Where do hurricanes hit the hardest?
It probably comes as no surprise that Florida has been hit by more hurricanes than any other state since the inception of the Saffir/Simpson scale in 1851. Its location directly between the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico makes it susceptible to hurricanes that come from either side.
The southeast coastline is extremely susceptible to a land-falling hurricane, followed by the panhandle. Areas around Tampa, Jacksonville and the Big Bend do not have as high of a risk of a direct strike from a hurricane but are still susceptible to a landfall each year.
- Southeast Florida (Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach) ...
- Key West And The Florida Keys. ...
- Southwest Florida (Fort Myers-Naples) ...
- West Florida (Tampa-St. ...
- Central Florida Atlantic Coast (Melbourne-Cocoa Beach) ...
- Florida Panhandle (Pensacola-Panama City)
Florida has quite a history with hurricanes. Because it is near the tropics and westerly winds blow off the African coasts along the equator, Florida is vulnerable.
China. The fact that China's typhoon season lasts the entire year makes it the country that experiences the most hurricanes. For example, one of the worst hurricanes to hit China was Saomai, the third storm that killed people in China in the summer of 2006.
What month does Florida have the most hurricanes? While hurricanes can happen at any point during hurricane season, mid-August through late October is the most likely time for a hurricane to make landfall in Florida. The official peak of hurricane season is September 10.
- Satellite Beach. Kicking off the list as the number one city in Florida with the lowest crime rate is Satellite Beach. ...
- Key Biscayne. The next safest city in Florida is just outside of Miami. ...
- Marco Island. ...
- North Palm Beach. ...
- Parkland. ...
- Naples. ...
- Lynn Haven. ...
- Oviedo.
Key Takeaways. North Central Florida has the fewest hurricanes because it is away from the water and has a higher elevation. If your primary concern is hurricane safety, then Lake City, FL, has the fewest hurricanes. However, it has the lowest livability score on the list.
- Leesburg. Leesburg, Florida is considered one of the safest places in the state when it comes to the risk of hurricanes. ...
- Orlando. If you're looking for hurricane-safe Florida cities, you'll want to check out O-Town. ...
- Sanford. ...
- Kissimmee. ...
- Palatka. ...
- Lake City. ...
- Naples. ...
- Ocala.
- 1906 – The Florida Keys Hurricane – Category 3.
- 1909 – The Hurricane of 1909 – Category 3.
- 1910 – The Cuba Hurricane – Category 3.
- 1919 – The Key West Hurricane – Category 4.
- 1928 – The Okeechobee Hurricane – Category 4.
- 1935 – The Labor Day Hurricane – Category 5.
Is Florida a good place to live?
Florida is a great place to retire
And, it doesn't have estate and inheritance taxes. It's such a great place for retirees that eight Florida cities—Sarasota, Naples, Daytona Beach, Melbourne, Tampa, Fort Myers, Port St. Lucie, and Pensacola—dominate U.S. News & World Report's top 10 best places to retire.
The Most Hurricane-Prone Areas in Florida
The Northwest Florida Panhandle is so prone to hurricanes that it has surpassed every other state as a whole, as Texas is the second most hurricane-prone state in the U.S. with 64 total hurricanes.

Hurricane Michael making landfall on the Florida Panhandle in October 2018. Michael became the first Category 5 hurricane to strike the state since Hurricane Andrew.
With the exception of Hurricane Michael, the state of Florida has been relatively hurricane-free since Irma in 2017. With the exception of Hurricane Michael in 2018, most of Florida has been relatively hurricane-free since Irma in 2017.
How often does Florida get hurricanes? According to Best Places Florida is affected by a tropical storm or hurricane about once every 3 years.
- Aruba. When travelers think of safe islands to visit during hurricane season, the “ABC Islands” of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao often come to mind. ...
- Bonaire. Almost anyone will enjoy Bonaire—it's a tropical paradise, how could you not? ...
- Curaçao. ...
- Barbados. ...
- Trinidad and Tobago.
The 1900 Galveston hurricane, also known as the Great Galveston hurricane and the Galveston Flood, and known regionally as the Great Storm of 1900 or the 1900 Storm, was the deadliest natural disaster in United States history and the second-deadliest Atlantic hurricane, only behind Hurricane Mitch overall.
The 2022 hurricane season is the seventh consecutive above-average hurricane season. NOAA says there is a 65% chance of an above-normal season, a 25% chance of a near-normal season and a 10% chance of a below-normal season.
CSU's latest extended range forecast (published August 4, 2022) predicts a season with an “above-average” amount of storm activity (a decrease from earlier forecasts). Currently, they are predicting a total of 18 named storms for the year, of which 8 will become hurricanes.
- Aruba. The beaches of Aruba, which is south of the hurricane belt. Oyster.com.
- Bonaire. Bonaire and its beautiful beaches are located outside the hurricane belt. Oyster.com.
- Curacao. The coast of Curacao has low chances of a hard hit. Oyster.com.
What is the number 1 safest city in Florida?
1. Satellite Beach. With a population of 10,873, Satellite Beach is located in the county of Brevard and is ranked among the safest and best cities in Florida. The violent crime rate in Satellite Beach is 0.3 per 1000 population, which is 92% lower than the average rate in Florida.
Retirees Are Fleeing Florida Due to Fears of Climate Change | Money. Best Mortgage Lenders Independently researched and ranked mortgage lenders. Current Mortgage Rates Up-to-date mortgage rate data based on originated loans.
Metropolitan Statistical Area | Crimes Per 100,000 Inhabitants | |
---|---|---|
1. | The Villages, FL M.S.A. | 1,817 |
2. | Punta Gorda, FL M.S.A. | 2,025 |
3. | Naples-Marco Island, FL M.S.A. | 2,392 |
4. | Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL M.S.A. | 2,590 |
- Daytona Beach.
- Port St. Lucie.
- Ocala.
- Fort Myers.
- Tallahassee.
- Lakeland.
- Orlando.
- Miami.
- Cape Coral.
- Dunedin.
- Fort Walton Beach.
- Lakeland.
- Vero Beach.
The cheapest city to live in florida, and safest, is Cape Coral. It has a low crime rate and a population of roughly 183,942. According to Neighborhood Scout, their crime rate is only 12 per 1,000 residents. Based on housing costs, utilities, and taxes, the average person could live on a budget of $1800-$2,000 a month.
- Kissimmee, Fla.
- Palm Coast, Fla.
- Cape Coral, Fla.
- Palm Bay, Fla.
- Orlando, Fla.
- Gainesville, Fla.
Kissimmee tops our list of safest cities in the Sunshine State with the lowest combined score relating to instances of hurricanes, hail, lightning, and floods. The city has more than 65,150 residents and stretches across more than 17 miles.
Warm winter temperatures, particularly at Daytona Beach, Gainesville, Key West, Orlando, Tampa and Vero Beach make Florida's weather most inviting, while summertime highs average in the low 90s. These places usually receive 45 to 50 inches of rain a year.
Marianna, Florida is a small city nicknamed “the City of Southern Charm.” Located about 65 miles west of Tallahassee and 20 miles from the Alabama state line in the Florida panhandle, Marianna clocks in at 167 feet above sea level. Flooding here is virtually nonexistent.
What part of Florida is least humid?
During the winter, north Florida and the Panhandle is much less humid than South Florida due to colder winter temperatures. Remember, colder air holds much less water vapor than warm air, so the colder parts of Florida will be less humid that warmer areas further south.
- #8: Hurricane Michael (2018) ...
- #7: Hurricane Camille (1969) ...
- #6: Hurricane Andrew (1992) ...
- #5: The 1926 Hurricane. ...
- #4: Hurricane Harvey (2017) ...
- #3: 1900 Hurricane. ...
- #2: Hurricane Katrina (2005) ...
- #1: Hurricane Maria (2017)
The 2022 Hurricane Names
This year's 21-name list is as follows: Alex, Bonnie, Colin, Danielle, Earl, Fiona, Gaston, Hermine, Ian, Julia, Karl, Lisa, Martin, Nicole, Owen, Paula, Richard, Shary, Tobias, Virginie and Walter.
Although a major hurricane is long overdue in Miami, the city has dealt with its share of intense hurricanes in the past. The last major hurricane to affect the city was Hurricane Andrew in 1992, which packed winds of 165 mph and currently holds the record as the third strongest U.S. landfalling hurricane.
The 2019 National Movers Study found that the states with the most inbound moves were Vermont, Idaho, Oregon, Arizona, and South Carolina. Keep reading to find out which states are sending the most people to Florida.
In 2019, 28,222 people moved from New Jersey to Florida. Many did so for the very same reasons that people moved from New York – weather, taxes, lower cost of living, and more affordable homes and rentals.
#1: Doral, FL
First on our list is Doral, FL, which is well known for its shopping and entertainment complexes, beautiful parks, and world-class golf courses. The city has a population of about 75,900, an increase of 26% from 2017.
The number of hurricanes occurring annually on a global basis varies widely from ocean to ocean. Globally, about 80 tropical cyclones occur annually, one-third of which achieve hurricane status. The most active area is the western Pacific Ocean, which contains a wide expanse of warm ocean water.
Rank | Name/Areas of Largest Loss | Dates |
---|---|---|
1. | Great Hurricane (Martinique, Barbados, St. Eustatius) | 10-16 Oct. 1780 |
2. | Great Galveston Hurricane | 8 Sept. 1900 |
3. | Mitch (Honduras, Nicaragua) | 22 Oct. - 5 Nov. 1998 |
4. | Fifi (Honduras) | 14-19 Sept. 1974 |
1. Florida. Of the 301 hurricanes to make landfall in the US, 120 hit Florida — meaning the Sunshine State is affected by roughly 40% of all hurricanes.
What was the worst hurricane ever recorded in history?
Hurricane Camille of 1969 had the highest wind speed at landfall, at an estimated 190 miles per hour when it struck the Mississippi coast. This wind speed at landfall is the highest ever recorded worldwide.
If you want to stay as safe as possible from hurricanes but still want to reap the benefits of being a Florida citizen, inland Florida near the northern border of Georgia is the best place to live. It is the least hurricane-prone area in Florida.
After an active 2021 Atlantic hurricane season, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts an “above-average” 2022 Atlantic hurricane season. NOAA predicts 14 to 21 named storms, including three to six major hurricanes.
The Pacific Ocean generates the greatest number of tropical storms and cyclones. The most powerful storms, sometimes called super typhoons, occur in the western Pacific.
The strongest tropical cyclone to make landfall on the state was the 1935 Labor Day hurricane, which crossed the Florida Keys with a pressure of 892 mbar (hPa; 26.35 inHg); it is also the strongest hurricane on record to strike the United States.
Rank | Name/Area | Deaths |
---|---|---|
1. | Great Galveston Hurricane (TX) | 8,000 |
2. | Lake Okeechobee (FL) | 2,500 |
3. | Katrina (LA/MS/FL/GA/AL) | 1,200 |
4. | Cheniere Caminanda (LA) | 1,100-1,400 |
- #8: Hurricane Michael (2018) ...
- #7: Hurricane Camille (1969) ...
- #6: Hurricane Andrew (1992) ...
- #5: The 1926 Hurricane. ...
- #4: Hurricane Harvey (2017) ...
- #3: 1900 Hurricane. ...
- #2: Hurricane Katrina (2005) ...
- #1: Hurricane Maria (2017)
Tropical storms and hurricanes most frequently occur off the Southeast and mid-Atlantic coasts, but they can also roam the Atlantic Basin anywhere between the northern Bahamas and Atlantic Canada, in the Gulf of Mexico, the eastern Caribbean Sea and the western tropical Atlantic (to the east of the Lesser Antilles).
Hurricanes originate in the Atlantic basin, which includes the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico, the eastern North Pacific Ocean, and, less frequently, the central North Pacific Ocean.
The 2022 Hurricane Names
This year's 21-name list is as follows: Alex, Bonnie, Colin, Danielle, Earl, Fiona, Gaston, Hermine, Ian, Julia, Karl, Lisa, Martin, Nicole, Owen, Paula, Richard, Shary, Tobias, Virginie and Walter.
What's the strongest hurricane to ever hit the United States?
Rank | Hurricane | Year |
---|---|---|
1 | Unnamed (FL Keys) | 1935 |
2 | Camille (MS, SE LA, VA) | 1969 |
3 | Andrew (SE FL, SE LA) | 1992 |
4 | TX (Indianola) | 1886 |
Only four Category 5 hurricanes have ever made landfall in the U.S., and nearly all have occurred during a two-week period that runs from August 17 to September 2. The names of the hurricanes are the most notorious in weather history and will never be used to identify a cyclone again.