(br)=brush (ts)=Tropical Storm
(bd)=Back Door,meaning coming from over land from opposite coast.Not all names
are noted,also storms before 1950 were not named.Not every stat on every storm
description is given(since 1871).
within or near core 1873tsbr,1876,1878tsbr,1878ts,1879-2ts,1880br,1886ts,1886br,1887br,1889tsbr,1890tsbr,1891ts,1894ts,1895-2,1896m,1897br,1898ts,1899,1901ts,1901, 1903m,1904tsbr,1906tsbr,1909ts,1909tsbr,1909br,1909br,1910,1910br,1912ts,1912tsbr,1915br,1915brm,1915m,1916,1917m,1918tsbr,1922tsbr,1926tsbr, 1927ts,1927tsbr,1928tsbr,1931ts,1931tsbr,1932m,1933,1933-2ts,1933brm,1933,1935m,1935tsbr,1938br,1939,1942tsbr,1944-2,1945br,1947ts,1948, 1950br,1951br,1951ts(hurdat2),1952m,1953-2tsbr,1955ts,1955,1969ts,1970ts,1973ts,1975ts,1980m,1981-2ts,1988m,1995tsbr,2002ts,2002,2004,2004m, 2008br,2008m 85
times in 146yrs end of 2017
Names from list
Tropical Storm to Hurricane ratio TS=43, 50.59% H=42, 49.41%
Longest gap between storms 13 years 1955-1969
How often grand cayman gets
affected? brushed or hit every 1.72 years
Average years between direct hurricane hits.(hurricane force winds for at least a few hours) (27h)once every 5.40 years
Average years between major hurricane hits.(10) once every 14.6 years
Average MPH of hurricane hits. (based on advisories sustained winds, not gusts) 102mph
Statistically when Grand Cayman should be affected next 7 years overdue
by 2008 November 8th Hurricane Paloma hits with 140mph winds while moving N.E.
This areas hurricane past 1876 90mph from the south oct 17th,All the churches and most of the houses were totally destroyed while those that remained standing were so badly damaged they were scarcely habitable. All of the vessels in the different harbours were either driven ashore or broken up. Two schooners moored in Duck Pond in the Great [North] Sound parted their moorings and broke up on the outer reef. Some portions of them were found on the shore near the South Sound after the storm. "A large foreign ship drove ashore at West Bay, with masts, deck and cargo gone, evidently she had rolled over and over. 1895 Aug 25th 95mph from the WSW hits just south
1895 Oct 20th 105mph from the south 1896 sept 26th 120mph 1899 oct 28th 80mph 1901 Sept 14th 75mph from ESE 1903 Aug 12th 120mph direct hit from ESE 1910 Sept 9th 80mph sister Islands 1915 Aug 13th, 115mph from the ESE 1916 aug 16th a cat 2 hits directly110mph causing
heavy damage to sister islands 1917 Sept 24th 120mph from ESE sister islands. 1932 on November 7th a cat 4 hits with 150mph winds (hurdat)causing
heavy damage came from the S.E very heavy damage on Cayman Brac estimates of a storm surge of 32ft.109 killed here. Losses in Grand Cayman included about 60 houses entirely demolished or seriously damaged; 250 people lost practically all their possessions and were rendered homeless 1933 July 2nd 80mph from SSE 1933 Oct 3rd 80mph from the south 1935 Sept 28th 120mph from the SSE 1939 Oct 31st 85mph from the west 1944 aug 21st 85mph 1944 oct 16th 95mph (hurdat) sat over the area for 24
hrs dumping over 30 inches of rain 1948 sept 19th 95mph (hurdat) 1952 Hurricane Fox pounds the islands while moving up from the south 40 miles to west with 140mph winds on October 24th.weather map 1955 hurricane Hilda sept 15th,75mph from the
E.N.E 1980 Aug 6th hurricane Allen hits sister islands with
155mph winds 1988 Sept 13th,hurricane Gilbert sept 13th brushes 30 miles to the south of Grand Cayman with 150mph
winds a anemometer on a 40ft tower is the only measurement taken as Gilbert passed recorded a gust to 157mph between 7 & 8am,assumption give winds of about 93mph at grand cayman with gusts to 120mph only a 5 ft
storm surge due to deep water around islands wind caused moderate damage due to
quick movement & very good construction & of course not being hit
directly . Very severe damage to crops, pastures, trees. A number of private homes, their owners away, virtually destroyed. Satelite photo | #2 | newspaper article 2002 Sept 30th Hurricane Lili passes just north of sister islands while moving west with 80mph winds
2004 August 12th, Hurricane Charley brushes just east of Grand Cayman with 85mph winds. The islands were on the weak side of system and only recieved light winds.
2004 ,sept 12th hit by Hurricane Ivan with 155mph winds moving just to the south with Ivan having a wind field approx 85 miles out. Heavy damage in Grand cayman with many roofs ripped off well built buildings as many as 95%. High gust 169mph with an 8 to 10 ft storm surge,12.14 inches of rain.Two deaths as direct result in Cayman Islands.1.8 Billion in damage. Models 2 days before hitting | av model error | Damage photo | satelite photo | Monument
2008 November 8th Hurricane Paloma hits Cayman Brac & little Cayman with 140mph winds while moving N.E. Many roofs reported blown off, injuries reported but no deaths.A storm surge of 4 to 8 feet is estimated to have occurred on Cayman Brac, with 2 to 4 feet estimated on Little Cayman. On Cayman Brac an unofficial anemometer at an elevation of 27 meters measured a sustained wind of 131 kt around 1200 UTC 8 November, near the time of Paloma’s maximum intensity. Nearly 18 inches of rain fell in Cayman Brac. Paloma model history | Damage shot from Cayman Brac | Radar animation
Stat sources:NHC Track maps/hurdat2/cyclone reports | Unisys hurricane database | Hurricane research division Text Sources:(alp)....Divine Wind Kerry Emanuel.....Florida Hurricanes & Tropical Storms John M. Williams & Iver W.Duedall.....Florida's Hurricane History Jay Barnes.....Hurricane Almanac Bryan Norcross.....hurricanecity.com (calculations) Jim Williams.....Hurricanes and the Middle Atlantic States Rick Schwartz.....Hurricane Watch Dr. Bob Sheets & Jack Williams.....Inside the Hurricane Pete Davies..... Isaac's Storm Erik Larson..... Killer Cane Robert Mykle.....Lunatic Wind William Price Fox...Miami Herald newspaper(microfilm).....Path of destruction John McQuaid & Mark Schleifstein.....Sun sentinel newspaper(microfilm).....The Major Hurricanes to affect the Bahamas Wayne Neely.....The Ship & the Storm Jim Carrier.....plus many more.............