A few other facts about hurricanes in Belize since 1889:
Number of storms making landfall in Belize since 1889:
In the past 120 years since weather records in Belize were formally maintained, Belize has seen the following storms make landfall:
21 hurricanes -- average of about 1 hurricane every 6 years
31 tropical storms - average of 1 tropical storm every 4 years
52 total hurricanes and tropical storms - average of 1 hurricane or tropical storm every 2 � years
Of the 21 hurricanes:
9 or 43% were in September
8 or 38% were in October
2 or 10% were in July
1 or 5% was in November
1 or 5% was in August
0 or 0% was in June
Of the 52 total hurricanes and tropical storms:
7 or 13% were in June
4 or 8% were in July
5 or 10% were in August
19 or 37% were in September
14 or 27% were in October
3 or 6% were in November
Most powerful storms to hit Belize:
Unnamed hurricane, September 9, 1931, Belize City and Northern Cayes, 110 mph, estimated 2,500-3,000 deaths
Hurricane Janet, September 28, 1955, Northern Belize, 165 mph, 16 deaths in Belize
Hurricane Hattie, October 31, 1961, Belize City, 140 mph, estimated 225-310 deaths, mainly in Belize City area
Hurricane Carmen, September 2, 1974, skirted Northern Belize, 120 mph
Hurricane Mitch, October 27, 1998, skirted Belize to the south, 155 mph
Hurricane Keith, October 1, 2000, Ambergris Caye, 120 mph, at least 4 deaths in Belize
Hurricane Iris, October 9, 2001, Placencia & Southern Belize, 145 mph, 21 deaths in Belize
Hurricane Dean, August 21, 2007, Northern Belize, winds up to 165 mph
Source: Belize National Meteorological Service and other weather records
--Lan Sluder