Storms near Cuba
The record holds 243 tropical cyclones whose tracks passed within 50 km of Cuba between 1851 and 2025. The busiest month is October, with 84 of them. The strongest, measured where each came closest to the place, reached category 5 strength. 20 of the storms have no wind speed in the record.
- 243storms within 50 km
- 38major (category 3 to 5) near here
- 106at 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 Cuba?
| Category near here | Storms | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical depression | 28 | 12% |
| Tropical storm | 89 | 37% |
| Category 1 | 43 | 18% |
| Category 2 | 25 | 10% |
| Category 3 | 20 | 8% |
| Category 4 | 15 | 6% |
| Category 5 | 3 | 1% |
| Unknown intensity | 20 | 8% |
The agency behind most of the intensity figures here is the NOAA National Hurricane Center (HURDAT2, Atlantic).
Cuba 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 | 12 |
| 1860s | 8 |
| 1870s | 12 |
| 1880s | 21 |
| 1890s | 19 |
| 1900s | 22 |
| 1910s | 10 |
| 1920s | 12 |
| 1930s | 15 |
| 1940s | 13 |
| 1950s | 13 |
| 1960s | 15 |
| 1970s | 13 |
| 1980s | 11 |
| 1990s | 10 |
| 2000s | 16 |
| 2010s | 10 |
| 2020s | 11 |
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 | 8 |
| Jun | 17 |
| Jul | 10 |
| Aug | 41 |
| Sep | 58 |
| Oct | 84 |
| Nov | 25 |
| Dec | 0 |
Strongest storms near Cuba
- Unnamed storm of October 1924 (North Atlantic)14 October 1924 to 23 October 1924, peak Category 5 (145 kt), 910 hPa
- Irma (2017)30 August 2017 to 13 September 2017, peak Category 5 (155 kt), 914 hPa
- Ivan (2004)2 September 2004 to 24 September 2004, peak Category 5 (145 kt), 910 hPa
- Unnamed storm of October 1932 (North Atlantic)30 October 1932 to 14 November 1932, Category 4 (135 kt) near here, peak Category 5 (150 kt), 918 hPa
- Unnamed storm of October 1910 (North Atlantic)9 October 1910 to 23 October 1910, peak Category 4 (130 kt), 924 hPa
- Unnamed storm of September 1917 (North Atlantic)20 September 1917 to 30 September 1917, peak Category 4 (130 kt), 928 hPa
Most recent storms near Cuba
- Melissa (2025)21 October 2025 to 1 November 2025, Category 3 (105 kt) near here, peak Category 5 (165 kt), 892 hPa
- Rafael (2024)3 November 2024 to 10 November 2024, peak Category 3 (105 kt), 954 hPa
- Oscar (2024)19 October 2024 to 22 October 2024, peak Category 1 (75 kt), 984 hPa
- Debby (2024)2 August 2024 to 10 August 2024, Tropical storm (35 kt) near here, peak Category 1 (70 kt), 980 hPa
- Idalia (2023)26 August 2023 to 8 September 2023, Category 1 (65 kt) near here, peak Category 3 (105 kt), 945 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.
Cuba ranks number 17 among countries and territories for the number of storms.
Notable storms near Cuba with their own pages
- Irma (2017)30 August 2017 to 13 September 2017, peak Category 5 (155 kt), 914 hPa
- Ivan (2004)2 September 2004 to 24 September 2004, peak Category 5 (145 kt), 910 hPa
- Dennis (2005)4 July 2005 to 18 July 2005, peak Category 4 (130 kt), 930 hPa
- Fox (1952)20 October 1952 to 28 October 1952, peak Category 4 (125 kt), 934 hPa
- Gustav (2008)25 August 2008 to 5 September 2008, peak Category 4 (125 kt), 943 hPa
- Paloma (2008)5 November 2008 to 14 November 2008, peak Category 4 (125 kt), 944 hPa
- Michelle (2001)29 October 2001 to 6 November 2001, peak Category 4 (120 kt), 934 hPa
- Matthew (2016)28 September 2016 to 10 October 2016, peak Category 5 (145 kt), 934 hPa
- Ike (2008)1 September 2008 to 15 September 2008, peak Category 4 (125 kt), 935 hPa
- Flora (1963)28 September 1963 to 17 October 1963, peak Category 4 (130 kt), 933 hPa
- Camille (1969)14 August 1969 to 22 August 1969, peak Category 5 (150 kt), 905 hPa
- Charley (2004)9 August 2004 to 15 August 2004, peak Category 4 (125 kt), 947 hPa
Cuba 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Pinar del Río | 110 | Category 5 |
| Matanzas | 89 | Category 4 |
| Isla de la Juventud | 85 | Category 4 |
| Ciego de Ávila | 70 | Category 5 |
| Camagüey | 69 | Category 5 |
| Villa Clara | 67 | Category 4 |
| Mayabeque | 63 | Category 4 |
| Sancti Spíritus | 61 | Category 4 |
| Artemisa | 60 | Category 4 |
| Granma | 57 | Category 4 |
| Santiago de Cuba | 51 | Category 4 |
| Cienfuegos | 49 | Category 4 |
| Holguín | 49 | Category 4 |
| Guantánamo | 48 | Category 4 |
| Las Tunas | 46 | Category 4 |
| Ciudad de la Habana | 45 | Category 4 |