Vero Beach, 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)

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

Years within or near core

1871-2
1873bd
1876bd
1880
1885
1888ts
1892bdts
1893-2m
1894bdbr
1896bdts
1897bdtsbr
1899brm
1903tsbr
1909ts
1910bdtsbr
1925bdxtropstbr
1926
1928
1928m
1933
1933m
1934bdts
1937tsbr
1939
1945brm
1947brm
1947bdbr
1948bdbr
1949m
1950
1951bdts
1953bdts
1956ts (HURDAT)
1960bdbrm
1960bdts (HURDAT)
1964
1964bdm
1968bdts
1974subtsbr
1979
1981tsbd
1983ts
1984tsbr
1984ts
1985tsbd
1988bdts
1994bdts
1995
1995ts
1998bdtsbr
1999
2001bdtsbr
2004
2004m
2005bd
2008bdts
2016brm
2017bdbr
2019br
2020-2tsbr
2022bdts
2022
2024mbr
2024bdbr

67 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
Diana
Isidore
Bob
Keith
Gordon
Erin
Jerry
Mitch
Irene
Gabrielle
Frances
Jeanne
Wilma
Fay
Matthew
Irma
Dorian
Isaias
Eta
Ian
Nicole
Helene
Milton

Tropical Storm to Hurricane ratio

TS = 30, 44.78%
H = 37, 55.22%

19.40% of all tropical systems affecting Vero Beach are major hurricanes this includes brushes

Longest gap between storms

14 years 1911-1924

How often this area gets affected?

Brushed or hit every 2.28 years

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

Once every 6.12 years. (25 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)

99 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 brushes to the north by 47 miles at closest approach with 90 mph winds while moving offshore

This area's hurricane history

1871 August 17th a 100 mph hurricane passes by to the southwest while moving northwest
1871 August 25th, 105 mph from the east-southeast
1873 October 7th a fast moving hurricane with 95 mph winds from the southwest after hitting ft myers as a cat 3
1876 October 20th, 90 mph from the south-southwest
1880 August 29th, 105 mph winds from the east just north
1885 August 24th, 85 mph from the south
1893 August 27th, 120 mph just east from the southeast. Hit map
1893 October 12th, 120 mph from the southeast to the east. Hit map
1926 July 27th, 90 mph from the southeast
1928 August 8th, 90 mph from the southeast
1928 September 17th winds near 130 mph from the east-southeast pressure 28.84 2 killed very heavy damage. Newspaper article#1 | #2 | #3 | #4
1933 July 30th, 80 mph from the east
1933 September 4th 125 mph winds heavy damage just south from the east-southeast pressure 27.98.
1939 August 11th, 80 mph from the east-southeast
1949 August 26th, 130 mph from the east-southeast passes just south
1950 Hurricane King October 18th 25 miles to the west from the south-southeast with 80 mph winds causes minor damage here. Track
1964 Hurricane Cleo weakening to a tropical storm with 75 mph winds from the south on August 27th. NHC Wallet
1964 October 14th, Hurricane Isbell just south from the southwest with 120 mph winds. NHC Wallet
1979 September 3rd, Hurricane David hits with 95 mph winds from the south
1995 Erin August 2nd just north 29.12, 85 mph from the east-southeast 2:00 AM low tide min damage, some roof damage and power outages heavy causes flooding inland.1 million around the general area with out power after the hurricane.Many fallen trees. Newspaper article
1999 Hurricane Irene just east from the south-southwest on October 16th with 75 mph winds pressure 29.12 1 mobile home roof blown off many without power.system moving north-northeast @ 10 mph Newspaper article
2004 September 5th, Hurricane Frances hits with 105 mph winds from the east-southeast. Many trees down, signs damaged power out for days a very large & slow moving hurricane, 3 to 4 mobile homes unroofed, numerous trees down.Wooden boardwalk on beach nowhere to be found. 1 death in Indian river county.approx 8 ft storm surge Newspaper headline | Newspaper headline #2 | Side by side radar of Frances & Jeanne | Frances article | Frances article | Models 5 days out | USGS surge info
2004 September 26th, Hurricane Jeanne hits with 120 mph winds just south from the east..Severe road damage reported along barrier island roadways. Roof tarps seen shredding. Indian River Boulevard nearly impassible for long stretches due to heavy flooding.Powerlines dangling. The county's sheriff's office lost most of its roof. Many businesses that were storage units, warehouses or airport hangars were completely destroyed, consistent with what would be seen with a Category 3 hurricane. Models 4 days before hitting | Side by side radar of Frances & Jeanne | Jeanne newspaper headline | Jeanne article | Jeanne article #2 | Jeanne article #3 | Jeanne article #4 | Jeanne wind swath map | USGS surge info | Our coverage as it happened
2005, October 24th Hurricane Wilma hits just south by 45 miles from the southwest with 105 mph winds while moving quickly northeast. Damage was moderate but not as bad as areas to south. Radar animation Wilma approaching from southwest (courtesy of hometownweather.com) | Radar animation Wilma leaving east coast (courtesy of hometownweather.com)
2022 November 10th Hurricane nicole eye passes over from east-southeast with 75 mph winds. Radar animation | Our cams in the area | NHC 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......