21 historic Florida hurricanes and where they made landfall in the Sunshine State
Where and when a hurricane will make landfall is one of the great weather mysteries. Until it actually happens, it is anyone's guess.
Including where is Tropical Storm Idalia going to end up? So much emphasis has been on the Tampa-Clearwater region, but that was the case last year with Hurricane Ian, which made landfall in Southwest Florida and also in 2004 with Hurricane Charley. All indications were Charley would hit Tampa, but it made landfall in Punta Gorda.
What about Tampa? Tampa hurricane in 1921: Did you know?
What does it mean when a hurricane makes landfall?
According to the National Hurricane Center, a hurricane landfall is the intersection of the surface center of a tropical with a coastline. Because the strongest winds in a tropical cyclone are not located precisely at the center, it is possible for a cyclone's strongest winds to be experienced over land even if landfall does not occur. Similarly, it is possible for a tropical cyclone to make landfall and have its strongest winds remain over the water. Compare direct hit, indirect hit and strike.
Here is a list of Florida landfalls for significant hurricanes dating back to 1926, according to the Florida Climate Center in Tallahassee:
South Miami
Hurricane: Greater Miami Hurricane
Category: 4
Year: 1926
Jupiter
Hurricane: Lake Okeechobee
Category: 4
Year: 1928
Craig Key
Hurricane: Labor Day Hurricane
Category: 5
Year: 1935
Pompano Beach
Hurricane: Unnamed
Category: 4
Year: 1947
Storm lingo: Tropical Storm Idalia expected to rapidly intensify like Ian did: What to know
Palm Beach Shores
Hurricane: Unnamed
Category: 4
Year: 1949
Cedar Key
Hurricane: Easy
Category: 3
Year: 1950
Naples
Hurricane: Donna
Category: 4
Year: 1960
Florida Keys
Hurricane: Betsy
Category: 3
Year: 1965
Bay County
Hurricane: Eloise
Category: 3
Year: 1975
Homestead
Hurricane: Andrew
Category: 5
Year: 1992
Pensacola Beach
Hurricane: Opal
Category: 3
Year: 1995
Punta Gorda
Hurricane: Charley
Category: 4
Year: 2004
Hutchinson Island
Hurricane: Jeanne
Category: 3
Year: 2004
Santa Rosa Island
Hurricane: Dennis
Category: 3
Year: 2005
Cape Romano
Hurricane: Wilma
Category: 3
Year: 2005
Alligator Point
Hurricane: Hermine
Category: 1
Year: 2016
Cudjoe Key
Hurricane: Irma
Category: 4
Year: 2017
Mexico Beach
Hurricane: Michael
Category: 5
Year: 2018
Cayo Costa
Hurricane: Ian
Category: 4
Year: 2022
Vero Beach
Hurricane: Nicole
Category: 1
Year: 2022
Keaton Beach
Hurricane: Idalia
Category: 3
Year: 2023
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Where have Florida's historic hurricanes have made landfall
