Melbourne, 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)

Melbourne most likely to be hit by a hurricane between September 7th and September 13th

Years within or near core

1871-2
1872bdts
1873bd
1876bd
1880
1885
1892tsbd
1893-2m
1894bdbr
1897bdts
1899brm
1903tsbr
1910bdtsbr
1915tsbr
1925xtropstbd
1926
1928
1928m
1933brm
1933br
1937tsbr
1939br
1945bdbrm
1949m
1950bd
1951bdts
1953bdts
1956ts (HURDAT)
1960bdm
1960bdtsbr (HURDAT)
1964ts
1964bdbr
1968bdts
1979
1981bdts
1983ts
1984tsbr
1985ts
1988bdts
1994tsbd
1995
1995ts
1998bdtsbr
1999br
2001tsbdbr
2004
2004m
2005bdbr
2008bdts
2016bdtsbr
2016m
2017bdbr
2019br
2020tsbr
2022bdts
2022br
2024mbr
2024bd

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

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

King
How
Hazel
Donna
Cleo
Isbell
Abby
David
Dennis
Barry
Isidore
Bob
Keith
Gordon
Erin
Jerry
Mitch
Irene
Gabrielle
Frances
Jeanne
Wilma
Fay
Colin
Matthew
Irma
Dorian
Eta
Ian
Nicole
Helene
Milton

Tropical Storm to Hurricane ratio

TS = 27, 45%
H = 33, 55%

18.33% of all tropical systems affecting Melbourne are major hurricanes this includes brushes

Longest gap between storms

10 years 1969-1978

How often this area gets affected?

Brushed or hit every 2.55 years

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

Once every 8.05 years. (19 hits) State stats

Average years between major hurricane hits.

Once every 21.86 years. (7 hits)

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

103 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 10th Hurricane Milton hits just north by 18 miles at closest approach with 90 mph winds while moving offshore.

This area's hurricane history

1871 August 18th a 100 mph hurricane passes by to the West while moving north
1871, a week later August 25th a 90 mph cane comes ashore while heading northwest
1873 October 7th a category 1 hits from the southwest with 90 mph winds after hitting ft myers as a cat 3
1876 October 20th 90 mph from the southwest reports of eye over the area still in dispute reported gusts from the east at 100 mph September 15th
1880 August 29, 105 mph winds from the east heavy flooding.
1885 August 24th, 90 mph just east from the south
1893 August 27th, 120 mph winds just east from the southeast. Hit map
1893 October 12th, 120 mph just east while turning north from the east-southeast. Hit map
1926 July 28th 90 mph from the south-southeast
1928 a 100 mph hurricane just south from the southeast causes heavy damage August 7th
1928 September 16th a hurricane with 130 mph slams ashore 40 miles to south from the southeast. Newspaper article #1 | #2 | #3 | #4
1949 August 27th, 120 mph from the southeast just south
1950 Hurricane King 15 miles to west October 18th with 75 mph winds causes minor damage here. Track
1960 September 11th Hurricane Donna hits well west of here with 115 mph winds from the south. NHC Wallet
1979 September 3rd, Hurricane David hits direct with 95 mph winds pressure 28.75 minor damage from the south. NHC Wallet
1995 August 2nd Hurricane Erin hits with 85 mph winds from the east-southeast 350,000 without power hits at low tide minor damage. Radar animation (Brian McNoldy, Univ. of Miami, Rosenstiel School) Newspaper article
2004 September 5th, Hurricane Frances hits with 105 mph winds. Many trees down, signs damaged power out for days a very large & slow moving hurricane, tree down at house on 810 cedar drive.fences down, damage to car. Cape Canaveral Mercury-Redstone rocket tipped over. Newspaper headline | Models 5 days out | USGS surge info | Radar animation (Brian McNoldy, Univ. of Miami, Rosenstiel School)
2004 September 26th, Hurricane Jeanne hits with 120 mph winds just south by 45 miles, moderate damage to area, second hurricane in 22 days. Models 4 days before hitting | USGS surge info | Radar animation (Brian McNoldy, Univ. of Miami, Rosenstiel School).
2016 October 7th, Hurricane Matthew passes just east with 120 mph winds while moving north-northwest.In Brevard County, which was the portion of Florida closest to Matthew�s center, 11 homes were destroyed, 140 sustained major damage, 549 experienced minor damage, and 939 additional homes were adversely affected in some way (per NHC) Radar courtesy of Brian McNoldy, Univ. of Miami, Rosenstiel School | Matthew timeline | NHC final report | USGS surge info
2024 October 10th Hurricane Milton hits just north by 18 miles at closest approach with 90 mph winds while moving offshore.

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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......