Has Florida had six major hurricanes in the last seven years?

Despite Gov. Ron DeSantis’ claim during a Sept. 2 press conference, Florida has been impacted by five — not six — major hurricanes since 2018. Those storms are Milton, Helene, Idalia, Ian and Michael, each of which reached Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

Hurricane Debby, which strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane before making landfall near the Panhandle last year in August, caused widespread flooding and damage but did not meet the threshold for “major.” 

To be considered “major,” a hurricane must reach Category 3, meaning it has sustained winds between 111 and 129 miles per hour and is far more likely to cause catastrophic destruction or significant loss of life.

Florida was also impacted by Hurricane Irma in 2017, which would be the sixth major storm in the last eight years — not seven. The state’s vulnerability to such powerful storms is undeniable, underscoring the need for preparation and resilience.