Tarpon Springs, Florida's History with Tropical Systems

Current Weather | Tarpon Springs 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)

Tarpon Springs most likely to be hit by a hurricane between August 31st and September 6th

Years within or near core

1871bdbr
1871bdtsbr
1871br
1872ts
1873ts
1874br
1878
1879ts
1880bdts
1880tsbr
1880
1882br
1885ts
1886br
1886
1887ts
1888bdts
1888
1889tsbr
1892tsbr
1894bdtsbr
1896m
1898bdtsbr
1899br
1899ts
1901bdtsbr
1902tsbr
1903bdts
1910bdbr
1916bdts
1920tsbr
1921
1925tsbr
1926bdbrm
1928tsbr
1928bdbr
1930ts
1932bdtsbr
1933-2bdtsbr
1935
1936bdtsbr
1937ts
1939bdts
1941bd
1944br
1945
1945bdbr
1946ts
1947ts
1949bdbr
1950m
1950tsbr
1960bdm
1966br
1968tsbr
1968
1974subts
1982subts
1984tsbdbr
1985brm
1988ts
1990ts
1995bdts
2000ts
2001tsbr
2004-2bdts
2007tsbr
2013tsbr
2016ts
2017bd
2020ts
2021tsbr
2022br
2022bdts
2023brm
2024br
2024mbr
2024br

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

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

Easy
Love
Donna
Alma
Abby
Gladys
Isadore
Elena
Keith
Marco
Erin
Gordon
Gabrielle
Frances
Jeanne
Barry
Andrea
Colin
Irma
Eta
Elsa
Ian
Nicole
Idalia
Debby
Helene
Milton

Tropical Storm to Hurricane ratio

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

only 8.75% of all tropical systems affecting Tarpon Springs are major hurricanes this includes brushes

Longest gap between storms

9 years 1951-1959

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 11.77 years. (13 hits) State stats

Average years between major hurricane hits.

Once every 51 years. (3 hits)

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

99 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 passes just south by 49 miles with 110 mph winds at closest approach while moving east-northeast.

This area's hurricane history

1878 September 10th, 105 mph from the southeast
1880 October 8th just north from the southwest with 80 mph winds
1886 July 18th, 80 mph from the south-southwest
1888 October 10th, 110 mph from the southwest just north
1896 September 29th, 125 mph winds to the west from the south-southwest. Hit map
1921 October 25, 115 mph from the west-southwest, pressure 28.12 inHg a 1 hour calm 9 inches of rain, 10.5 foot storm surge, heavy damage. NOAA info
1935 September 4th, 100 mph just west from the south
1941 October 6th, 100 mph just southwest from the east-southeast
1945 June 24th, 90 mph from the west-southwest just north.
1950 September 5th 125 mph from the east-southeast, Easy 3 killed as it made 2 loops north of the area many automobiles after the hurricane had a myserious spotted pattern on the paint, studies concluded air pockets under the paint expanded due to low pressure, they later dissapeared. Hit map
1960 Hurricane Donna passes to the east from the south with 90 mph winds on September 11th. NHC Wallet
1968 October 18th Gladys hits with 80 mph winds from the southwest. Hurricane hunter has turbulence problems with Bob Sheets aboard 1 seriously injured. NHC Wallet
1985 Hurricane Elena with 110 mph winds brushes by to the west while looping in the Gulf 65 miles to the west causing some coastal flooding here. Newspaper article #1 | Newspaper article #2
2017 September 11th, Hurricane Irma passes just 28 miles to the east while moving north with 85 mph winds. USGS surge info | NHC report | Radar animation (Brian McNoldy, Univ. of Miami, Rosenstiel School)

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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......