Of all the recorded hurricanes to hit the U.S. since 1851, 36 percent have made landfall in Florida. A look at the paths of the major hurricanes (category 3 and higher) that have passed through the state. The most affected counties are in the shaded area.
Use our timeline to learn more about some of the most important dates in hurricane history.
Historical hurricane photos
See images of past hurricanes. Read more ...
Hurricane timeline: 1495 to 1800
Hurricanes played an important role during the European exploration and colonization of the Americas. New settlements were established, battles were lost and geography was changed by these monster storms. Read more ...
Hurricane timeline: The 1800s
Scientists began to understand hurricanes during the 1800s, and forecasters were able to issue warnings as storms approached. Despite this growing knowledge, hurricanes continued to cause incredible destruction throughout the century. Read more ...
Hurricane timeline: 1900 to 1950
The most intense and the deadliest hurricanes in U.S. history occurred during this period as forecasters began to understand the danger of flooding and storm surge. Read more ...
Hurricane timeline: 1950 to 1990
Satellites, computer models and improved transportation ushered in the modern era of hurricane forecasting. Read more ...
Hurricane timeline: 1990 to 2000
Despite improvements in forecasting, hurricanes continued to cause death and destruction in the 1990s. In 1992, Hurricane Andrew caused $26.5 billion in damage when it hit South Florida. Then in 1998, Hurricane Mitch killed over 11,000 people in Central America -- the deadliest Atlantic hurricane since 1780. Read more ...
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