The Most Intense Hurricanes in the United States 1851-2004 (Text)

| HOME | ARCHIVES | FORECASTS | IMAGERY | ABOUT NHC | RECONNAISSANCE |

The Most Intense Hurricanes in the United States 1851-2004 (Text)

The following table is derived from NOAA Technical Memorandum NWS TPC-1:

THE DEADLIEST, COSTLIEST, AND MOST INTENSE
UNITED STATES TROPICAL CYCLONES FROM 1851 TO 2004
(AND OTHER FREQUENTLY REQUESTED HURRICANE FACTS)
by
Eric S. Blake, Jerry D. Jarrell(retired), Max Mayfield, and Edward N. Rappaport
NOAA/NWS/ Tropical Prediction Center/National Hurricane Center
Miami, Florida

Christopher W. Landsea
NOAA/AOML/Hurricane Research Division
Miami, Florida

Click here to read the full report.

**Table 4:** The most intense mainland United States hurricanes, 1851-2004 (includes only major hurricanes at their most intense landfall). Addendum for Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands.
Rank	Hurricane	Year	Category (at landfall)	Minimum Pressure (mb)	Minimum Pressure (in)
1	Unnamed (FL Keys)	1935	5	892	26.35
2	Camille (MS, SE LA, VA)	1969	5	909	26.84
3	Andrew (SE FL, SE LA)	1992	5	922	27.23
4	TX (Indianola)	1886	4	925	27.31
5	Unnamed (FL Keys, S TX)	1919	4	927	27.37
6	Unnamed (Lake Okeechobee FL)	1928	4	929	27.43
7	Donna (FL, Eastern U.S.)	1960	4	930	27.46
8	Unnamed (New Orleans LA)	1915	4	931	27.49
8	Carla (N & Cent. TX)	1961	4	931	27.49
10	LA (Last Island)	1856	4	934	27.58
10	Hugo (SC)	1989	4	934	27.58
12	Unnamed (Miami FL, MS, AL, Pensacola FL)	1926	4	935	27.61
13	Unnamed (Galveston TX)	1900	4	936	27.64
14	Unnamed GA/FL (Brunswick, GA)	1898	4	938	27.70
14	Hazel (SC, NC)	1954	4	938	27.70
16	Unnamed (SE FL, SE LA, MS)	1947	4	940	27.76
17	Unnamed (N TX)	1932	4	941	27.79
17	Charley (Eastern U.S.)	2004	4	941	27.79
19	Gloria (Eastern U.S.)	1985	3^a	942	27.82
19	Opal (NW FL, AL)	1995	3^a	942	27.82
21	Unnamed (Central FL)	1888	3	945	27.91
21	Unnamed (E NC)	1899	3	945	27.91
21	Audrey (SW LA, N TX)	1957	4^b	945	27.91
21	Unnamed (Galveston TX)	1915	4^b	945	27.91
21	Celia (S TX)	1970	3	945	27.91
21	Allen (S TX)	1980	3	945	27.91
27	Unnamed (New England)	1938	3	946	27.94
27	Frederic (AL, MS)	1979	3	946	27.94
27	Ivan (AL, NW FL)	2004	3	946	27.94
30	Unnamed (NE U.S.)	1944	3	947	27.97
30	Unnamed (SC, NC)	1906	3	947	27.97
32	Unnamed (LA Chenier Caminanda)	1893	3	948	27.99
32	Betsy (SE FL, SE LA)	1965	3	948	27.99
32	Unnamed (SE FL, NW FL)	1929	3	948	27.99
32	Unnamed (SE FL)	1933	3	948	27.99
32	Unnamed (S TX)	1916	3	948	27.99
32	Unnamed (MS, AL)	1916	3	948	27.99
38	Unnamed (NW FL)	1882	3	949	28.02
38	Diana (NC)	1984	3^c	949	28.02
38	Unnamed (S TX)	1933	3	949	28.02
41	Unnamed (GA/SC)	1854	3	950	28.05
41	Unnamed (LA/MS)	1855	3	950	28.05
41	Unnamed (LA/MS/AL)	1860	3	950	28.05
41	Unnamed (LA)	1879	3	950	28.05
41	Beulah (S TX)	1967	3	950	28.05
41	Hilda (Central LA)	1964	3	950	28.05
41	Gracie (SC)	1959	3	950	28.05
41	Unnamed (Central TX)	1942	3	950	28.05
41	Jeanne (FL)	2004	3	950	28.05
50	Unnamed (SE FL)	1945	3	951	28.08
50	Bret (S TX)	1999	3	951	28.08
52	Unnamed (Grand Isle LA)	1909	3	952	28.11
52	Unnamed (Tampa Bay FL)	1921	3	952	28.11
52	Carmen (Central LA)	1974	3	952	28.11
54	Unnamed (SC/NC)	1885	3	953	28.14
54	Unnamed (S FL)	1906	3	953	28.14
56	Unnamed (GA/SC)	1893	3	954	28.17
56	Edna (New England)	1954	3	954	28.17
56	Unnamed (SE FL)	1949	3	954	28.17
56	Fran (NC)	1996	3	954	28.17
60	Unnamed (SE FL)	1871	3	955	28.20
60	Unnamed (LA/TX)	1886	3	955	28.20
60	Unnamed (SC/NC)	1893	3	955	28.20
60	Unnamed (NW FL)	1894	3	955	28.20
60	Eloise (NW FL)	1975	3	955	28.20
60	King (SE FL)	1950	3	955	28.20
60	Unnamed (Central LA)	1926	3	955	28.20
60	Unnamed (SW LA)	1918	3	955	28.20
Addendum (Rank is independent of other events in group)
4	David (S of PR)	1979	4	924	27.29
8	Unnamed (San Felipe PR)	1928	4	931	27.49
16	Hugo (USVI, PR)	1989	4	940	27.76
41	Iniki (Kaua'i HI)	1992	Unknown	950	27.91
60	Dot (Kaua'i HI)	1959	Unknown	955	28.11

Notes

^a Highest category justified by winds
^b Classified Cat. 4 because of estimated winds
^c Cape Fear, North Carolina, area only; was a Category 2 at final landfall

Graphical version of this page

Get Storm Info
Satellite Imagery - US Weather Radar - Aircraft Recon - Advisory Archive - Mobile Products - E-Mail Advisories - RSS Feeds - About NHC Products

Tropical Analysis and Forecasting
Atlantic Products - E Pac Products - About TAFB Products

Learn About Hurricanes
Hurricane Awareness - Frequently Asked Questions - AOML Hurricane-Research Division - Hurricane Hunters - The Saffir-Simpson-Hurricane Scale - Forecasting Models - Inland Wind Model - Eyewall Wind-Profiles - TPC Glossary - TPC Acronyms - Storm Names Breakpoints

Hurricane History
NHC/TPC Archives - Forecast Verification - Climatology - 1492-1996 (Atlantic) - 1900-2000 (USA) - Most Expensive - Most Intense - US Strikes by Decade - US Strikes by State

About Us
About the TPC - Mission/Vision - Other NCEP Centers - TPC Personnel - NOAA Locator - Visitor Information - NHC Library - WX4NHC Amateur Radio Station

Contact Us

NOAA/ National Weather Service
National Centers for Environmental Prediction
National Hurricane Center
Tropical Prediction Center
11691 SW 17th Street
Miami, Florida, 33165-2149 USA
nhcwebmaster@noaa.gov
Disclaimer
Privacy Policy
Credits
About Us
Glossary
Career Opportunities
Page last modified: Wednesday, 27-Jul-2005 20:09:39 GMT