San Salvador Island, Bahamas 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)

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

Years within or near core

1871
1877ts
1878br
1879
1879tsbr
1884
1887-2ts
1888ts
1889ts
1891
1893-2m
1900ts
1901tsbr
1901ts
1903tsbr
1906m
1908brm
1916ts
1919
1921ts
1923
1926-2m
1928tsbr
1928m
1931ts
1932-2m
1933
1933m
1934ts
1935ts
1936ts
1939ts
1940tsbr
1941
1942tsbr
1944tsbr
1945brm
1949
1952ts
1952
1953ts
1954
1954m
1956
1981
1995br
1996-2
1999
2004m
2005tsbr
2008tsbr
2011
2012br
2015m
2016brm
2017brm
2020br
2025mbr not in stats

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

Names from list above

Charlie
Fox
Barbara
Edna
Hazel
Betsy
Gert
Erin
Bertha
Lili
Floyd
Frances
Rita
Hanna
Irene
Sandy
Joaquin
Matthew
Irma
Isaias
Erin

Tropical Storm to Hurricane ratio

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

26.23% of all tropical systems affecting San Salvador are major hurricanes this includes brushes

Longest gap between storms

24 years 1956-1981

How often this area gets affected?

Brushed or hit every 2.47 years

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

Once every 5.28 years. (29 hits)

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)

110 mph

Statistically when this area should be affected next

Brushed in 2025

Last affected by

2025 Major hurricane Erin brushes 92 miles to the N.E with 125mph winds Aug 18th.

This area's hurricane history

1871 August 23rd, 105 mph from the east-southeast
1879 August 16th, 80 mph from the southeast
1884 October 12th, 80 mph to the west from the south
1891 August 22nd 95 mph from the east-southeast
1893 August 19th, 120 mph from the east-southeast. Hit map
1893 August 25th just north with 120 mph winds from the east. Hit map
1906 September 6th, 130 mph just north from the east-southeast
1919 September 7th, 105 mph from the east-southeast just south
1923 September 25th, 85 mph from the south-southeast
1926 July 25th, 140 mph to the south from the southeast
1926 September 17th, 150 mph to the south from the east-southeast
1928 September 15th, 155 mph from the east-southeast just south
1932 September 4th, 140 mph from the east-southeast
1932 November 10th, the major hurricane that killed thousands in Cuba hits with 115 mph winds while moving very quickly to sea from the west-southwest.
1933 July 28th, 90 mph from the southeast
1933 September 2nd, 140 mph from the east-southeast
1941 October 5th, 95 mph from the east
1949 August 25th, 90 mph from the east-southeast
1952 October 26th, 90 mph Hurricane Fox from the west
1954 September 7th Hurricane Edna hits with 85 mph winds from the southeast
1954 October 14th Hurricane Hazel 115 mph just east from the south-southeast
1956 August 13th, Hurricane Betsy hits with 110 mph winds from the southeast, 5 inches of rain
1981 September 10th, 75 mph Gert strengthens to a hurricane from the southeast. NHC wallet
1996 July 10th, Hurricane Bertha 35 miles to the northeast from the east-southeast with 105 mph winds area had gusts to 90 mph pressure 28.78 heavy tree damage. NHC report
1996 Hurricane Lili hits from the west-southwest with 110 mph winds October 19th heavy damage to buildings moved through the area fast.# Most extensive damage was on the west side of the island. Almost no damage on east side of the island. The most significant surge was on the southwest side of the island. Extensive tree damage at high elevations, Scattered damage to living coral. Several major washovers in and around French Bay and the Gulf. Destruction of the cabana at Grotto. and the public dock at French Bay. Extensive salt burn and wind damage to vegetation on western side of island. NHC report
1999 September 13th Hurricane Floyd hits 20 miles north with 155 mph winds from the east-southeast causing very heavy damage. Recon estimated 100 mph at passage. Most damage on west coast due to storm surge. NHC report
2004, September 2nd Hurricane Frances hits just south with 140 mph winds from the east-southeast. Houses damaged in San Salvador, Island heavily hit.120 mph peak gust on island 948.1 mb. NHC report Sat image Ham radio reports at landfall, 03/00Z SAN SALVADOR REPORTED SUSTAINED WINDS OF 120 MPH WHEN THE LEADING EDGE OF THE EYEWALL PASSED OVER THE ISLAND... AND SUSTAINED WINDS OF 101 MPH IN THE TRAILING EDGE OF THE EYEWALL. SAN SALVADOR REPORTED A PRESSURE OF 948 MB ABOUT TWO HOURS AGO WHEN THE EASTERN PORTION OF THE EYE PASSED OVER THE ISLAND.
2011 August 24th, Hurricane Irene passes just south while moving west-northwest with 120 mph winds. Irene model history
2015 October 2nd Hurricane Joaquin passes over the island while moving north with 125 mph winds with reports of heavy damage and surge flooding. Downed power lines and poles; roads impassable; 130 persons reported to shelters, one of which had its roof and door blown off. NHC final report | Wind bar graph | Satellite shot

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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......