Arikah Map

List of notable Atlantic hurricanes

This is a list of notable Atlantic hurricanes, subdivided by reason for notability.


Contents

Retired names

Hurricane names can be retired due to the notoriety of the storm if a nation affected by the storm lobbies the World Meteorological Organization.

Further information: List of retired Atlantic hurricanes
Retired Atlantic hurricanes
Carol Edna Hazel Connie
Diane Ione Janet Audrey
Gracie Donna Carla Hattie
Flora Cleo Dora Hilda
Betsy Inez Beulah Camille
Celia Agnes Carmen Fifi
Eloise Anita David Frederic
Allen Alicia Elena Gloria
Gilbert Joan Hugo Diana
Klaus Bob Andrew Luis
Marilyn Opal Roxanne Cesar
Fran Hortense Georges Mitch
Floyd Lenny Keith Allison
Iris Michelle Isidore Lili
Fabian Isabel Juan Charley
Frances Ivan Jeanne Dennis
Katrina Rita Stan Wilma
Main article: List of retired Atlantic hurricanes

Unnamed but historically significant

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
TD TS 1 2 3 4 5
NameYearNotes
Columbus Hurricane 1495 Reported by Christopher Columbus; First definite hurricane report; three ships sunk
Great Colonial Hurricane 1635 First recorded hurricane to hit New England
Harry Cane of 1667 1667 First major hurricane in Virginia, estimated 10,000 homes destroyed, estimated Cat 3/4
Newfoundland Hurricane 1775 Killed over 4,000 people
Great Hurricane 1780 Deadliest Atlantic hurricane on record; over 22,000 killed
Great September Gale 1815 Category 4 New England strike
Norfolk and Long Island Hurricane 1821 200 deaths as it raced up the Atlantic coast
Racer's Storm 1837 105 deaths on 2,000 mile track from Caribbean to Texas to North Carolina
Last Island Hurricane 1856 400 people dead. The island and the resort on it never resurfaced.
Indianola Hurricane 1886 destroyed Indianola, Texas.
New York Hurricane 1893 Category 1 direct strike on New York City. Weakened from a category 3.
Sea Islands Hurricane 1893 killed 1,000 – 2,000 people on the Georgia and South Carolina coasts.
Chenier Caminanda Hurricane 1893 killed 2,000 people in Louisiana.
Hurricane San Ciriaco 1899 traversed the Atlantic for 31 days.
Galveston Hurricane of 1900 1900 Deadliest natural disaster in US history (as of 2005); 8,000 - 12,000 killed
March Hurricane 1908 reached Category 2 strength in March.
1915 Galveston Hurricane 1915 Strongest storm in 15 years; 17 foot tall Seawall, built after 1900 storm, saved city.
Great Miami Hurricane 1926 Florida's economy didn't recover until the 1950s.
Okeechobee Hurricane 1928 Wrecked Guadaloupe, Puerto Rico, and Florida; killed over 4,000
Dominican Republic Hurricane 1930 killed 8,000 people
Labor Day Hurricane 1935 Struck the Florida Keys; strongest storm to ever hit the United States. Killed 423. {164 residents+259 World War I Veterans}
Great New England Hurricane 1938 Killed 600, fastest moving hurricane recorded.
Surprise Hurricane 1943 First intentional flight into a hurricane; last hurricane advisory censored due to war; 19 killed.
Fort Lauderdale Hurricane 1947 stormed through Fort Lauderdale just weakened from a Category 5.
1991 Halloween Nor’easter 1991 Also known as "The Perfect Storm"

Listed by death toll

Deadliest Atlantic hurricanes
Rank Hurricane Season Fatalities
1 "Great Hurricane" 1780 22,000
2 Mitch 1998 11,000 – 18,000
3 "Galveston" 1900 8,000 – 12,000
4 Fifi 1974 8,000 – 10,000
5 "Dominican Republic" 1930 2,000 – 8,000
6 Flora 1963 7,186 – 8,000
7 "Pointe-a-Pitre" 1776 6,000+
8 "Newfoundland 1775 4,000 – 4,163
9 "Okeechobee" 1928 4,075+
10 "San Ciriaco" 1899 3,433+
Main article: List of deadliest Atlantic hurricanes

Listed by cost (United States only)

There are several ways to express the monetary cost of a hurricane, by inflation adjusted cost, cost at the time, and cost if the hurricane were to strike today. [1][2]

Care should be taken not to confuse "economic impact" estimates (often used for modern hurricanes like Katrina) with damage costs; it is the latter that are included in this list (and in all hurricane articles).

Note that these charts are only based on damage in the U.S.; the total in many of these storms is higher due to damage in the Caribbean, Central America, Mexico or Canada, but information for most storms that affected these areas is not consistently available except for very recent systems.

Storms with a * next to their name indicates the name was not retired.

See also: Template:Costliest US Atlantic hurricanes

Listed by 2005 inflation adjusted cost

Cost
(billions)
NameYear
$81.2 Hurricane Katrina 2005
$44.9 Hurricane Andrew 1992
$20.6 Hurricane Wilma 2005
$15.4 Hurricane Charley 2004
$14.2 Hurricane Ivan 2004
$12.6 Hurricane Hugo 1989
$11.6 Hurricane Agnes 1972
$11.1 Hurricane Betsy 1965
$10.0 Hurricane Rita 2005
$9.1 Hurricane Frances 2004
$9.1 Hurricane Camille 1969
$7.2 Hurricane Diane 1955
$7.1 Hurricane Jeanne 2004
$6.5 Hurricane Frederic 1979
$6.2 New England Hurricane of 1938 1938
$6.0 Tropical Storm Allison 2001
$6.0 Hurricane Floyd 1999
$5.5 Great Atlantic Hurricane of 1944 1944
$4.6 Hurricane Fran 1996
$4.5 Hurricane Alicia 1983
$4.4 Hurricane Opal 1995
$4.0 Hurricane Carol 1954
$3.7 Hurricane Isabel 2003
$3.2 Hurricane Juan* 1985
$3.1 Hurricane Donna 1960
$2.9 Hurricane Celia 1970
$2.7 Hurricane Bob 1991
$2.7 Hurricane Elena 1985
$2.5 Hurricane Carla 1961
$2.23 Hurricane Dennis 2005
$2.2 Great Miami Hurricane of 1926 1926
$2.1 Hurricane Eloise 1975
$2.1 Galveston Hurricane of 1915 1915
$2.1 Hurricane Dora 1964
Source: [3] ([4])

Listed by cost at the time

Cost
(billions)
NameYear
$81.2 Hurricane Katrina 2005
$26.5 Hurricane Andrew 1992
$16.8 Hurricane Wilma 2005
$15.0 Hurricane Charley 2004
$14.2 Hurricane Ivan 2004
$9.4 Hurricane Rita 2005
$8.9 Hurricane Frances 2004
$7.0 Hurricane Hugo 1989
$6.9 Hurricane Jeanne 2004
$5.0 Tropical Storm Allison 2001
$4.5 Hurricane Floyd 1999
$3.37 Hurricane Isabel 2003
$3.2 Hurricane Fran 1996
$3.0 Hurricane Opal 1995
$2.3 Hurricane Frederic 1979
$2.23 Hurricane Dennis 2005
$2.1 Hurricane Agnes 1972
$2.0 Hurricane Alicia 1983
$1.5 Hurricane Bob 1991
$1.5 Hurricane Juan* 1985
$1.42 Hurricane Camille 1969
$1.42 Hurricane Betsy 1965
$1.25 Hurricane Elena 1985
$1.155 Hurricane Georges 1998
$0.9 Hurricane Gloria 1985
$0.86 Hurricane Lili 2002
$0.83 Hurricane Diane 1955
$0.80 Hurricane Irene 1999
$0.72 Hurricane Bonnie* 1998
$0.70 Hurricane Erin* 1995
$0.50 Tropical Storm Allison* 1989
$0.50 Tropical Storm Alberto* 1994
$0.50 Tropical Storm Frances* 1998
$0.49 Hurricane Eloise 1975
$0.46 Hurricane Carol 1954
Source: NOAA

Listed by wealth normalization for 2004

This list is adjusted for 2004 inflation and wealth normalization, which is basically an estimation of what the hurricane would cost if it struck today. Estimates have been made for hurricanes that occurred after 2004.

Cost
(billions)
NameYear
$101.97 Great Miami Hurricane 1926
$81.20 Hurricane Katrina 2005
$43.15 Hurricane Andrew 1992
$37.54 Galveston Hurricane of 1900 1900
$31.81 Galveston Hurricane of 1915 1915
$23.78 Sanibel Island Hurricane of 1944 1944
$23.45 New England Hurricane of 1938 1938
$19.46 Lake Okeechobee Hurricane of 1928 1928
$17.54 Hurricane Betsy 1965
$16.99 Hurricane Donna 1960
$15.46 Hurricane Camille 1969
$15.10 Hurricane Agnes 1972
$15.00 Hurricane Charley 2004
$14.43 Hurricane Diane 1955
$14.20 Hurricane Ivan 2004
$13.23 Hurricane Hugo 1989
$12.79 Hurricane Carol 1954
$12.20 Hurricane Wilma 2005
$11.72 Fort Lauderdale Hurricane of 1947 1947
$9.97 Hurricane Carla 1961
$9.93 Hurricane Hazel 1954
$9.40 Hurricane Rita 2005
$9.11 Great Atlantic Hurricane of 1944 1944
$8.90 South Florida Hurricane of 1945 1945
$8.90 Hurricane Frances 2004
$8.88 Hurricane Frederic 1979
$8.23 South Florida Hurricane of 1949 1949
$7.54 South Texas Hurricane of 1919 1919
$6.90 Hurricane Jeanne 2004
$6.25 Tropical Storm Allison 2001
$5.72 Hurricane Alicia 1983
$5.48 Hurricane Floyd 1999
$4.71 Hurricane Celia 1970
Source: [5].

Listed by number of tornadoes spawned

Note that tornado detection has increased markedly in recent decades, so the number of tornadoes are underestimated for older events.

CountNameYear
123 Hurricane Frances 2004
117 Hurricane Ivan 2004
115 Hurricane Beulah 1967
86 Hurricane Rita 2005
62 Hurricane Katrina 2005
39 Hurricane Danny 1985
34 Hurricane David 1979
33 Hurricane Cindy 2005
29 Hurricane Allen 1980
29 Hurricane Gilbert 1988
23 Hurricane Alicia 1983
21 Hurricane Audrey 1957
20 Hurricane Carla 1961
17 Hurricane Agnes 1972
17 Hurricane Cleo 1964
16 Hurricane Edith 1971
16 Tropical Storm Alberto 2006
15 Hurricane Gaston 2004
14 Hurricane Babe 1977
13 Labor Day Hurricane 1935
12 Subtropical Storm One 1982
11 Hurricane Juan 1985
11 unnamed 1916
10 Hurricane Dennis 2005
10 Hurricane Wilma 2005
10 Hurricane Elena 1985
10 Hurricane Frederic 1979
10 Hurricane Hilda 1964
5 Tropical Storm Allison 2001
Sources:

Grazulis, Thomas P. (1993). “11”, Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991, A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, VT: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films, 124-127. ISBN 1-879362-03-1., NHC, NWS

See also History of tropical cyclone-spawned tornadoes

Listed by duration

Tropical systems which have lasted longer than eighteen days:

Duration
(days)
NameDate
28 Hurricane San Ciriaco August 1899
27.25 Hurricane Ginger September 1971
24.75 Hurricane Inga September 1969
22 Hurricane Kyle September 2002
20.75 Hurricane Carrie September 1957
Hurricane Inez September 1966
19.75 Hurricane Alberto August 2000
19.5 Storm 4 September 1926
19.25 Storm 9 September 1893
18.75 Hurricane Ivan September 2004
18.50 "Sea Islands" August 1893
18 Storm 2 August 1930
Hurricane Irene August 2005
Sources: NOAA [6], [7] NHC [8]
Note: Hurricane Joan-Miriam lasted 22 days total, but is not placed here because It lasted that long between two basins: the Atlantic and the East Pacific.

Fastest forward speed

These are the fastest estimated recorded speeds of any tropical system (including tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes) between 1851 and 2004. It does not include extratropical systems which routinely reach very high forward speeds.

RankSpeedNameYearDayTime
169 mph (111 km/h) Tropical Storm Six 1961 September 15 1800 UTC
69 mph (111 km/h) Hurricane Emily 1987 September 26 1200 UTC
3 66 mph (107 km/h) Tropical Storm Four 1970 August 18 1800 UTC
4 65 mph (105 km/h) Hurricane Luis 1995 September 11 1200 UTC
5 63 mph (101 km/h) Hurricane Lisa 1998 October 9 1800 UTC
6 62 mph (100 km/h) Hurricane Fox 1951 September 10 0600 UTC
Tropical Storm Helene 2000 September 25 1200 UTC
Hurricane Irene 1999 October 19 0000 UTC
9 61 mph (98 km/h) Hurricane Debbie 1969 August 25 1200 UTC
Hurricane Gladys 1975 October 3 1200 UTC
Hurricane 3 1884 September 19 0000 UTC
Escuminac Hurricane 1959 June 19 1200 UTC
13 59 mph (96 km/h) Tropical Storm Three 1897 September 25 1200 UTC
14 58 mph (94 km/h) Hurricane Baker 1952 September 8 0600 UTC
15 57 mph (92 km/h) Hurricane Isidore 2002 September 27 1200 UTC
[9]

Listed by seasonal activity

A hurricane with a peak intensity of category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is classified as major.

Listed by most total storms

Tropical
storms
YearHurricanesNotes
TotalMinorMajor
28 2005 15 8 7 4 category 5s, 1 subtropical storm
21 1933 10 5 5
19 1887 11 9 2
1995 11 6 5
18 1969 12 7 5 1 subtropical storm, 1 category 5
16 1936 7 6 1
2003 7 4 3 1 category 5
15 2000 8 5 3 1 subtropical storm
2001 9 5 4
2004 9 3 6 1 subtropical storm, 1 category 5
14 1953 6 2 4
1990 8 7 1
1998 10 7 3 1 category 5
13 1949 7 4 3
1950 11 3 8 1 category 5
1971 6 5 1
1984 5 4 1 1 subtropical storm
1996 9 3 6
12 1878 10 8 2
1886 10 6 4
1893 10 5 5
1901 5 5 0
1955 9 3 6 1 category 5
1964 6 0 6
1978 5 3 2 1 subtropical storm
1981 7 4 3 1 subtropical storm
1988 5 2 3 1 category 5
1999 8 3 5
2002 4 2 2

Listed by fewest total storms

Seasons prior to 1965 are not included due to lack of accurate data for the period.

Total
storms
YearTropical
storms
HurricanesNotes
MinorMajor
4 1983 1 2 1
6 1965 2 3 1
1977 1 4 1 1 category 5
1982 3 1 1 1 subtropical storm
1986 2 4 0
7 1972 1 3 0 3 subtropical storms
1987 4 2 1
1992 2 3 1 1 subtropical storm, 1 category 5
1994 4 3 0

Off-season storms

This section lists Atlantic storms that formed outside of the official hurricane season; June 1 - November 30. These storms are very unusual and thus they all merit inclusion on this page. The majority of off-season storms formed in May, with 18 total storms since 1851 [1].

Category 5 hurricanes

Becoming a Category 5 (sustained windspeeds greater than 155 mph) is achieved on a regular basis in the Western Pacific but is rare in the Atlantic. Only 29 Atlantic hurricanes are known to have reached Category 5 and only 11 made landfall while at this intensity. Only three times have more than one Category 5 formed in the same season: two in 1960 and 1961, and four in 2005. (Several earlier storms may have also reached Category 5 intensity, but their peak winds cannot be verified due to the lack of technology necessary to measure wind speeds.)

Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes
NameSeasonNameSeason
"Okeechobee" 1928"Bahamas" 1932
"Labor Day" 1935"New England" 1938
"Fort Lauderdale" 1947Dog 1950
Easy 1951Janet 1955
Cleo 1958Donna 1960
Ethel 1960Carla 1961
Hattie 1961Beulah 1967
Camille 1969Edith 1971
Anita 1977David 1979
Allen 1980Gilbert 1988
Hugo 1989Andrew 1992
Mitch 1998Isabel 2003
Ivan 2004Emily 2005
Katrina 2005Rita 2005
Wilma 2005
Main article: List of Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes

Listed by intensity

Most intense Atlantic hurricanes
Intensity is measured solely by central pressure
Rank Hurricane Season Min. pressure
1 Wilma 2005 882 mbar (hPa)
2 Gilbert 1988 888 mbar (hPa)
3 "Labor Day" 1935 892 mbar (hPa)
4 Rita 2005 895 mbar (hPa)
5 Allen 1980 899 mbar (hPa)
6 Katrina 2005 902 mbar (hPa)
7 Camille 1969 905 mbar (hPa)
Mitch 1998 905 mbar (hPa)
9 Ivan 2004 910 mbar (hPa)
10 Janet 1955 914 mbar (hPa)
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce

Strongest storm in each month

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. Intensity is measured solely by central pressure.

Month Name Year Minimum pressure
January Zeta* 2006 994 mb (hPa)
February unnamed** 1952 1004 mb (hPa)
March unnamed** 1908 <999 mb (hPa)
April Ana 2003 994 mb (hPa)
May unnamed 1908 989 mb (hPa)
June Audrey 1957 946 mb (hPa)
July Emily 2005 929 mb (hPa)
August Allen 1980 899 mb (hPa)
September Gilbert 1988 888 mb (hPa)
October Wilma 2005 882 mb (hPa)
November Lenny 1999 933 mb (hPa)
Michelle 2001 933 mb (hPa)
December Nicole 1998 979 mb (hPa)
* Tropical storm Zeta formed in 2005 but continued into January 2006
** These are the strongest systems in these months by virtue of being the only known systems.
Hurricane Able in May 1951 was a Category 3, a full two categories stronger than the unnamed May hurricane of 1908. However, there were no readings of pressure for this storm, so it can not accurately be placed on this list.
Storm 2 reached category two strength in December of 1925, but there was also a lack of pressure readings. Nicole was only a category one.

Atlantic-Eastern Pacific crossover storms

Tropical Storm Bret from 1993 retained its circulation and was designated Tropical Depression 8-E upon reaching the Pacific. The depression dissipated, reorganized, and became Hurricane Greg.

Tropical Storm Simone in the Pacific, itself formerly Hurricane Hattie in the Atlantic, appears to have became Tropical Storm Inga in the Atlantic. (From Weatherwise<i>, August 1963). [10]

In addition, numerous storms have crossed Central America and lost their circulation, but reformed over open waters. Remnants of tropical cyclones have done this as well, for example, the remnants of 2004's Tropical Storm Earl becoming Hurricane Frank in the Pacific.

Unusual Landfalls

Europe

See also: :Category:Hurricanes in Europe

Note: Europe has been hit by many tropical cyclones after they became extratropical. The following includes either a European tropical landfall, or came close to hitting as a tropical cyclone.

  • 1961 - Hurricane Debbie became extratropical just before striking western Ireland, causing heavy damage.
  • 1966 - Hurricane Faith struck Faroe Islands (while tropical) and Scandinavia (while extratropical), killing one person.
  • 1967 - Hurricane Chloe became extratropical just before making landfall in France as a 40 mph storm.
  • 1996 - Hurricane Lili (1996) was declared extratropical shortly before striking the British Isles with tropical storm force winds.
  • 1998 - Hurricane Jeanne became extratropical as it made landfall in Portugal in October.
  • 2005 - Hurricane Vince made landfall while tropical in southern Spain, the only tropical system ever recorded to make landfall on mainland Europe.[3]
  • 2006 - Hurricane Gordon became extratropical shortly before preforming a large loop off the coast of Europe, causing minimal wind damage.

Azores

  • 1926 - A hurricane performed a large loop around the islands as a category three, two, one and a tropical storm.
  • 1959 - Hurricane Hannah passed over the Azores as a category two.
  • 1990 - Tropical Storm Edouard stalled directly over the Azores but there was little damage.
  • 1992 - Hurricane Bonnie skirted the islands. One person died on the island of St. Michaels.
  • 1995 - Hurricane Tanya affected the Azores causing minimal damage.
  • 2005 - An unnamed subtropical storm passed almost directly over the Azores, although there was no damage reported
  • 2006 - Hurricane Gordon passed through the Azores as a Category 1 and then a tropical storm, nearly making landfall on Pico Island and causing damage in northern parts of Spain and Portugal.

West African Coast

Cape Verde Islands

Venezuela

See also: :Category:Hurricanes in Venezuela
  • 1933 - An early season hurricane made landfall in Venezuela as a category one. Any damage is unknown. [11]
  • 1974 - Tropical Storm Alma made landfall in Venezuela in August, causing almost no damage.
  • 1988 - Hurricane Joan affected Venezuela as a tropical storm, bringing heavy rains that caused severe flashflooding.
  • 1993 - Tropical Storm Bret caused severe mudslides that killed 173 people.

Canary Islands

See also: :Category:Hurricanes in the Canary Islands
  • 2005 - Tropical Storm Delta caused severe damage across the Canary Islands and left 7 people dead shortly after becoming extratropical. It caused no significant damage in Morocco when it later made landfall there.

Panama

  • 1969 - Hurricane Martha made the only recorded landfall in Panama as a tropical storm.

New Jersey

See also: List of New Jersey hurricanes

Extreme latitudes and longitudes

This list contains tropical cyclones that formed or moved to an extraordinary latitude or longitude. This list may include storms that reach extreme north latitude, or very equatorial cyclones.

  • 1966 - Hurricane Faith became extratropical farther north than any other tropical cyclone, at about 62°N. It was still a Category 2-strength storm at the time.
  • 1971 - Hurricane #2 became a hurricane at 46°N, the highest latitude a Tropical Storm has been upgraded in the Atlantic.
  • 1973 - Tropical Storm Christine developed as a tropical depression at 14°W over western Africa, the eastern-most tropical depression formation in the Atlantic basin.
  • 1973 - Hurricane Ellen became a major hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale at 42.1°N, making Ellen the furthest north a hurricane has reached major hurricane strength, and was one of only two storm to reach that strength above 38°N.
  • 1990 - Hurricane Isidore formed lower than any other tropical cyclone on record for the North Atlantic, 7.2°N.
  • 2004 - Hurricane Alex was the other hurricane to gain major hurricane status above 38°N, obtaining it at 38.5°N and keeping it until it reached 42.7°N, and was stronger than Ellen at its peak. Ellen was farther north.
  • 2004 - Hurricane Ivan became a Category 3 at 9.6°N latitude, the lowest latitude ever recorded for a major hurricane.
  • 2005 - Hurricane Vince formed at a record northeast point in the Atlantic. Vince also became a hurricane further east than any storm in Atlantic history at 18.9°W.

Earliest/Latest Formations for Each Category

Below is a list of the earliest and latest forming hurricanes for each category.

Earliest

CategoryYearStormDate Reached
TS 1952 "Groundhog Day" February 2
1 1908 Storm 1 March 6
2 1908 Storm 1 March 7
3 1951 Hurricane Able May 21
4 1957 Hurricane Audrey June 27
5 2005 Hurricane Emily July 17

Latest

CategoryYearStormDate Reached
TS 1954 Hurricane Alice December 30
1 1954 Hurricane Alice December 31
2 1925 Storm 2 December 2
3 1985 Hurricane Kate November 20
4 1999 Hurricane Lenny November 17
1912 Storm 6
5 1961 Hurricane Hattie October 30

References

See also

Categories


Incomplete lists | Atlantic hurricanes | Lists of tropical cyclones

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