Dixie County, Florida Hurricane History
Since 1867, 63 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Dixie County, Florida — about one every 2.5 years. Of those, 14 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Helene (2024), which passed 40 miles away on 27 September 2024.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentHelene (2024) — 40 mi away, 27 September 2024
- Strongest stormHelene (2024) — 120 kt (138 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1933) — 3.9 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Unnamed Storm (1896) — 20.5 miles
- Passes within 25 miles31 of 63
- Peak monthSeptember — 21 storms (33% of all)
- Most active year1871 — 4 storms
- Most active decade1880s — 9 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi4
- Record span1867–2024
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 4 | 12 | 21 | 11 | 2 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 6 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helene (2024) | 27 Sep 2024 | 39.9 mi | Cat 4 | 120 kt |
| Debby (2024) | 5 Aug 2024 | 18.8 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Idalia (2023) | 30 Aug 2023 | 32.4 mi | Cat 3 | 105 kt |
| Nicole (2022) | 10 Nov 2022 | 9.9 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Elsa (2021) | 7 Jul 2021 | 20.2 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Eta (2020) | 12 Nov 2020 | 31.0 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Irma (2017) | 11 Sep 2017 | 30.3 mi | TS / TD | 49 kt |
| Colin (2016) | 7 Jun 2016 | 27.7 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Andrea (2013) | 6 Jun 2013 | 7.1 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Debby (2012) | 26 Jun 2012 | 17.6 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Fay (2008) | 22 Aug 2008 | 14.9 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Alberto (2006) | 13 Jun 2006 | 36.8 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | 27 Sep 2004 | 17.5 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Frances (2004) | 6 Sep 2004 | 33.9 mi | TS / TD | 54 kt |
| Gordon (2000) | 18 Sep 2000 | 8.6 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Jerry (1995) | 25 Aug 1995 | 5.0 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Marco (1990) | 12 Oct 1990 | 11.6 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1980) | 18 Jul 1980 | 11.3 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1976) | 23 May 1976 | 40.3 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1974) | 27 Sep 1974 | 40.8 mi | TD | — |
| Unnamed Storm (1973) | 26 Sep 1973 | 14.7 mi | TD | — |
| Alpha (1972) | 28 May 1972 | 42.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1971) | 16 Aug 1971 | 26.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Alma (1970) | 25 May 1970 | 20.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1966) | 1 Jul 1966 | 8.2 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Dora (1964) | 10 Sep 1964 | 34.2 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1964) | 6 Jun 1964 | 36.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Brenda (1960) | 29 Jul 1960 | 18.8 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1953) | 20 Sep 1953 | 38.2 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Love (1950) | 21 Oct 1950 | 14.2 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Easy (1950) | 5 Sep 1950 | 40.9 mi | Cat 3 | 105 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 27 Aug 1949 | 24.5 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 8 Oct 1947 | 45.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1941) | 20 Oct 1941 | 17.7 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1937) | 21 Sep 1937 | 32.1 mi | TS / TD | 24 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1937) | 31 Aug 1937 | 12.2 mi | TS / TD | 44 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1936) | 22 Aug 1936 | 24.1 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1935) | 4 Sep 1935 | 10.4 mi | Cat 2 | 85 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1933) | 5 Sep 1933 | 3.9 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | 15 Sep 1932 | 43.6 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 9 Aug 1928 | 25.4 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1920) | 30 Sep 1920 | 49.4 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1909) | 30 Jun 1909 | 10.5 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | 14 Jun 1902 | 30.9 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1900) | 12 Oct 1900 | 5.3 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 29 Sep 1896 | 20.5 mi | Cat 3 | 100 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 15 Jun 1893 | 36.8 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1889) | 17 Jun 1889 | 37.3 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 11 Oct 1888 | 25.7 mi | Cat 2 | 95 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 9 Sep 1888 | 20.5 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 21 Jun 1886 | 48.5 mi | Cat 2 | 85 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | 11 Oct 1885 | 10.8 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | 30 Sep 1885 | 44.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 11 Oct 1882 | 5.3 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1880) | 8 Sep 1880 | 27.7 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1880) | 30 Aug 1880 | 35.1 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1877) | 26 Oct 1877 | 17.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 28 Sep 1874 | 35.6 mi | Cat 1 | 67 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 5 Oct 1871 | 48.8 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 6 Sep 1871 | 27.9 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 26 Aug 1871 | 4.9 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 18 Aug 1871 | 45.4 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1867) | 6 Oct 1867 | 3.9 mi | TS / TD | 63 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | Post-tropical | 24 Sep 1947 | 39.7 mi | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | Post-tropical | 4 Oct 1912 | 40.5 mi | 30 kt |
Storms that came back
1 named storm in this record passed Dixie County, Florida more than once.
- Debby — 2 passes (2012, 2024)
How Dixie County, Florida compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Dixie County, Florida ranks #91 — more exposed than 95.9% of them. Within Florida it ranks #38 of 67, against a state average of 63.4 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 4 Helene (2024) passed 40 miles away on 27 September 2024 as a hurricane, reaching 120 kt (138 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 3 Idalia (2023) passed 32 miles away on 30 August 2023 as a hurricane, reaching 110 kt (127 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 3 Unnamed Storm (1896) passed 20 miles away on 29 September 1896 as a hurricane, reaching 110 kt (127 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 3 Easy (1950) passed 41 miles away on 5 September 1950 as a hurricane, reaching 105 kt (121 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. 9 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 1909 and 1920. It has been 1 year since the last one; 35 of the 51 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Dixie County, Florida?
14 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Dixie 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 Dixie County, Florida?
Helene (2024), on 27 September 2024, passing 40 miles away — 2 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Helene (2024) in 2024.
What was the strongest storm to affect Dixie County, Florida?
Helene (2024), which reached 120 kt (138 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 40 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Dixie 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
Dixie County, Florida borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. Lafayette County, Florida has 70 on record.