Sarasota, 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)

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

Years within or near core

1872ts
1873ts
1873brm
1878ts
1880bdtsbr
1885tsbr
1886br
1887ts
1888bd
1892ts
1894
1896brm
1897tsbr
1899-2ts
1901bdts
1902tsbr
1903bdts
1904bdts
1910
1911tsbr
1916ts
1921
1925
1926bdm
1928tsbdbr
1928ts
1928bdbrm
1929bd
1930ts
1932bdts
1933bdts
1933bdtsbr
1935
1936ts
1937ts
1939bdtsbr
1941
1944
1945ts
1945bd
1946
1947bdbr
1947ts
1949bdbr
1950m
1951tsbr
1953br
1959tsbr
1960bdm
1966
1968ts
1968br
1974subts
1988ts
1990ts
1994tsbr
1998tsbr
1999tsbr
2000tsbr
2001ts
2004brm
2004bdtsbr
2004bdbr
2007ts
2016tsbr
2017ts
2017
2020tsbr
2021br
2022m
2022bdts
2023br
2024tsbr
2024mbr
2024m

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

Names from list above

Easy
How
Hazel
Judith
Donna
Abby
Alma
Gladys
Keith
Marco
Gordon
Mitch
Harvey
Gordon
Gabrielle
Charley
Frances
Jeanne
Barry
Colin
Emily
Irma
Eta
Elsa
Ian
Nicole
Idalia
Debby
Helene
Milton

Tropical Storm to Hurricane ratio

TS = 45, 59.21%
H = 31, 40.79%

13.16% of all tropical systems affecting Sarasota are major hurricanes this includes brushes

Longest gap between storms

13 years 1975-1987

How often this area gets affected?

Brushed or hit every 2.01 years

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

Once every 8.5 years. (18 hits) State stats

Average years between major hurricane hits.

Once every 30.6 years. (5 hits)

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

104 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 Major Hurricane Milton hits with 120 mph winds from the west-southwest eye passes over 959 mb

This area's hurricane history

1888 August 17th, 85 mph from the east-southeast just south.
1894 September 25th a hurricane with 90 mph from the south dumps over 12 inches of rain with high tides causes heavy damage here as it passes to the east.
1910 October 18th, 85 mph from the south-southwest just east.
1921 October 25th, 105 mph from the southwest just north.
1925 November 30th 75 mph winds from the southwest.
1926 September 18th, 120 mph just south from the east-southeast.
1929 September 29th, 105 mph from the southeast just south.
1935 September 3rd Labor Day Keys hurricane passed approximately 25 miles to the west of here while moving north with 110 mph winds, storm surge was not a factor here due to offshore winds.
1941 October 6th, 105 mph from the southeast just west.
1944 October 19th a huge hurricane with 105 mph winds from the south heavy storm surge flooding.
1945 September 16th, 110 mph just east from the south.
1946 October 7th, 85 mph from the south-southwest, pressure 28.95 inHg, overall minor damage
1950 September 4th, Hurricane Easy just west with 125 mph winds from the south causes 7 ft storm surge. Hit map
1960 Hurricane Donna hits from the south with 120 mph winds September 10th, gusts to 120 mph winds & sustained at 80 mph. Water was pulled out of all bays & inlets and brought back in when she pulled north causing heavy damage here. More here | NHC Wallet
1966 June 9th Hurricane Alma 105 mph just west from the south. NHC Wallet
2017 September 10th Hurricane Irma passes 35 miles to the east while moving north with 100 mph winds. Power outage photos before & after | Best performing models 5 days before hit | Long range GEFS many days out | Best track data | USGS surge info | Radar animation (Brian McNoldy, Univ. of Miami, Rosenstiel School)
2022 September 28th Hurricane Ian passes just southeast by 39 miles at closest approach with 140 mph winds while moving slowly north-northeast. Hit map | Video from the area | Radar animation (Brian McNoldy, Univ. of Miami, Rosenstiel School) NHC Report
2024 October 9th Major Hurricane Milton hits with 120 mph winds from the west-southwest eye passes over 959 mb. Hit map | Our coverage from Sarasota as it happened | NHC report

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......