Storms near The Bahamas
The record holds 273 tropical cyclones whose tracks passed within 50 km of the Bahamas between 1851 and 2025. The busiest month is September, with 75 of them. The strongest, measured where each came closest to the place, reached category 5 strength. 26 of the storms have no wind speed in the record.
- 273storms within 50 km
- 45major (category 3 to 5) near here
- 104at category 1 strength or more
A storm counts once, however many times it came close. The category is the storm's strongest point within 50 km, which can be weaker than its peak elsewhere.
How strong were the storms near The Bahamas?
| Category near here | Storms | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical depression | 40 | 15% |
| Tropical storm | 103 | 38% |
| Category 1 | 35 | 13% |
| Category 2 | 24 | 9% |
| Category 3 | 21 | 8% |
| Category 4 | 19 | 7% |
| Category 5 | 5 | 2% |
| Unknown intensity | 26 | 10% |
The agency behind most of the intensity figures here is the NOAA National Hurricane Center (HURDAT2, Atlantic).
The Bahamas storms over time
The 2020s only run to 2025, so that bar is for a shorter period. This place's record starts in 1851, and records before the satellite era (about the 1960s) are far less complete.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| 1850s | 16 |
| 1860s | 13 |
| 1870s | 15 |
| 1880s | 19 |
| 1890s | 20 |
| 1900s | 19 |
| 1910s | 6 |
| 1920s | 13 |
| 1930s | 26 |
| 1940s | 19 |
| 1950s | 16 |
| 1960s | 16 |
| 1970s | 14 |
| 1980s | 14 |
| 1990s | 12 |
| 2000s | 12 |
| 2010s | 16 |
| 2020s | 7 |
Earlier decades hold fewer storms partly because they were harder to see. Before weather satellites (about the 1960s) many storms that stayed at sea went unrecorded, so compare decades with care.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| Jan | 0 |
| Feb | 0 |
| Mar | 0 |
| Apr | 0 |
| May | 7 |
| Jun | 11 |
| Jul | 15 |
| Aug | 64 |
| Sep | 75 |
| Oct | 74 |
| Nov | 27 |
| Dec | 0 |
Strongest storms near The Bahamas
- Dorian (2019)24 August 2019 to 9 September 2019, peak Category 5 (160 kt), 910 hPa
- Andrew (1992)16 August 1992 to 28 August 1992, peak Category 5 (150 kt), 922 hPa
- Irma (2017)30 August 2017 to 13 September 2017, peak Category 5 (155 kt), 914 hPa
- Unnamed storm of August 1932 (North Atlantic)30 August 1932 to 17 September 1932, peak Category 5 (140 kt)
- Unnamed storm of August 1933 (North Atlantic)22 August 1933 to 5 September 1933, peak Category 5 (140 kt), 954 hPa
- Unnamed storm of September 1928 (North Atlantic)6 September 1928 to 21 September 1928, Category 4 (135 kt) near here, peak Category 5 (140 kt), 929 hPa
Most recent storms near The Bahamas
- Melissa (2025)21 October 2025 to 1 November 2025, Category 2 (85 kt) near here, peak Category 5 (165 kt), 892 hPa
- Imelda (2025)26 September 2025 to 6 October 2025, Tropical storm (50 kt) near here, peak Category 1 (80 kt), 966 hPa
- Oscar (2024)19 October 2024 to 22 October 2024, peak Category 1 (75 kt), 984 hPa
- Nicole (2022)6 November 2022 to 11 November 2022, peak Category 1 (65 kt), 980 hPa
- Eta (2020)31 October 2020 to 14 November 2020, Tropical storm (55 kt) near here, peak Category 4 (130 kt), 922 hPa
Many of these storms killed people and destroyed homes. The figures are the official record's, and this page says nothing about their human cost.
The Bahamas ranks number 15 among countries and territories for the number of storms.
Notable storms near The Bahamas with their own pages
- Dorian (2019)24 August 2019 to 9 September 2019, peak Category 5 (160 kt), 910 hPa
- Andrew (1992)16 August 1992 to 28 August 1992, peak Category 5 (150 kt), 922 hPa
- Irma (2017)30 August 2017 to 13 September 2017, peak Category 5 (155 kt), 914 hPa
- Frances (2004)25 August 2004 to 10 September 2004, peak Category 4 (125 kt), 937 hPa
- Joaquin (2015)26 September 2015 to 15 October 2015, peak Category 4 (135 kt), 931 hPa
- Matthew (2016)28 September 2016 to 10 October 2016, peak Category 5 (145 kt), 934 hPa
- Donna (1960)29 August 1960 to 14 September 1960, peak Category 4 (125 kt), 930 hPa
- Floyd (1999)7 September 1999 to 19 September 1999, peak Category 4 (135 kt), 921 hPa
- Ike (2008)1 September 2008 to 15 September 2008, peak Category 4 (125 kt), 935 hPa
- King (1950)13 October 1950 to 20 October 1950, peak Category 4 (115 kt), 955 hPa
- Betsy (1956)9 August 1956 to 21 August 1956, peak Category 3 (105 kt), 954 hPa
- Betsy (1965)27 August 1965 to 13 September 1965, peak Category 4 (120 kt), 942 hPa
The Bahamas regions
Regions (first-level divisions) that storms have come within 50 km of at least 5 times, most storms first.
| Region | Storms | Strongest near the region |
|---|---|---|
| Bimini | 85 | Category 4 |
| East Grand Bahama | 79 | Category 5 |
| West Grand Bahama | 79 | Category 5 |
| North Abaco | 77 | Category 5 |
| Central Abaco | 71 | Category 5 |
| North Andros | 64 | Category 4 |
| Acklins | 62 | Category 5 |
| Inagua | 61 | Category 5 |
| City of Freeport | 59 | Category 5 |
| South Abaco | 59 | Category 5 |
| Long Island | 55 | Category 4 |
| Crooked Island and Long Cay | 54 | Category 5 |
| Berry Islands | 53 | Category 5 |
| North Eleuthera | 53 | Category 5 |
| San Salvador | 52 | Category 4 |
| Central Andros | 50 | Category 4 |
| Cat Island | 49 | Category 4 |
| Mayaguana | 49 | Category 5 |
| New Providence | 48 | Category 5 |
| Moore's Island | 47 | Category 5 |
| South Andros | 47 | Category 4 |
| Central Eleuthera | 45 | Category 5 |
| Black Point | 44 | Category 4 |
| South Eleuthera | 44 | Category 5 |
| Harbour Island | 43 | Category 5 |
| Mangrove Cay | 41 | Category 4 |
| Ragged Island | 41 | Category 5 |
| Spanish Wells | 41 | Category 5 |
| Exuma | 40 | Category 4 |
| Rum Cay | 40 | Category 4 |