In order to reduce the failure risk of petrochemical storage tanks in coastal areas under the influence of hurricanes，the failure model for vertical cylindrical tanks under wind load was established based on the strength stress interference theory. The critical wind speed for the buckling failure was determined by an example of a crude oil storage tank. For different random distributions of parameters，such as wind speed，the Monte Carlo method was also used to plot the probability curve of shell buckling failure. The buckling failure mechanism under static conditions was investigated，and the failure probability at different loading levels was determined under static conditions. The results show that the critical wind speeds are 60.67，65.38 and 69.79 m/s respectively when the loading levels are 25%，50% and 75% under the same wind load. According to the failure probability curve，the failure probability of the loading level of 25% is significant greater than that at 50%. Therefore，it can be seen that the buckling failure mechanism of the vertical cylindrical storage tank shell is as follows: the loading level is too low，which can easily lead to buckling failure of the storage tank under wind load. The higher the loading level，and the stronger the wind load resistance of the vertical cylindrical storage tank. Appropriate measures can be taken to increase the loading level to resist strong wind loads in the coastal chemical industries.