The 1921 Tarpon Springs storm: The last hurricane to hit Tampa Bay before Ian

The Tarpon Springs hurricane of 1921 was the last hurricane to directly hit Tampa, Florida. The Gulf Coast region is expecting severe damage and storm surges from Hurricane Ian.

When the hurricane reached Tarpon Springs on October 25, it would have been rated a Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson Wind Scale. Sustained winds of 75 miles per hour were recorded, along with a 10.5-foot storm surge. 

Tampa Bay is prone to extreme surges because of its geographical makeup – when winds push water into the bay, the water has nowhere else to go than onto the land. A storm surge of 10–12 feet was recorded during the 1921 storm, along with 8.5 inches of rainfall in Tampa.