Major hurricane landfalls in Florida, Louisiana, and Texas

[Hyperstorm]

Here are the tracks of all the major hurricanes (Category 3+) that have passed within 10 nautical miles of Florida throughout recorded history:



As you can see the areas most likely to be hit by major hurricanes are the southern half of the peninsula and the western half of the panhandle. Very few major hurricanes have hit elsewhere in the state. Of course, regardless of that, the entire state is susceptible.

The majority of the major hurricane strikes occurred during the month of September, followed by October and then August. August and first half of September tends to see the major hurricanes hit from the east. Last half of September into October tends to see the major hurricanes hit from the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. Of course, there are exceptions.


Here is the same data divided by different time periods...

1851-1900:



1901-1950:



1951-2004:



*Please note that data from earlier time periods (although official) may not be totally accurate due to the lack of solid observations before aircraft reconaissance, satellite, radar, etc. became available.

*EDIT: TITLE TO REFLECT CURRENT INFORMATION*

[gatorcane]

Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 11:53 pm Post subject:

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If you take Jeanne and Frances out from the odd year of 2004, then no major hurricanes have effected the east coast of the state north of about Jupiter....

The Treasure Coast rarely gets hit, however, the Gold Coast from about Jupiter South through the keys is a MUCH different story. I find it interesting that major hurricanes don't like to go north of about Jupiter on the east coast. Not coincidentally, you will find tropical plants on the Gold Coast (climate is warmer) but it's too cold on the treasure coast to support them (royal palms, coconut palms) due to the fact the Gulf Stream hugs the Gold Coast but is too far off the treasure coast to make a difference. I think FL hurricanes like the tropical part of the state (southern third) and also the Emerald Coast as well.

So if you want the highest chances of not getting hit, then go to FL's treasure coast , Space Coast, or even better, NE FL (Jax area). Statistically, they are the safest areas in the state to live but if you are in Palm Beach south through Mia-Ft.Lauderdale and into Key Largo down to Key West good luck

[EDR1222]

Interesting maps, thanks for posting.

I wonder what that map would look like if you tried to fit in all the category one and two hurricanes that have passed within the same distance of the state.

[Patrick99]

Include ones and twos and it will be a cacophony of red lines. We get hit a lot, on average.

[Blown Away]

Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 11:53 pm Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you take Jeanne and Frances out from the odd year of 2004, then no major hurricanes have effected the east coast of the state north of about Jupiter....

The Treasure Coast rarely gets hit, however, the Gold Coast from about Jupiter South through the keys is a MUCH different story. I find it interesting that major hurricanes don't like to go north of about Jupiter on the east coast. Not coincidentally, you will find tropical plants on the Gold Coast (climate is warmer) but it's too cold on the treasure coast to support them (royal palms, coconut palms) due to the fact the Gulf Stream hugs the Gold Coast but is too far off the treasure coast to make a difference. I think FL hurricanes like the tropical part of the state (southern third) and also the Emerald Coast as well.

So if you want the highest chances of not getting hit, then go to FL's treasure coast , Space Coast, or even better, NE FL (Jax area). Statistically, they are the safest areas in the state to live but if you are in Palm Beach south through Mia-Ft.Lauderdale and into Key Largo down to Key West good luck

If we are being specific to SFL, the highest chances would be from:
(WPB - Ft. Pierce) or (South of Miami)
The big Cities seem to be the best place to avoid a direct hit!

[docjoe]

Interesting maps, thanks for posting.

I wonder what that map would look like if you tried to fit in all the category one and two hurricanes that have passed within the same distance of the state.

here is a link that shows that in the panhandle

http://www.eglin.af.mil/weather/hurricanes/history.html

docjoe

[wxman57]

Interesting maps, thanks for posting.

I wonder what that map would look like if you tried to fit in all the category one and two hurricanes that have passed within the same distance of the state.

Here's the same map showing any impact in Florida of any TC that was at one time a Cat 1-5 hurricane: (make your own image at - http://hurricane.csc.noaa.gov/hurricanes/ )

[wxman57]

Here's a similar graphic showing all Cat 3-5 hurricanes passing within 10nm of Texas from 1851-2004. Note that there has never been a major landfalling hurricane between Galveston and Beaumont. Also note that Freeport, TX, just south of Houston, seems to be a hurricane magnet.

[SouthFloridawx]

Looks like texas has not had a major hurricane in quite a few years.... according to that graphic it was alicia in 1983

[wxman57]

Looks like texas has not had a major hurricane in quite a few years.... according to that graphic it was alicia in 1983

The name doesn't show on the map, but Bret hit the south TX coast in 1999. The last landfall on the upper mid to upper coast was Alicia in 1983, though. And Alicia was a fairly weak Cat 3 that weakened rapidly after moving ashore.

[wxman57]

If you take a look at Louisiana's Cat 3-5 landfalls from 1851-2004, you'll see something of interest. Only two major hurricanes have made landfall between Galveston Bay, TX and Vermilion Bay, LA (mid LA coast) in the past 150 years! The 1886 hurricane and Audrey of 1957. Still waiting to see if Rita is reclassified as a Cat 2 hitting that area. there doesn't appear to be any good climatological reason why that area has been spared.

Also of interest is the fact that no major hurricane has EVER tracked right across New Orleans, as Katrina was forecast to do. Fortunately for New Orleans, Katrina's core passed to the east of the city.

[SouthFloridawx]

It is amazing how there are a couple of spots where the hurricanes the made landfall are clustered together.

[weatherwoman132]

yeah it is.

[ROCK]

Looks like texas has not had a major hurricane in quite a few years.... according to that graphic it was alicia in 1983

23 years is a long long time. NO such thing as due but this area has been quiet for a long time for a major...

[HurricaneHunter914]

What about Hurricane Bret that hit Texas.

[wxman57]

What about Hurricane Bret that hit Texas.

Yeah, I pointed that out on my post above. When I cropped the map I cut off the label for Bret.

[Hyperstorm]

Thank you Chris for the great images from the states of Texas and Louisiana! Rita would have made history in being the first and only "major" hurricane to strike NE Texas directly, if it had taken a jog a little further west.

[gatorcane]

It is amazing how there are a couple of spots where the hurricanes the made landfall are clustered together.

Those maps are misleading. The reason is that to generate them, you specify a location within X miles that a hurricane has passed. Thus, the lines will cluster around the point and X miles from it through statistical sampling. Go to the website and try it to see what I mean.

[OuterBanker]

Thanks,

Feel much better living in eastern NC. Could be worse, I could live in Fla.

[SouthFloridawx]

Sure sure.... Is that from 1851-2004?