Ranking of cities and islands affected most by tropical storms and hurricanes

The cities and islands listed below are ranked 1 through 50 with the amount of years between a Storm or Hurricane (inc extratropical) coming within or near the core of that city or island. This ranking method is based on tracking charts dating back to 1871 from every Hurricane Season in the atlantic basin. Wind radii prior to 1990 are based on climatology rather than observed values but on certain storms research has allowed for more accurate wind fields. Keep in mind when viewing this list that Florida and the Western Caribbean get the most action due to vulnerability of all 6 months of Hurricane Season. The Mid Atlantic coast gets many brushes and recurvatures as well as back door extratropical storms. The east Caribbean only has August, September and October as main threats, also note the closeness of locations in Southern locations vrs North. Often times tropical systems expand further North so we have less locations for Northern areas in the database . This list is updated at the end of each Hurricane Season and re-calculated! (Caution! If this list was calculated only on hurricane hits, it would be totally different.)

Rankings = #1 most hits and brushes to #50. This list is compiled out of our 153 cities & islands throughout the coastal United States, Mexico and all Caribbean Islands. The rankings are based on all hurricanes as well as tropical, sub tropical and extratropical systems!!

CAUTION!! This ranking system has become very popular with insurance companies, schools and local government offices. The ranking list has shown up on company brochures, text books and government hurricane pamphlets with mistakes. For example, title "Hurricane prone areas Delray Beach, Florida hit by hurricanes every 2.24 years") is not true, this is for both TROPICAL STORMS and hurricanes. We do not want people thinking Delray Beach gets hit by a hurricane every three years. This list changes after each hurricane season, so if you are planning a document to last for more than one year the rankings may be inaccurate. Please allow us to proof read the documents you plan on using before inaccurate information spreads by contacting jim@hurricanecity.com. Under no circumstances may this code be reproduced on other web pages, however you are more than welcome to link to this page. (see comments in hidden html) Thank you!!!

These cities and islands are affected (within or near core **subjective to wind fields**) the most in the Atlantic Basin SINCE 1871. Example.
1) Cape Hatteras, North Carolina	every 1.37 years	Arguably affected by extratropical storm Andrea in 2013 but falls outside of the 60 to 80 mile criteria except for significant systems but we'll call it a miss. This area has probably more brushes than any other area in the top 50 with many recurvatures just offshore. There are also numerous back door systems from the Gulf of Mexico that have cut through Hatteras on the way out to sea. (affected a whopping 104 times since 1871)
2) Morehead City, North Carolina	every 1.54 years	Same explanation as above as Andrea passed over 90 miles away in 2013. Located just S.W. of Cape Hatteras affected by many of the same systems. Top of the 1.53 group with 25 hurricane hits. (affected 92 times since 1871)
3) Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas	every 1.61 years	Had a quiet 2013 season but remains in the #3 position and the most affected island in the Bahamas. Located in the N.W Bahamas the island see's many storms turning N.W. off the state of Florida. (affected 88 times since 1871)
4) Cayman Islands	every 1.67 years	Had a quiet 2013 hurricane season and remains at the #4 position. This is the most affected area in the Caribbean sea affected 85 times.
5) Great Abaco Island, Bahamas	every 1.78 years	Had a quiet 2013 season but remains at the #5 position. If this list was for hurricane hits only this island would be #1 with 39 hurricane hits since 1871 (affected 80 times since 1871)
6) Wilmington, North Carolina	every 1.78 years	Was affected by back door tropical storm Andrea in 2013 but remains at the #6 position due to losing tie breaker with Great Abaco which has more hurricane hits than Wilmington. Located in the Southeast, North Carolina gets a lot of back door systems and recurvatures just east (affected 80 times).
7) Andros Island, Bahamas	every 1.82 years	Had a quiet 2013 hurricane season and remains at the #7 position. Less hurricane hits than Great Abaco being further south and missing many recurving hurricanes with 8 less hurricane hits than Abaco Isl. (affected 78 times since 1871)
8 ) Bermuda	every 1.92 years	Hit by tropical storm Gabrielle in 2013 and moves up one position by winning hurricane tie breaker vrs Sable Island NS. This Island has a lot of brushes mainly to the east but also has 34 hurricane hits. (affected 74 times since 1871)
9) Sable Island, Nova Scotia	every 1.92 years	Had a quiet 2013 season and drops 1 position losing tie breaker with Bermuda. Has many extratropical storm hits and is higher ranked than any other northern location. This tiny island gets hit frequently by systems moving out to sea just to the south. (affected 74 times since 1871)
10) Boca Raton, Florida	every 1.95 years	Had a another quiet season in 2013 but remains tops in Florida. Would be lower ranked if the list was only for hurricanes with 26 hurricane hits.(affected 73 times since 1871)
11) Miami, Florida	every 2.00 years	Had a quiet 2013 season but remains in the same position. Tops of the 2.00 group with 31 hurricane hits. (affected 71 times since 1871)
12) Savannah, Georgia	every 2.00 years	Affected by tropical storm Andrea in 2013 and moves up 3 positions to #12. 13 less Hurricanes than Miami puts this city below Miami.(affected 71 times since 1871)
13) Spring Hill, Florida	every 2.00 years	Affected by Tropical Storm Andrea in 2013 and moves up 3 positions. This city gets many back door systems from the Atlantic crossing into the Gulf. (affected 71 times since 1871)
14) Tarpon Springs, Florida	every 2.00 years	Affected by tropical storm Andrea and moves up 3 positions . Ranked near bottom of the 2.00 group with 12 hurricane hits . Area affected by many storms crossing the state and recurving just East while inland. (affected 71 times since 1871)
15) Hollywood, Florida	every 2.03 years	Also had another quiet 2013 hurricane season and drops 3 positions. Top of the 2.03 group with 28 hurricane hits. (affected 70 times)
16) Isle of Youth, Cuba	every 2.03 years	Also had another quiet 2013 season and drops 3 positions. One less hurricane hit than Hollywood and ties Boynton with 27 hurricane hits but wins tiebreaker over Boynton with 5 more T.S hits. (affected 70 times since 1871)
17) Boynton Beach, Florida	every 2.03 years	Also had another quiet 2013 and also drops 3 positions. Ranked below Isle of youth with 5 less TS hits in tiebreaker as they both have 27 hurricane hits. (affected 70 times since 1871)
18) Myrtle Beach, South Carolina	every 2.06 years	Affected by tropical storm Andrea in 2013. As you head North of Georgia the hit rate goes up considerably from systems crossing from Gulf into Atlantic. (affected 69 times)
19) Tampa, Florida	every 2.06 years	Also affected by tropical storm Andrea in 2013 .Area affected by many storms crossing the state and recurving just east while inland. (affected 69 times since 1871)
20) Eleuthera Island, Bahamas	every 2.12 years	Had a quiet 2013 season but remains in the #20 position. Top of the 2.12 group with 34 hurricane hits. (affected 67 times since 1871)
21) Bimini,Bahamas	every 2.12 years	Had another quiet 2013 hurricane season but remains at #21. One less Hurricane hit 33 than Eleuthera Island. (affected 67 times since 1871)
22) Palm Beach,Florida	every 2.12 years	Had another quiet season in 2013 but remains at #22,near the bottom of the 2.12 group with 25 hurricane hits. (affected 67 times)
23) Saint Augustine, Florida	every 2.12 years	Affected by tropical storm Andrea in 2013 and moves up 1 position. Bottom of the 2.12 group with only 11 hurricane hits. (affected 67 times since 1871)
24) Lake Worth, Florida	every 2.15 years	Had another quiet hurricane season in 2013 season and drops 1 position to #24 . Top of the 2.15 group with 28 hurricane hits. (affected 66 times since 1871)
25) Deerfield Beach, Florida	every 2.18 years	Had another quiet 2013 season but remains in same position, 27 hurricane hits top of the 2.18 group. (affected 65 times since 1871)
26) Turks & Caicos Islands	every 2.18 years	Had another quiet 2013 season but remains at same position,7 less hurricane hits than Deerfield Beach. (affected 65 times since 1871)
27) Sarasota, Florida	every 2.18 years	Had another quiet 2013 season but remains in the same position, 15 hurricane hits puts Sarasota at the bottom of the 2.18 group. (affected 65 times since 1871)
28) Cat Island, Bahamas	every 2.22 years	Had a quiet 2013 season and remains at #28. At the top of the 2.22 group with 29 hurricane hits. (affected 64 times since 1871)
29) Cabo Corrientes, Cuba (west tip)	every 2.22 years	Had another quiet season but a recalculation raises the area up 7 positions. 26 hurricane hits 3 less than Cat Island puts this area at #29. (affected 64 times since 1871)
30) Long Island, Bahamas	every 2.22 years	Had a quiet 2013 season and drops 1 position, 25 direct hurricane hits keeps this Island below Cat Island(affected 64 times)
31) Jupiter, Florida	every 2.22 years	Had a quiet 2013 season and drops 1 position. Same amount of hurricane hits as Long Island Bahamas but ranked lower due to 3 less tropical storm hits. (affected 64 times since 1871)
32) Grand Isle, Louisiana	every 2.22 years	Had a quiet 2013 season and drops 1 position. The most affected area in Louisiana as it sticks out into the Gulf. Hit by 24 hurricanes keeps this area near the bottom of the 2.22 group. (affected 64 times)
33) Beaufort, South Carolina	every 2.22 years	Affected by tropical storm Andrea in 2013 but stays at #33 position. Area has had numerous back door extratropical systems from the Gulf and Atlantic. Bottom of the 2.22 group with 18 hurricane hits. (affected 64 times since 1871)
34) Fort Lauderdale, Florida	every 2.25 years	Had yet another quiet season in 2013 and drops 2 positions. 25 hurricane hits puts area top of the 2.25 group. (affected 63 times since 1871)
35) Homosassa, Florida	every 2.25 years	Affected by tropical Andrea in 2013 and moves up 3 positions. 13 direct hurricane hits keeps this area just above New Orleans. (affected 63 times)
36) New Orleans, Louisiana	every 2.25 years	Had a quiet 2013 season and drops 2 positions to #36. Nine direct hurricane hits puts this city at the bottom of the 2.25 group (affected 63 times)
37) Delray Beach, Florida	every 2.29 years	Had another quiet season and drops 2 positions to #37, 28 hurricane hits puts area at top of the 2.29 group. (affected 62 times)
38) Pensacola, Florida	every 2.29 years	Had a quiet 2013 season and drops 1 position. 18 hurricane hits puts Pensacola 2nd in the 2.29 group. (affected 62 times)
39) Georgetown, South Carolina	every 2.33 years	Affected by tropical storm Andrea in 2013 and moves up 1 position. 15 hurricane hits puts this city at the top of the 2.33 group (affected 61 times since 1871)
40) Acklins Island, Bahamas	every 2.37 years	Had a quiet 2013 season and drops 1 position. Top of the 2.37 group with 21 hurricane hits. (affected 60 times since 1871)
41) Elizabeth City, North Carolina	every 2.37 years	Affected by extratropical storm Andrea in 2013 and moves up a whopping 7 positions. Near bottom of the 2.37 group with 10 hurricane hits. Close to the Outer Banks but too far north & misses many systems headed into the Atlantic from the WSW as well as recurvatures just east. (affected 60 times since 1871)
42) Sydney, Nova Scotia	every 2.37 years	Had another quiet season and drops 1 position. Bottom of the 2.37 group with 6 hurricane hits. Many systems brush or hit Sable Island #8 and then brush Sydney on the way N.E. (affected 60 times)
43) Florida City, Florida	every 2.41 years	Had another quiet 2013 season and drops one more position. Florida City south into the Florida Keys are lower ranked than S.E. Florida cities due to many storms climbing north upon approach to Florida. Tops of the 2.41 group with 27 hurricane hits. (affected 59 times since 1871.)
44) Nassau, Bahamas	every 2.41 years	Had a quiet 2013 season and drops one position. Second in the 2.41 group with 25 hurricane hits. Being a very tiny island has the surrounding larger Bahama Islands having more affects and ranked higher. (affected 59 times since 1871)
45) Stuart, Florida	every 2.41 years	Had another quiet season and drops one position .Third in the 2.41 group with 24 hurricane hits (affected 59 times since 1871.)
46) Panama City, Florida	every 2.41 years	Had a quiet 2013 season and drops one position. With 17 direct hurricane hits rates area 4th in the 2.41 group. (affected 59 times since 1871)
47) Mobile, Alabama	every 2.41 years	Had another quiet season and drops one position. 16 Hurricane hits puts area in 5th position in 2.41 group. (affected 59 times since 1871)
48) Ormond Beach, Florida	every 2.41 years	Had a quiet 2013 season and drops one position. Near the bottom of the 2.41 group with only 12 hurricane hits Many recurvatures off the coast & brushes from the S.W. (affected 59 times since 1871)
49) Norfolk,Virginia	every 2.41 years	Affected by extratropical storm Andrea in 2013 and moves up 3 positions to number 49. Only 11 hurricane hits puts this city at the bottom of the 2.41 group. (affected 59 times since 1871)
50) San Salvador,Bahamas	every 2.45 years	Had a quiet 2013 season and drops to #50. This island would be ranked much higher if this was for hurricanes only with 29 hurricane hits.(affected 58 times since 1871)
51) Gulf Shores, Alabama	every 2.45 years	Had a quiet 2013 season and drops out of the top 50. 19 hurricanes 2nd in the 2.45 group. (affected 58 times since 1871)
52) Cape Cod,Massachusetts	every 2.45 years	Affected by extratropical tropical storm Andrea and moves into position to crack the top 50. Near the bottom of the 2.45 group with 16 hurricane hits. (affected 58 times since 1871)
53) Cape Sable, Nova Scotia	every 2.45 years	Had a quiet 2013 season and drops further out of the top 50. Near the bottom of the 2.45 group with 13 hurricane hits. (affected 58 times since 1871)

Just to let you know the last ranked city #153 is Prinzapolca,Nicaragua (only 8 times or every 17.75 years by a named storm).
To see the rest of the unranked cities click here.


Here is a map from NOAA showing mean occurrence of named storms 1944-1997 showing how accurate these rankings are.
Sources include National Hurricane Center tracking charts and advisory archives.

Questions? Please contact Jim Williams... jim@hurricanecity.com

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