Miami, Florida's History with Tropical Systems

Current Weather | Miami Hurricane History Video

(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)

Miami most likely to be hit by a hurricane between September 21st and September 27th

Years within or near core

1871brm
1876tsbr
1876bdbr
1878tsbr
1878
1885br
1888
1888ts
1889ts
1891
1891ts
1892bdts
1895tsbr
1895tsbr
1898tsbr
1901ts
1903
1904
1906-2
1909ts
1909tsbr
1909
1916ts
1916xropstbd
1924bdts
1926brm
1926m
1926
1926ts
1928br
1928m
1929
1932ts
1933br
1933brm
1935brm
1935m
1935
1936bdts
1936ts
1941m
1945m
1946tsbr
1947m
1947bd
1948-2bd
1949m
1950m
1952ts
1953bdts
1956ts (HURDAT)
1960m
1964
1964bdm
1965m
1966
1976bdts
1979br
1984tsbr
1987ts
1992m
1998br
1998bdts
1999bdts
1999
2004br
2005
2005bd
2006ts
2010ts
2016brm
2017brm
2018ts
2020tsbr
2022mbdbr
2022br
2024mbr
2024bdbr

80 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
Hattie
David
Dottie
Isidore
Floyd
Andrew
Georges
Mitch
Harvey
Irene
Frances
Katrina
Wilma
Ernesto
Bonnie
Matthew
Irma
Gordon
Eta
Ian
Nicole
Helene
Milton

Tropical Storm to Hurricane ratio

TS = 32, 40%
H = 48, 60%

25% of all tropical systems affecting Miami are major hurricanes this includes brushes

Longest gap between storms

9 years 1967-1975

How often this area gets affected?

Brushed or hit every 1.91 years

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

Once every 4.94 years. (31 hits) State stats

Average years between major hurricane hits.

Once every 12.75 years. (12 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 2026

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 brushes well to the northwest by 146 miles with 105 mph winds at closest approach while moving east-northeast.

This area's hurricane history

1878 October 21st, 80 mph from the south-southwest just east.
1888 August 16th, 125 mph from the east-southeast, a 14 ft storm surge which may have been in North Miami. Hit map | Hurdat2 database inensity at landfall
1891 August 24th from the east-southeast with 80 mph winds.
1903 September 11th, 85 mph from the east-southeast.
1904 October 17th 80 mph from the south.
1906 June 17th 80 mph just west coming from the south.
1906 October 17th 100 mph from the south-southwest kills over 100.
1909 October 11th, 110 mph from the west-southwest passes just east.
1926 September 18th, 145mph (HURDAT2) 123 mph to 138 mph for 2 minutes with an 11 ft storm surge. A quick shift in wind caused a tidal wave that flowed down the Miami River sinking many vessels. Pressure 27.61 inHg, 373 killed, 811 missing, 6,381 injured, total devastation winds over 100 mph for over 1 hour, 43,000 homeless out of 300,000. NOAA's Hurricane Research Division estimates that todays damage would have been 80 billion dollars. Eye was reported to be 13 miles wide and at 7:40 am a well exposed anemometer atop Allison Hospital in north Miami recorded 138 mph. Newspaper headline | Eyewitness video
1926 October 21st, 110 mph from the southwest just east.
1928 September 16th, 145 mph to the north while moving into Palm Beach as a large Hurricane from the southeast. Winds here mainly out of west & northwest category 1 conditions.
1929 September 28th, 105 mph to the south from the east-southeast moving into Key Largo.
1935 September 28th, 115 mph passes just east from the south-southwest.
1935 November 4th the Yankee storm 75 mph from the north, pressure 28.73 inHg, gusts to 94 mph, 6 foot storm surge heavy beach damage, a small destructive storm that caused heavy damage in a narrow path. hit map
1941 October 6th, 120 mph from the east-southeast. Hit map
1945 September 15th, 130mph (HURDAT2) from the east-southeast homestead a.f.b hit with gusts to 170 mph, Miami had a 10.7 ft storm surge, Miami Beach 4.5 ft hurricane hit near Florida City with wind gusts from 135 to 171 mph 1,000 homes badly damaged, calm reported for 1 hour. Newpaper Headline
1947 September 17th, 155 mph to the North from the East but area still had storm surge to 11ft & gusts over 100 mph, Broward county was most affected.
1947 October 12th, 80 mph from southwest, pressure 29.00 inHg Fort Lauderdale 2 am moving northeast fast many twisters waters waste deep from rainfall.
1948 September 22nd, 105 mph from the southwest passes just west.
1948 October 5th, 105 mph just east gusts here 92 mph, pressure 28.92 inHg, 4.5 foot storm surge, heavy rains causes flooding west of Red Road completely underwater. Video
1949 August 26th, 150 mph to the north from the southeast
1950 Hurricane King October 17th, 130mph (HURDAT2) from the south-southeast some gusts to 150 mph pressure 28.20 956 mb 106 mph 97 mph for 5 min, 1 min 122 mph, Many radio towers destroyed in North Dade.Very short notice on this one as the forecast was for the Bahamas to get hit. Track | 5 mile wide tornado story
1960 September 10th 140 mph, Hurricane Donna passes to the south & while turning North east side winds affect Miami. NHC Wallet
1964 August 27th Hurricane Cleo 105 mph gusts to 135 pressure 28.57, 7 inches of rain. 10 to 16 mile wide eye passed north tip of Key Biscayne, Virginia key & entered Miami around 36th street, moved over opa locka.NHC wind inst destroyed when peak wind gust of 110 mph hit. Airport reported gusts of 100 mph 28.71 press. Eye 1:30 min in passing 2/1/2 max winds. Max tide no more than 4 ft. Most damage is windows broken, up to 100,000,000 damage. 61,600 phones down, 75 to 80% power out, 1,200 homes damaged, 90 trailers destroyed, 82 planes destroyed. NHC Wallet
1964 October 15th Isbell from southwest moving northeast at 20 mph, with 125 mph, Miami recorded 75 mph at 4pm. NHC Wallet
1965 Betsy September 8th, 125 mph from the east hits Key Largo, Miami gusts over 100 mph, near 7 foot storm surge. Betsy page | Best track error | Betsy as it happened video | Miami Herald Newspaper article (Betsy won't turn back)
1966 October 4th, Hurricane Inez passes just south from the east with 100 mph winds. NHC Wallet
1992 Andrew devastates south Miami with 165 mph August 24th 5 am, 30 billion dollars damage, pressure 922 mb. Heavy damage in south Miami Homestead, Kendall & Florida city. Weather map from the 21st | Satelite image | Newspaper headline | Hit map | Newspaper article | #2 | Andrew page | Newspaper headline | Presidential address | Animated radar (Brian McNoldy, Univ. of Miami, Rosenstiel School) | Average model error | HC Andrew page | Andrew damage videos | More on Hurricane Andrew here | Notes from best track change committee upgrading Andrew to cat 5 | Good morning america 1 month later in Country walk | Dr Ted Fujita wind map | Dr Ted Fujita wind map explanation | NHC 36 hrs before landfall discussion | NHC Wallet | Wind observations from NHC Wallet
1999 October 15th Hurricane Irene just west with 80 mph winds from the south-southwest. Heavy flooding especially inland, 1 roof blown off a condominium.3 men injured in truck due to falling debris.1 man injured walking down sidewalk by falling debris.Hurricane warnings never issued?? 11 inches of rain here. Newspaper article | News coverage
2005 August 25th, Hurricane Katrina moves in from the northeast with 80 mph winds. 4 deaths reported in south Florida with moderate damage & heavy flooding. Rainfall 61.33 inches in Perrine & 14.04 inches in Homestead. 87 mph gust reported at at NHC and 82 mph gust in Fort Lauderdale. Radar animation (Brian McNoldy, Univ. of Miami, Rosenstiel School) Damage shot #1 | Damage shot #2 | Track and dates | Our live coverage
2005, October 24th, Hurricane Wilma comes in just northwest of Dade county with 105 mph winds from the southwest. Moving very quickly northeast at 25 mph heavy rainbands on the east quadrant of Wilma gusting to 110 mph causes significant damage in northeast Dade county. Official NHC final report from Miami International Airport 68 mph sustained with gusts to 90 mph. Sweetwater WFO 67 mph with gusts to 105 mph. West Kendall 60 mph with gusts to 82 mph. Unofficial Doral CBS4 114 mph gust. Hurricane Wilma caused an estimated 20 billion in damage with 35 deaths in Florida. Radar animation (Brian McNoldy, Univ. of Miami, Rosenstiel School) Hurricane warning show | Radar during worst conditions in Miami | Wilma satelite picture | Office building with blown out glass | Video of roof blowing off condo | NHC final 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......