What are the worst hurricanes in the history of Florida?

As Hurricane Milton is set to hit Florida just over a week after Hurricane Helene battered the southeast, we take a look at the most intense storms to hit the Sunshine state.

Tom Brenner

Maite Knorr-Evans

Maite joined the AS USA in 2021, bringing her experience as a research analyst investigating illegal logging to the team. Maite’s interest in politics propelled her to pursue a degree in international relations and a master's in political philosophy. At AS USA, Maite combines her knowledge of political economy and personal finance to empower readers by providing answers to their most pressing questions.

Update: Oct 7th, 2024 10:22 EDT

In late September, Hurricane Helene made landfall along Florida’s Big Bend coastline as a Category 4 storm. As it approached land, the storm brought with it 140-mile-per-hour winds and left a path for destruction from Florida to North Carolina, claiming the lives of over 200 people, with hundreds still missing.

Now, another major hurricane is barreling towards Florida’s southern west coast. Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall on Wednesday around Tampa as a Category 3 storm.

4PM CDT Oct 5: Tropical Storm Milton is forecast to strengthen quickly and bring the risk of life-threatening impacts to portions of the west coast of Florida Tuesday or Wednesday. Make sure to check back for updates through the weekend and into next week at… pic.twitter.com/ODXkMcuLAz
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) October 5, 2024

Here are five other major hurricanes to have ravaged the Sunshine State…

Hurricane Andrew (1992)

South Miami-Dade County was hit with a Category 5 hurricane three decades ago, with winds of up to 165mph recorded and 15 people killed as a direct result of the storm. It is thought to have cost the state $25 billion in damages, the most costly in US history until Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

I'm thinking of all those impacted by Hurricane Ian. Having lived through Hurricane Andrew myself, I know the fear and anxiety that comes from such a difficult moment. Here are resources to keep you and your loved ones up to date with information on the course of the storm. https://t.co/FT0joNHXY3
— Dr. Vivek Murthy, U.S. Surgeon General (@Surgeon_General) September 29, 2022

Hurricane Charley (2004)

Florida’s Gulf Coast was struck with an unexpected Category 4 hurricane in 2004, first making landfall on the island of Cayo Costa. The storm caused around $6.8 billion in damage and nine people were killed.

Hurricane Wilma (2005)

Another Category 4 storm hit just a year later, striking southern areas of Florida and causing an estimated $20.6 billion in damages. Fortunately, despite the huge destruction only five people lost their lives as a direct result of the storm.

15 years ago today, Hurricane #Wilma ravaged south #Florida with wind and storm surge. It produced a 4-foot storm surge at Virginia Key and the #Miami area. pic.twitter.com/TrV8Y8TE5n
— Brian McNoldy (@BMcNoldy) October 24, 2020

Hurricane Irma (2017)

Unlike the sudden impact of Hurricane Charley, Hurricane Irma tracked a slow and lengthy path through Florida, racking up an astonishing $50 billion in property damages. The extended period of heavy rainfall, flooding and powerful winds left 6.5 million people in the state with power, causing huge long-term disruption. A case in point: while only seven people were killed in the storm, another 80 are thought to have died as a result of the damage caused.

Hurricane Michael (2018)

How to track Hurricane Ian and when should I put up hurricane shutters?

Four years ago Hurricane Michael became the most powerful storm to reach the Florida panhandle, ranking as a Category 5 storm with winds of up to 160mph.

Let’s think back to Hurricane Michael, which made landfall with max winds of 162mph. It wiped out Mexico City Beach Florida.

Ian is currently 155mph, and headed directly for highly populated cities in SW Florida.

This is a worst case scenario playing out. pic.twitter.com/JH73cwsKkK
— Ella Dorsey (@Ella__Dorsey) September 28, 2022

There was severe damage in the Panama City Beach and Mexico Beach areas with seven Floridians losing their lives as a direct result, and another 43 deaths attributed to the hurricane.