 The September 1948 Florida hurricane was the most intense tropical cyclone to make landfall in the state since the 1935 Labor Day hurricane . The fourth hurricane and third major hurricane of the season , this storm developed from a tropical wave over the Caribbean Sea on September 18 . Early the next day , the system strengthened into a hurricane while moving westward . Thereafter , it curved northwestward and continued to deepen . By September 20 , the system turned northward and later that day made landfall in Zapata Peninsula , Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane on the modern day Saffir – Simpson hurricane wind scale . Another landfall occurred in Cuba early the next day to the south of Güines . Severe destruction was reported on the island , with winds up to 90 mph ( 140 km / h ) observed in Havana . Over 700 buildings were destroyed . Ten deaths occurred and damage totaled at least $ 2 million ( 1948 USD ) , while other sources estimate " several million dollars . " 
