Nassau, Bahamas History with Tropical Systems

(br) = Brush (ts) = Tropical Storm (bd) = Back Door, meaning coming from over land from opposite coast. Not all names are noted. Also, storms before 1950 were not named. Not every stat on every storm description is given. (since 1871)

Nassau most likely to be hit by a hurricane between September 7th and September 13th

Years within 60 miles

1871
1877ts
1878tsbr
1883
1886br
1888
1888ts
1891
1893m
1893ts
1895tsbr
1895br
1896m
1897-2ts
1899m
1899br
1901ts
1903
1908brm
1908
1919brm
1926-2m
1926ts
1927tsbr
1928
1928m
1929m
1932tsbr
1932m
1933-2m
1936tsbr
1937-2ts
1938tsbr
1939tsbr
1941
1945brm
1945br
1946ts
1947ts
1949m
1952
1958ts
1961ts (HURDAT)
1965m
1966br
1974subts
1979br
1984ts
1987tsbr
1992m
1999
2001
2004m
2007ts
2011br
2012br
2016m
2020br
2020tsbr

63 times in 153 years (as of end of 2024)

Names from list above (I and F storms most likely to impact the area)

Fox
Janice
Gerda
Betsy
Inez
David
Isadore
Floyd
Andrew
Floyd
Michelle
Frances
Noel
Irene
Sandy
Matthew
Isaias
Eta

Tropical Storm to Hurricane ratio

TS = 25, 39.34%
H = 38, 60.66%

29.51% of all tropical systems affecting Nassau are major hurricanes this includes brushes

Longest gap between storms

10 years 1908-1919

How often this area gets affected?

Brushed or hit every 2.43 years

Average years between direct hurricane hits. (hurricane force winds for a few hours)

Once every 5.88 years. (26 hits)

Average years between major hurricane hits.

Once every 9.56 years. (16 hits)

Average MPH of hurricane hits. (based on sustained winds from advisories, not gusts)

120 mph

Statistically when this area should be affected next

2 years overdue

Last affected by

2020 November 8th Tropical storm Eta brushes to the west with 65 mph winds.

This area's hurricane history

1871 August 24th, 105 mph from the east-southeast
1883 September 8th, 50 killed 105 mph from the south directly over island
1888 August 15th, 105 mph from the east-southeast
1891 August 23rd, 95 mph from the east-southeast just south
1893 August 26th, 120 mph just north from the east-southeast. Hit map
1896 September 5th, 115 mph from the south. Hit map
1899 August 12th, 120 mph from the southeast just west
1903 September 10th, 85 mph from the southeast
1908 October 1st, 110 mph from the south-southeast just west
1926 eye passes directly over the island July 26th heavy damage, winds estimated at 130 mph from the southeast.
1926 September 17th, 145 mph just south from the east-southeast
1928 August 6th, 85 mph from the southeast just south
1928, 155 mph winds September 16th, great property loss. Eighteen people lost their lives in Nassau from this hurricane from the east-southeast. Wayne Neely book on 1928 hurricane
1929 September 26th from the northeast, a major hurricane hits with 140 mph winds, press of 27.65 takes 4 hrs to pass luckily good evacuations saved many lives heavy damage. Eye passed directly over island.Seven deaths reported in Nassau with numerous injuries.456 houses destroyed & 640 damaged, 137 killed in entire Bahama chain. Damage shot #1 | Damage shot #2 | Damage shot #3 | Damage shot #4 | Damage shot #5 | The song "run come see Jerusalem" based on the 1929 hurricane with slide presentation | Courtesy of Wayne Neely's "The major hurricanes to affect the Bahamas" target="_blank">
1932 September 5th, 160 mph from the east-southeast passes just north.
1933 September 3rd, 140 mph from the east-southeast passes just north.
1933 October 5th, 145 mph to the south from the southwest.
1941 October 5th, 100 mph from the east.
1949 August 26th, 115 mph (HURDAT) from the east-southeast.
1952 October 26th, Hurricane Fox hits with 85 mph (HURDAT) coming from the west.
1965 September 7th, Hurricane Betsy a category 3 moving west from the northeast, 125 mph heavy damage. Betsy page | Radar track | Remembering Betsy
In 1992 August 23rd, Hurricane Andrew passes just north by 20 miles with 155 mph winds moderate damage due to Andrews small size and core staying north. NHC Wallet
1999 September 14th Hurricane Floyd passes to the northeast by 48miles with 145 mph winds causes moderate damage here due to Floyd's large size some broken windows & roof damage from the east-southeast. NHC report
2001 November 5th, Hurricane Michelle hits just south with 85 mph winds kncks down power lines & dumps over a ft of rain causing heavy flooding while moving northeast pressure 28.72.People here say worst since Betsy in 1965. Jim Leonard in Nassau | NHC report
2004 September 4th, Hurricane Frances arguably a hit as she passed approximately 38 miles to the north as a category 3, 115 mph causing primarilly North & northwest winds from the east-southeast. Radar animation (Brian McNoldy, Univ. of Miami, Rosenstiel School) | NHC report
2016 October 6th, Hurricane Matthew hits just south with 130 mph winds while moving northwest causing heavy damage.Storm surge heights up to 8 feet inundated the south coast of New Providence and Grand Bahama Island. In Nassau, roads near and surrounding the airport were flooded to a depth of about 2 feet. (per NHC). Radar animation (Brian McNoldy, Univ. of Miami, Rosenstiel School) | Video of roof blowing off | Matthew timeline | NHC final report

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Stat sources:

Text Sources:

"Divine Wind" by Kerry Emanuel
"Florida Hurricanes and Tropical Storms" by John M. Williams and Iver W. Duedall
"Florida's Hurricane History" by Jay Barnes
"Hurricane Almanac" by Bryan Norcross
HurricaneCity.com calculations by Jim Williams
"Hurricanes and the Middle Atlantic States" by Rick Schwartz
"Hurricane Watch" by Dr. Bob Sheets and Jack Williams
"Inside the Hurricane" by Pete Davies
"Isaac's Storm" by Erik Larson
"Killer 'Cane" by Robert Mykle
"Lunatic Wind" by William Price Fox
Miami Herald newspaper (microfilm)
"Path of Destruction" by John McQuaid and Mark Schleifstein
Sun Sentinel newspaper (microfilm)
"The Major Hurricanes To Affect The Bahamas" by Wayne Neely
"The Ship and the Storm" by Jim Carrier
Plus many more......