southwest. NHC Wallet
1965, September 8th, 120 mph Hurricane Betsy Key West got gusts to 81 mph even though Betsy was well to the north by 40 miles from the east. NHC Wallet
1966 June 8th, 125 mph Hurricane Alma passes just west from the south.
1966 Hurricane Inez October 4th, 85 mph from the East gusts to 100 mph while moving into the Gulf, Key West in the eye for approximately 3 hrs. NHC Wallet
1987 Hurricane Floyd October 12th, 80 mph from the west-southwest, pressure 29.32 inHg, gust of 75 to 94 mph, minor damage. NHC Wallet
1998 September 25th Hurricane Georges hits direct with 105 mph winds from the east-southeast houseboat row destroyed Key West moderate damage heavier further Jim Leonard in Key West | Average model error | USGS surge info
1999 October 15th Hurricane Irene hits with 75 mph from the south-southwest winds causing overall minor damage with some flooding while moving slowly north-northeast pressure 29.14 Newspaper article
2005, October 24th, Hurricane Wilma passes approximately 65 miles north of keywest with 120 mph winds while moving northeast as a very large hurricane. Intense winds remained approximately 15 miles north of Lower Keys but a surge ranging from 5 to 8 feet inundated many homes in the Lower Keys. Official final report from NHC 72 mph sustained winds with gusts to 82 mph. Radar animation (Brian McNoldy, Univ. of Miami, Rosenstiel School) Wilma satellite picture max intensity western Caribbean
2017 September 10th Hurricane Irma passes just east by 16 miles with 130 mph 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, Univ. of Miami, Rosenstiel School) | NWS Key West map info | Our live coverage | Aftermath video tour

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......