A hurricane making Florida landfall in June? Here is how often that's happened

Mark H. Bickel, Fort Myers News-Press
Updated ·4 min read
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If you think it's too early to be fixated on what is going on in the Atlantic Ocean with the waves coming of the coast of Africa −and possibly turning into a hurricane that could hit Florida − you're right.

It's too early.

Or, is it?

Historically, it is very rare for a hurricane to make landfall in Florida in June. But Tropical Storm Bret formed on Monday (June 19) and is defying the odds. Most forecasters are predicting it will be the first hurricane of the season.

Back to reality:

According to the Weather Channel, a June landfall has happened in Florida only two times since 1950 and four times overall in the U.S. for the same period. It's been more than 35 years since the United States had a hurricane landfall in June and 51 years since Florida took a hit.

Conditions this time of year are normally not optimal for hurricanes to form. However, there have been reports in the last week that temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico are above normal for this time of year. Warm water fuels the formation of a hurricane.

So, as we wait to see what happens with these early developers in the Atlantic, here is some perspective regarding the unlikeliness of a hurricane making landfall in Florida in June:

Tracking Bret: Tropical Storm Bret expected to become hurricane as it moves toward Caribbean

Red flag: Spring ocean temperatures are shockingly hot around the globe. Scientists aren’t sure what happens next.

How many hurricanes have made landfall in Florida in June?

Since 1950 only these two hurricanes have made landfall in Florida:

Hurricane Alma (1966)

FORMED: June 4

WHAT WE KNOW: The hurricane weakened before moving ashore near Apalachee Bay. Damage in Florida was estimated at $10 million, and there were six deaths in the state. Because Alma was initially forecast to cross the central portion of the state, residents along the Florida Panhandle were not prepared for the hurricane. Just hours before the storm moved ashore, officials ordered evacuations for residents in low-lying areas around Apalachicola.

Hurricane Agnes (1972)

FORMED: June 14, 1972

WHAT WE KNOW: Hurricane Agnes was the costliest hurricane to hit the United States at the time, causing an estimated $2.1 billion in damage. The hurricane's death toll was 128. The effects of Agnes were widespread, from the Caribbean to Canada, with much of the East Coast of the United States affected. Agnes made landfall near Panama City late on June 19. After moving inland, Agnes rapidly weakened and was only a tropical depression when it entered Georgia.

What other hurricanes have hit the United States in June?

A hurricane warning flag goes up to indicate winds in the range of 55-73 mph.
A hurricane warning flag goes up to indicate winds in the range of 55-73 mph.

According to the Weather Channel (since 1950):

Hurricane Bonnie (1986)

  • WHAT WE KNOW: Hurricane Bonnie is the most recent hurricane to make a June landfall (June 25) in the U.S. (High Island, Texas). It struck the upper Texas coast as a Category 1 and produced moderate damage from near Port Arthur, Texas, to southwest Louisiana.

Hurricane Audrey (1957)

  • WHAT WE KNOW: Hurricane Audrey made landfall on June 27 in Louisiana. Audrey was one of the deadliest tropical cyclones in U.S. history, killing at least 416 people in its devastation of the southwestern Louisiana coast.

What about tropical storms in the U.S. in June?

According to the Weather Channel: While June has had very few U.S. hurricane landfalls in the last six decades, there have been a number of impactful tropical storms.

  • In 2020, Tropical Storm Cristobal hit the northern Gulf Coast in early June and produced significant storm surge as well as heavy rain, gusty winds and tornadoes. NOAA estimates that Cristobal caused $310 million in damage.

  • The most damaging June tropical storm this century was Allison in 2001. Allison and its remnants produced more than 40 inches of rain in southeast Texas, contributing to a flooding disaster. Allison caused $9 billion in damage, with much of that occurring in the Houston area, making it the costliest tropical storm in U.S. history. There were 41 deaths attributed to Allison, 27 of which were attributed to freshwater flooding, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Florida hurricanes in June: Here are how many have made landfall