Alachua County, Florida Hurricane History
Since 1867, 63 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Alachua County, Florida — about one every 2.5 years. Of those, 12 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Eta (2020), which passed 9 miles away on 12 November 2020.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentEta (2020) — 9 mi away, 12 November 2020
- Strongest stormEasy (1950) — 105 kt (121 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1871) — 2.3 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Unnamed Storm (1896) — 29.2 miles
- Passes within 25 miles25 of 63
- Peak monthSeptember — 19 storms (30% of all)
- Most active year1871 — 3 storms
- Most active decade1880s — 8 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi2
- Record span1867–2020
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 19 | 16 | 4 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eta (2020) | 12 Nov 2020 | 8.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Irma (2017) | 11 Sep 2017 | 21.2 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Colin (2016) | 7 Jun 2016 | 49.4 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Andrea (2013) | 7 Jun 2013 | 37.0 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Debby (2012) | 27 Jun 2012 | 17.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Beryl (2012) | 28 May 2012 | 45.8 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Fay (2008) | 22 Aug 2008 | 5.8 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Barry (2007) | 2 Jun 2007 | 15.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | 27 Sep 2004 | 31.4 mi | TS / TD | 44 kt |
| Edouard (2002) | 5 Sep 2002 | 48.3 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Gordon (2000) | 18 Sep 2000 | 38.7 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Gordon (1994) | 21 Nov 1994 | 48.0 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Marco (1990) | 12 Oct 1990 | 42.7 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Isidore (1984) | 28 Sep 1984 | 18.2 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1984) | 14 Jun 1984 | 49.2 mi | TD | — |
| Unnamed Storm (1982) | 18 Jun 1982 | 24.0 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1980) | 18 Nov 1980 | 47.2 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1980) | 18 Jul 1980 | 14.5 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1973) | 26 Sep 1973 | 9.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Alma (1970) | 25 May 1970 | 25.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Gladys (1968) | 19 Oct 1968 | 39.3 mi | Cat 1 | 77 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1966) | 2 Jul 1966 | 45.4 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1965) | 18 Oct 1965 | 46.9 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Dora (1964) | 10 Sep 1964 | 22.4 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1964) | 6 Jun 1964 | 6.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1953) | 20 Sep 1953 | 46.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| King (1950) | 18 Oct 1950 | 9.0 mi | Cat 1 | 66 kt |
| Easy (1950) | 7 Sep 1950 | 36.8 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 27 Aug 1949 | 29.6 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1946) | 2 Nov 1946 | 31.9 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1946) | 8 Oct 1946 | 3.8 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | 24 Jun 1945 | 49.0 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | 19 Oct 1944 | 36.3 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1941) | 21 Oct 1941 | 32.7 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1937) | 21 Sep 1937 | 29.4 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1937) | 30 Aug 1937 | 14.9 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1936) | 22 Aug 1936 | 8.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | 23 Jul 1934 | 25.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1933) | 5 Sep 1933 | 46.3 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 18 Sep 1928 | 26.8 mi | Cat 1 | 69 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1926) | 28 Jul 1926 | 30.2 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1920) | 30 Sep 1920 | 35.0 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 15 May 1916 | 22.1 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 2 Aug 1915 | 45.1 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1910) | 19 Oct 1910 | 27.5 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1900) | 12 Oct 1900 | 22.6 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 29 Sep 1896 | 29.2 mi | Cat 3 | 98 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1889) | 17 Jun 1889 | 10.8 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 11 Oct 1888 | 3.4 mi | Cat 2 | 85 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 9 Sep 1888 | 32.6 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 19 Jul 1886 | 19.6 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | 12 Oct 1885 | 44.6 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | 30 Sep 1885 | 36.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 11 Oct 1882 | 42.5 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1880) | 8 Oct 1880 | 30.2 mi | Cat 1 | 66 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1879) | 27 Oct 1879 | 30.2 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 10 Sep 1878 | 37.9 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1877) | 26 Oct 1877 | 12.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 28 Sep 1874 | 9.2 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 6 Sep 1871 | 2.3 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 25 Aug 1871 | 40.4 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 18 Aug 1871 | 7.8 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1867) | 7 Oct 1867 | 12.1 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 4 systems passed within 50 miles after losing tropical characteristics. These are excluded from the counts above because they were no longer tropical cyclones at their closest approach — but several were highly damaging, so they are listed here.
| Storm | Status | Closest approach | Distance | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ana (1991) | Remnant low | 1 Jul 1991 | 24.5 mi | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | Post-tropical | 24 Sep 1947 | 10.4 mi | 49 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | Post-tropical | 4 Oct 1912 | 40.9 mi | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1911) | Post-tropical | 1 Nov 1911 | 47.5 mi | 25 kt |
Storms that came back
1 named storm in this record passed Alachua County, Florida more than once.
- Gordon — 2 passes (1994, 2000)
How Alachua County, Florida compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Alachua County, Florida ranks #89 — more exposed than 96.0% of them. Within Florida it ranks #36 of 67, against a state average of 63.4 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 3 Easy (1950) passed 37 miles away on 7 September 1950 as a tropical storm, reaching 105 kt (121 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 3 Unnamed Storm (1896) passed 29 miles away on 29 September 1896 as a hurricane, reaching 100 kt (115 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1888) passed 3 miles away on 11 October 1888 as a hurricane, reaching 90 kt (104 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Dora (1964) passed 22 miles away on 10 September 1964 as a hurricane, reaching 80 kt (92 mph) while within 50 miles.
54 of the 63 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 2.5 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 63 storms spread over the 159 years from 1867 to 2025. 10 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while stretches of a decade or more have passed with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 11 years, between 1953 and 1964. It has been 5 years since the last one; 7 of the 51 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Alachua County, Florida?
12 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Alachua County, Florida at hurricane strength since 1867. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 63.
When was the last hurricane in Alachua County, Florida?
Gladys (1968), on 19 October 1968, passing 39 miles away — 58 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Eta (2020) in 2020.
What was the strongest storm to affect Alachua County, Florida?
Easy (1950), which reached 105 kt (121 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 37 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Alachua County, Florida?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 2.5 years — 63 storms over the 159 years from 1867 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Alachua County, Florida borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Marion County, Florida has 71 on record.