From 1523 to 1900, 180 tropical cyclones were known to have affected the U.S. state of Florida. Since the start of the Atlantic hurricane database in 1851, there were only eight years in which no tropical cyclone affected the state. Collectively, tropical cyclones in Florida resulted in at least 6,504 fatalities and monetary damage of over $90 million (2008 USD). At least 109 boats or ships were either driven ashore, wrecked, or damaged due to the storms.
Information is sparse for earlier years due to limitations in tropical cyclone observation, though as coastlines became more populated, more data became available. The National Hurricane Center recognizes the uncertainty in both the death tolls and the dates of the events.
Pre-1700 1523 – Two ships and their crews were lost during a hurricane on the west Florida coast. 1549 – Hernando de Escalante Fontaneda survived a shipwreck due to a hurricane off Florida, and the Calusa rescued the crew and passengers. They then sacrificed all the other castaways but enslaved him; he escaped after 17 years in captivity and reported the tale.Millás 1968, p. 71 1553 – A hurricane affected the state, killing fewer than 700 people. Around 1553 – A hurricane hit western Florida, resulting in about 700 casualties. Some modern researchers estimate this is the same storm as the previous event, as some early storms affecting more than one locale may have multiple listings if the storm track is unknown. 1559 – A hurricane off northwestern Florida sank six Spanish ships. August 20, 1559 – Around 500 people were killed by a hurricane offshore off western Florida. September 19, 1559 – A hurricane off the coast of Florida sank several ships and killed many sailors. Pensacola history notes this hurricane sinking 5 ships, with a Spanish galleon, grounding a caravel, and killing nearly 500 of 1,500 colonists and crewmen at Punta de Santa Maria across from Santa Rosa Island. 1563 – Cape Canaveral experienced the effects of a hurricane, with 284 fatalities reported. September 22, 1565 – An offshore hurricane washed several French ships ashore between Matanzas Inlet and Cape Canaveral, leaving 71 missing. The hurricane led to the loss of Fort Caroline and ultimately the French influence in Florida. September 13, 1566 – Rough seas and strong winds were experienced in the northeastern portion of the state by an offshore hurricane. It executed a loop and affected the area three days later. September 26, 1566 – An offshore hurricane washed a ship ashore near Cape Canaveral. 1571 – Two ships were lost on the Florida coastline during a hurricane, with few survivors. Fall 1571 – A hurricane made landfall near Saint Augustine, causing great damage to the city from strong winds and a powerful storm surge. 1589 – One ship was wrecked during a hurricane along the eastern coast of the state. 1591 – 29 ships were lost along the coastal region of Florida during several tropical cyclones. September 22, 1599 – A hurricane made landfall a short distance south of Saint Augustine, destroying several houses and flooding the entire town. September 5, 1622 – 1,090 people were killed during a hurricane in the Straits of Florida. August 1638 – A hurricane struck the northeastern portion of the state, though its effects, if any, are unknown. September 27, 1641 – After passing over the Florida Straits, a hurricane wrecked five ships. The storm produced tropical storm force winds and rough seas along the northeastern portion of the state. August 19, 1674 – A hurricane known as the Great Storm of 1674 hit near Saint Augustine, and severely damaged the town and its fort from rough seas. 1683 – 496 people died from a hurricane that affected east-central Florida, though modern researchers question whether it was a hurricane or not. October 4, 1695 – A large ship was wrecked in the Florida Keys due to a passing hurricane.
1700s September 30, 1707 – A hurricane made landfall near or to the south of Saint Augustine. Most of the houses in the town were destroyed due to the winds and storm surge. The storm dropped rainfall there for at least 24 hours. Late June 1714 – Several ships were wrecked due to a hurricane in the Florida Keys. July 31, 1715 – A hurricane sank 11 Spanish ships along a path from Ft. Pierce and south of Cape Canaveral carrying Gold and Silver; today this is known as the Treasure Coast. July 15, 1733 – A hurricane passed through The Bahamas and southern Florida, killing a total of 56 people. 1741 – A hurricane hit northwest Florida at Santa Rosa Island. October 22, 1752 – Multiple vessels were lost during a hurricane off the state. November 3, 1752 – A large storm hit northwest Florida at Santa Rosa Island, at Presidio Isla de Santa Rosa, destroying all but two buildings. The settlement was abandoned at the island and moved across the bay to what is now Pensacola. August 24, 1753 – A tropical storm passing through the northeastern portion of the state dropped heavy precipitation. 1758 – A hurricane which struck St. Marks resulted in 40 fatalities. 1762 – The remaining settlement remnants at Santa Rosa Island were wiped out by another hurricane. October 23, 1766 – A ship capsized due to a hurricane off northwestern Florida. September 25, 1769 – Northeastern Florida experienced strong winds from a hurricane, though it is unknown if it made landfall or not. October 29, 1769 – A strong hurricane hit Miami, blowing down several trees and grounding a ship. June 1777 – A ship was lost off Florida, with the entire crew missing and believed killed. October 14, 1780 – A storm, possibly related to the Great Hurricane of 1780, impacted the northeastern portion of the state with moderate winds and severe beach erosion. 1781 – About 2,000 people were killed due to a hurricane off the coast of the state. Early October 1794 – A hurricane estimated to have moved inland from the southwestern portion of the state resulted in moderate beach erosion near Jacksonville. October 17, 1797 – An offshore hurricane capsized a few ships off the eastern coast of Florida.
1800–1849 September 7, 1804 – An offshore hurricane sank eight ships in the harbor of Saint Augustine and destroyed the Quasada Battery at the mouth of the St. Johns River from its storm surge. September 15, 1806 – Saint Augustine received a landfall from a severe hurricane that destroyed several houses, uprooted many trees, washed several vessels ashore, and destroyed the city pier. October 4, 1811 – A hurricane of moderate intensity struck near Saint Augustine, with many houses in the city damaged or destroyed. Shipwrecks were reported throughout the eastern Florida coastline. Several destroyed homes are not rebuilt for 11 years. October 1, 1812 – A hurricane remained stationary offshore off northeastern Florida, producing severe conditions along portions of the St. Johns River. September 16, 1813 – The eye of a major hurricane passed over the border between Florida and Georgia. August 7, 1817 – A tropical storm hit near Apalachicola Bay, though its effects are unknown. September 1819 – Heavy rainfall was caused by a tropical storm making landfall between New Orleans and Apalachicola. September 15, 1821 – A hurricane estimated to have made landfall near the border of Alabama and Mississippi produced high tides along the Florida Panhandle, sinking six ships in Pensacola and causing minor damage to homes. July 8, 1822 – A ship was breached along the extreme western Florida Panhandle as a result of a tropical storm striking Mississippi. September 14, 1824 – A storm which moved inland near Darien, Georgia brought hurricane force conditions to northeastern Florida. June 2, 1825 – An early season storm produced gusty and rainy conditions in northeastern Florida after hitting between Cedar Key and Apalachicola. October 2, 1825 – Saint Augustine was struck by a minimal hurricane. The hurricane produced a 4-foot storm surge, causing some damage to houses, while moderate winds washed four ships aground and damaged orange crops. August 15, 1830 – A hurricane which ultimately moved inland on South Carolina paralleled the eastern coast of the state, bringing strong winds and rain to coastal areas. August 22, 1830 – Just days after the previous storm, another hurricane impacted and paralleled the eastern coastline. June 10, 1831 – A tropical storm which struck the Florida Panhandle brought strong winds to Saint Augustine. Early August 1835 – An offshore tropical storm produced winds in excess of in the northeastern portion of the state. August 15, 1835 – Key West and the Dry Tortugas reported gusty winds from a hurricane passing through central Cuba, passing by Key West in the Gulf of Mexico, and ultimately ending up at the mouth of the Rio Grande in Texas on August 18.Early American Hurricanes 1492–1870, David Ludlum, pg 142-143 September 14, 1835 – A major hurricane struck southeastern Florida, moved across the state, and recurved in the Gulf of Mexico before hitting near Tampa Bay. In the southeastern portion of the state, the hurricane severely flooded several islands, while damage in and around Tampa totaled $200,000 (1835 USD, $4.1 million 2008 USD). After moving northeastward through the state, the hurricane destroyed the lighthouse at the Ponce de León Inlet. September 14–15, 1835 – A hurricane struck Key West on the 14th and 15th. It was the first good account of hurricane activity near Key West island as the island was sparsely populated before 1830.Key West Inquirer, Sept 19 1835Early American Hurricanes 1492–1870, David Ludlum, pg 122–123 August 1, 1837 – East-central Florida was struck by a minimal hurricane which produced heavy rainfall and strong winds for northeastern Florida. August 7, 1837 – A storm estimated to have struck Mississippi destroyed several warehouses in Saint Marks from its 6-foot (1.8 m) storm surge. August 7, 1837 – Simultaneously existing with the previous storm, a hurricane moved ashore near Fernandina Beach, destroying at least 19 buildings from moderate winds and higher than usual tides. August 16, 1837 – A storm known as the Calypso Hurricane paralleled the eastern coastline offshore and produced tropical storm force winds in the northeastern portion of the state. Mid-August 1837 – A hurricane made landfall south of Saint Augustine and after moving northwestward through the state it passed through Tallahassee. August 30, 1837 – A small storm estimated to have been a major hurricane struck the northwestern Florida coastline. Considered by some to be the most severe gale in the area, the hurricane produced tides estimated at 15 feet (4.6 m) above normal. Flooding from the storm damaged or destroyed multiple buildings, causing eight deaths and $230,000 in damage (1837 USD, $4.4 million 2008 USD). September 13, 1837 – Saint Augustine reported moderate northeasterly winds from a nearby hurricane, though other details are unknown. September 24, 1837 – A tropical storm believed to have struck the east-central coastline produced moderate winds in northeastern Florida. October 7, 1837 – The Racer's Storm moved inland to the west of the state, causing moderate damage along the Florida Panhandle. September 7, 1838 – A hurricane struck near Key Biscayne, killing 38 people. September 14, 1841 – The town of St. Joseph was destroyed by a hurricane hitting the Florida Panhandle. October 18, 1841 – A northeastward moving hurricane passed south of the Florida Keys and washed many ships aground. August 2, 1842 – A weak tropical storm produced heavy rainfall in northeastern Florida. September 4, 1842 – Moderate damage was caused by a hurricane passing Key West. September 22, 1842 – A tropical storm made landfall near Pensacola.