Putnam County, Florida Hurricane History
Since 1867, 65 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Putnam County, Florida — about one every 2.4 years. Of those, 15 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Eta (2020), which passed 40 miles away on 12 November 2020.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentEta (2020) — 40 mi away, 12 November 2020
- Strongest stormDora (1964) — 95 kt (109 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordEasy (1950) — 2.0 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles37 of 65
- Peak monthSeptember — 19 storms (29% of all)
- Most active year1968 — 4 storms
- Most active decade1960s — 10 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1867–2020
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 19 | 18 | 4 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eta (2020) | 12 Nov 2020 | 40.1 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Julia (2016) | 13 Sep 2016 | 17.7 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Debby (2012) | 27 Jun 2012 | 7.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Beryl (2012) | 28 May 2012 | 41.9 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Fay (2008) | 22 Aug 2008 | 9.3 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Barry (2007) | 2 Jun 2007 | 23.3 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Tammy (2005) | 5 Oct 2005 | 42.1 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Charley (2004) | 14 Aug 2004 | 41.5 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Edouard (2002) | 5 Sep 2002 | 28.2 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Leslie (2000) | 4 Oct 2000 | 43.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Gordon (1994) | 21 Nov 1994 | 11.3 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Isidore (1984) | 28 Sep 1984 | 19.5 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1984) | 13 Jun 1984 | 36.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1982) | 18 Jun 1982 | 14.1 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1980) | 18 Nov 1980 | 15.4 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1980) | 18 Jul 1980 | 6.8 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1976) | 14 Sep 1976 | 14.0 mi | TS / TD | 21 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1973) | 26 Sep 1973 | 4.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Jenny (1969) | 4 Oct 1969 | 43.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Gladys (1968) | 19 Oct 1968 | 13.4 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1968) | 31 Aug 1968 | 18.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Brenda (1968) | 20 Jun 1968 | 44.5 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Abby (1968) | 6 Jun 1968 | 38.2 mi | TS / TD | 56 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1965) | 18 Oct 1965 | 24.7 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Dora (1964) | 10 Sep 1964 | 24.7 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Cleo (1964) | 28 Aug 1964 | 26.0 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1964) | 6 Jun 1964 | 18.4 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Donna (1960) | 11 Sep 1960 | 38.0 mi | Cat 1 | 73 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1953) | 21 Sep 1953 | 42.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| King (1950) | 18 Oct 1950 | 22.5 mi | Cat 1 | 67 kt |
| Easy (1950) | 7 Sep 1950 | 2.0 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1946) | 2 Nov 1946 | 6.1 mi | TS / TD | 21 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1946) | 8 Oct 1946 | 34.9 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | 17 Sep 1945 | 13.9 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | 24 Jun 1945 | 19.3 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | 19 Oct 1944 | 2.8 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1937) | 21 Sep 1937 | 35.2 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1937) | 30 Aug 1937 | 19.6 mi | TS / TD | 49 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1937) | 30 Jul 1937 | 37.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1936) | 22 Aug 1936 | 19.4 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | 23 Jul 1934 | 5.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1930) | 10 Sep 1930 | 42.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 18 Sep 1928 | 10.4 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1926) | 28 Jul 1926 | 7.9 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 15 May 1916 | 16.1 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 2 Aug 1915 | 13.2 mi | TS / TD | 44 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1910) | 19 Oct 1910 | 10.8 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1906) | 21 Oct 1906 | 15.4 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1900) | 12 Oct 1900 | 47.3 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1899) | 5 Oct 1899 | 42.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 26 Sep 1894 | 32.6 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1889) | 17 Jun 1889 | 20.0 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 11 Oct 1888 | 31.8 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1887) | 30 Oct 1887 | 45.7 mi | TS / TD | 36 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 19 Jul 1886 | 11.4 mi | TS / TD | 54 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | 30 Sep 1885 | 42.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1880) | 8 Oct 1880 | 5.5 mi | Cat 1 | 64 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1879) | 28 Oct 1879 | 7.9 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 10 Sep 1878 | 5.7 mi | TS / TD | 63 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1877) | 27 Oct 1877 | 10.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 28 Sep 1874 | 36.9 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1873) | 23 Sep 1873 | 33.0 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 6 Sep 1871 | 32.8 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 18 Aug 1871 | 38.1 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1867) | 7 Oct 1867 | 33.4 mi | TS / TD | 43 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 | 8.4 mi | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | Post-tropical | 24 Sep 1947 | 45.2 mi | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1920) | Post-tropical | 30 Sep 1920 | 15.4 mi | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | Post-tropical | 4 Oct 1912 | 29.8 mi | 30 kt |
How Putnam County, Florida compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Putnam County, Florida ranks #70 — more exposed than 96.8% of them. Within Florida it ranks #28 of 67, against a state average of 63.4 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 2 Dora (1964) passed 25 miles away on 10 September 1964 as a hurricane, reaching 95 kt (109 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1888) passed 32 miles away on 11 October 1888 as a hurricane, reaching 85 kt (98 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Gladys (1968) passed 13 miles away on 19 October 1968 as a hurricane, reaching 76 kt (87 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Charley (2004) passed 42 miles away on 14 August 2004 as a hurricane, reaching 75 kt (86 mph) while within 50 miles.
54 of the 65 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 2.4 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 65 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 10 years, between 1916 and 1926. It has been 5 years since the last one; 6 of the 50 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Putnam County, Florida?
15 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Putnam County, Florida at hurricane strength since 1867. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 65.
When was the last hurricane in Putnam County, Florida?
Charley (2004), on 14 August 2004, passing 42 miles away — 22 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Eta (2020) in 2020.
What was the strongest storm to affect Putnam County, Florida?
Dora (1964), which reached 95 kt (109 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 25 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Putnam County, Florida?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 2.4 years — 65 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
Putnam County, Florida borders or sits close to 7 other counties with a published storm record. St. Johns County, Florida has 72 on record.