Do you live in or are you relocating to a city in Southwest Florida? Maybe you just want to visit. No matter why you are here hurricane risk in Florida is something to pay close attention to. Southwest Florida has one of the highest hurricane risks in the sunshine state, which means it is one of the highest in all of the United States. Every year Southwest Florida has the potential to face hurricanes from June 1 to November 30th. And unfortunately, named storms have hit the area as early as May, which is a month before the official start to the season. And while all of Southwest Florida is at risk for storms some cities, typically on the coast have a higher risk than others. This article breaks down the hurricane risk of some of the more popular cities throughout Southwest Florida.
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Southwest Florida Hurricane Risk
As a whole, the Southwest Region of Florida has a high risk of being affected by hurricanes. A map of the region clearly shows that most of SWFL is in a “very high” risk classification by FEMA.
Here are some of the facts we have pulled together that show the region’s hurricane risk:
- According to an article by Universal Property & Casualty, Southwest Florida is the second most hurricane-prone area in Florida, which is the most prone state in the USA.
- An article by Wrights Impact Window & Door, Southwest Florida ranks as the third worst place for hurricanes in Florida.
- A study by Brian Mudd on the Brian Mudd Show of WJNO 1290 reported that “Florida’s Gulf Coast has been far more hurricane prone than Florida’s east coast.” He further found that “O”of the 131 hurricanes to make landfall in Florida over the past 171 years, 117 or 68% of them have made landfall along Florida’s Gulf coast.” This includes 65% of the major hurricanes that made landfall.
- The FEMA Hurricane Risk Index Map ranks all of coastal Southwest Florida (Southwest Florida Gulf Coast) as a very high hurricane risk. The only exception is Charlotte County, which is classified as a relatively high hurricane risk.
Hurricane Risk By City or Metropolitan Area
The infographic below gives an overview of the hurricane risk and frequency of hurricanes in Southwest Florida by metro areas. And below we give more details on the hurricane risk of each area.
Cape Coral FL Hurricane Risk
Does Cape Coral get hurricanes? And what is its hurricane risk?
Yes. Cape Coral FL is impacted by hurricanes and tropical storms on a regular basis. Like most of coastal SWFL, the city has a high risk of being affected by hurricanes. In fact, FEMA’s National Risk Index scores Cape Coral FL at a hurricane risk score of 99.8, which is “very high”.
Frequency of hurricanes in Cape Coral
Hurricanes are a fairly regular occurrence in Cape Coral. According to Homefacts, Cape Coral has recorded 82 hurricanes since 1930.
And according to FEMA the Cape Coral area is affected by a tropical storm or hurricane about every 3 years.
Cape Coral suffered extreme damage from Hurricane Ian in 2022 and was soon after affected by Tropical Storm Nicole.
Highest risk month of hurricanes in Cape Coral
September (specifically mid-September) has historically been the month with the highest risk in the area.
Learn more about hurricanes in Cape Coral FL
Fort Myers FL Hurricane Risk
Does Fort Myers get hurricanes?
Yes. Fort Myers FL is impacted by hurricanes and tropical storms. It is in close proximity to Cape Coral, which means it also is affected by hurricanes on a regular basis. Similarly, FEMA’s National Risk Index scores Cape Coral FL at a hurricane risk score of 99.8, which is “very high”.
Frequency of hurricanes in Fort Myers
FEMA reports the Fort Myers area is affected by a tropical storm or hurricane about every 3 years. HurricaneCity reports that the city is affected by a storm every 2.48 years, has a direct hit every 8.39 years, and a major hurricane hit every 15.10 years.
Highest risk month of hurricanes in Fort Myers
Like its neighbor Cape Coral, September (specifically mid-September) has historically been the month with the highest risk in Fort Myers.
Learn more about hurricanes in Fort Myers FL
Naples FL
Does Naples FL get hurricanes?
Yes. According to an article by Homefacts, Naples FL is in a “very high risk hurricane zone.” Similarly, FEMA’s National Risk Index scores Naples FL at a hurricane risk score of 99.5, which is very high. This is similar to the rest of Coastal Southwest Florida.
Frequency of hurricanes in Naples
Naples is at a high risk of hurricanes due to it’s location even though it has suffered a lower overall number of storms than its close neighbors in Fort Myers and Cape Coral.
The city has been affected by 69 recorded hurricanes since 1930. As for frequency and risk Hurricane City states that Naples FL is affected by a hurricane or tropical storm every 2.52 years, a direct hit every 6.57 years, and a major hurricane hit about every 10 years.
Highest risk month of hurricanes in Naples FL
September (specifically late-September) has historically been the month with the highest risk in Naples FL.
Learn more about hurricanes in Naples FL
Port Charlotte / Punta Gorda FL
Does the Port Charlotte/Punta Gorda FL area get hurricanes?
Yes. Like the rest of SWFL, the Port Charlotte area is affected by hurricanes. FEMA’s National Risk Index scores the Port Charlotte area at a hurricane risk score of 98.1, which is classified as “relatively high”. Charlotte County is the only area in the Southwest Florida region not classified as “very high” risk by FEMA, but it is still highly affected.
Frequency of hurricanes in Port Charlotte/Punta Gorda
Accordion to an article by Homefacts, this area has been affected by 78 recorded hurricanes since 1930. As for frequency and risk Hurricane City states that it is affected by a hurricane or tropical storm every 2.48 years, a direct hit every 7.95 years, and a major hurricane hit about every 21.57 years.
Highest risk month of hurricanes in Port Charlotte/Punta Gorda FL
September (specifically mid-September) has historically been the month with the highest risk in Port Charlotte FL.
Sarasota / Venice FL Hurricane Risk
Does Sarasota get hurricanes?
Yes. Sarasota is impacted by hurricanes and tropical storms. FEMA’s National Risk Index scores Sarasota (including Venice) FL at a hurricane risk score of 99.3, which is classified as “very high”.
Frequency of hurricanes in Sarasota/Venice
In fact, the Sarasota area has had 86 hurricanes recorded since 1930. And according to Hurricane City, the Sarasota area is affected by a hurricane or tropical storm every 2.09 years, a direct hit every 8.88 years, and affected by a major hurricane hit about every 37.75 years.
Most recently, in 2022 the city was affected by Hurricane Ian and Tropical Storm Nicole (to it’s north).
Learn more about Hurricanes in Sarasota.
Tampa FL
Does Tampa get hurricanes?
Yes. Like most of Southwest Florida the Tampa area is also impacted by hurricanes and tropical storms. According to a report by AccuWeather, “the Tampa-St. Petersburg area has an 11 percent chance of feeling the impacts of a hurricane in any given year.” And FEMA’s National Risk Index scores Tampa FL at a hurricane risk score of 99.8, which is classified as “very high”.
Frequency of hurricanes in Tampa
The city has a lower rate of direct hit hurricanes vs some others on the Gulf Coast.
According to an article by Homefacts, the city has had 71 hurricanes recorded since 1930. And according to Hurricane City, the Tampa area is affected by a hurricane or tropical storm every 1.96 years. They also note that it is affected by a direct hit (within 40-80 miles) every 10.79 years and that a major hurricane has hit only once about every 37.75 years.
The city still faces a risk of severe storms. And it’s close proximity to water makes it susceptible to storm surge as well as wind damage.
Read more about Hurricanes in Tampa
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