When Did The Last Hurricane Hit Tampa Bay Region

The last hurricane to hit the Tampa Bay Region and the city of Tampa FL was in 2022. By that I mean the actual eye of the storm which also eliminates Milton which was slightly south. Hurricane Ian had minor affect on Tampa as did hurricane Charley in 2004 but still no major hurricane has impacted this city in over 100 years. The last that struck Tampa Bay was in October of 1921 according to the National Hurricane Center.

Tampa FL

Major Hurricane Storm Surge Flooding

The potential damage from major hurricane storm surge flooding is what I fear the most. The Tampa Bay area is so close to and ultimately attached to the Gulf Of Mexico via the relatively shallow Tampa Bay. A direct hit or major hurricane impacting the bay should concern local officials and certainly even downtown Tampa residents. Thankfully tropical storm force winds are all we most often experience unlike South Florida where major storms approaching are always a threat.

What Year Was The Last Major Hurricane Hit Tampa?

Hopefully during my lifetime I will not have to change this paragraph. The last direct hit of a major hurricane on Tampa Bay was in 1921. Just over 100 years ago and well before the areas real population explosion. There are still some homes standing here which were built before 1921. The winds reached over 137 mph and thankfully only 8 people were killed.

The Past few Decades & Major Hurricanes

Several major hurricanes have impacted South Florida and even Southwest Florida in the past few decades. This has definitely made homeowners insurance a little harder and more expensive to get The latest major hurricane was just last year and we even lost our boat dock to it. Still, living in the Tampa area is definitely worth it.