Bay County, Florida Hurricane History
Since 1851, 53 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Bay County, Florida — about one every 3.3 years. Of those, 20 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Mindy (2021), which passed 41 miles away on 9 September 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentMindy (2021) — 41 mi away, 9 September 2021
- Strongest stormMichael (2018) — 140 kt (161 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1875) — 2.1 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Unnamed Storm (1894) — 3.5 miles
- Passes within 25 miles31 of 53
- Peak monthSeptember — 18 storms (34% of all)
- Most active year1885 — 3 storms
- Most active decade1880s, 1900s and 2000s — 5 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi5
- Record span1851–2021
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 17 | 18 | 8 | 2 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mindy (2021) | 9 Sep 2021 | 41.0 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Fred (2021) | 16 Aug 2021 | 9.8 mi | TS / TD | 49 kt |
| Michael (2018) | 10 Oct 2018 | 8.5 mi | Cat 4 | 135 kt |
| Alberto (2018) | 28 May 2018 | 25.9 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Claudette (2009) | 17 Aug 2009 | 29.0 mi | TS / TD | 44 kt |
| Fay (2008) | 23 Aug 2008 | 6.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Ten (2007) | 21 Sep 2007 | 46.3 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Bonnie (2004) | 12 Aug 2004 | 46.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Barry (2001) | 6 Aug 2001 | 45.9 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Georges (1998) | 30 Sep 1998 | 37.4 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| Earl (1998) | 3 Sep 1998 | 10.7 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Beryl (1994) | 16 Aug 1994 | 4.4 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1987) | 15 Aug 1987 | 23.4 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Kate (1985) | 21 Nov 1985 | 13.6 mi | Cat 2 | 85 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1980) | 19 Jul 1980 | 40.1 mi | TS / TD | 24 kt |
| Eloise (1975) | 23 Sep 1975 | 45.8 mi | Cat 3 | 110 kt |
| Agnes (1972) | 19 Jun 1972 | 11.0 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1971) | 14 Oct 1971 | 33.8 mi | TD | — |
| Becky (1970) | 22 Jul 1970 | 20.0 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1969) | 21 Sep 1969 | 32.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Debbie (1957) | 8 Sep 1957 | 32.4 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Flossy (1956) | 25 Sep 1956 | 37.0 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Florence (1953) | 26 Sep 1953 | 40.9 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Alice (1953) | 6 Jun 1953 | 22.0 mi | TS / TD | 41 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 7 Oct 1947 | 6.7 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1939) | 13 Aug 1939 | 21.5 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1937) | 20 Sep 1937 | 32.7 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1937) | 31 Aug 1937 | 30.9 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1936) | 22 Aug 1936 | 12.7 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1929) | 1 Oct 1929 | 9.8 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 14 Aug 1928 | 38.7 mi | TS / TD | 41 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1924) | 15 Sep 1924 | 34.6 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 4 Sep 1915 | 8.5 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1907) | 28 Sep 1907 | 10.7 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1907) | 29 Jun 1907 | 17.0 mi | TS / TD | 49 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1906) | 12 Jun 1906 | 5.7 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1904) | 3 Nov 1904 | 45.6 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1903) | 13 Sep 1903 | 5.7 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1899) | 1 Aug 1899 | 25.8 mi | Cat 1 | 64 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1898) | 3 Aug 1898 | 3.5 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 9 Oct 1894 | 3.5 mi | Cat 3 | 105 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 30 Jun 1886 | 37.5 mi | Cat 2 | 85 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | 29 Sep 1885 | 24.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | 21 Sep 1885 | 11.7 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | 31 Aug 1885 | 8.5 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1880) | 31 Aug 1880 | 10.2 mi | TS / TD | 63 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 10 Oct 1878 | 19.6 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1877) | 3 Oct 1877 | 11.2 mi | Cat 3 | 100 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1877) | 20 Sep 1877 | 33.9 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1875) | 27 Sep 1875 | 2.1 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1868) | 4 Oct 1868 | 19.6 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1856) | 31 Aug 1856 | 17.1 mi | Cat 2 | 87 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1851) | 23 Aug 1851 | 9.9 mi | Cat 3 | 97 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fay (2020) | Remnant low | 6 Jul 2020 | 14.2 mi | 28 kt |
| Nestor (2019) | Post-tropical | 19 Oct 2019 | 7.8 mi | 40 kt |
| Five (2010) | Remnant low | 16 Aug 2010 | 2.0 mi | 20 kt |
| Ida (2009) | Post-tropical | 11 Nov 2009 | 42.0 mi | 25 kt |
| Tammy (2005) | Remnant low | 7 Oct 2005 | 10.5 mi | 10 kt |
| Hilda (1964) | Post-tropical | 5 Oct 1964 | 34.8 mi | 49 kt |
How Bay County, Florida compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Bay County, Florida ranks #165 — more exposed than 92.5% of them. Within Florida it ranks #65 of 67, against a state average of 63.4 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 5 Michael (2018) passed 9 miles away on 10 October 2018 as a hurricane, reaching 140 kt (161 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 3 Eloise (1975) passed 46 miles away on 23 September 1975 as a hurricane, reaching 110 kt (127 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 3 Unnamed Storm (1894) passed 3 miles away on 9 October 1894 as a hurricane, reaching 105 kt (121 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 3 Unnamed Storm (1877) passed 11 miles away on 3 October 1877 as a hurricane, reaching 100 kt (115 mph) while within 50 miles.
48 of the 53 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 3.3 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 53 storms spread over the 175 years from 1851 to 2025. 8 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 12 years, between 1856 and 1868. It has been 4 years since the last one; 15 of the 43 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Bay County, Florida?
20 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Bay County, Florida at hurricane strength since 1851. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 53.
When was the last hurricane in Bay County, Florida?
Michael (2018), on 10 October 2018, passing 9 miles away — 8 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Mindy (2021) in 2021.
What was the strongest storm to affect Bay County, Florida?
Michael (2018), which reached 140 kt (161 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 9 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Bay County, Florida?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 3.3 years — 53 storms over the 175 years from 1851 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Bay County, Florida borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. Gulf County, Florida has 58 on record.