Site Map

Research Divisions

Contributed by Chris Landsea

The most intense mainland
United States hurricanes
by central pressure
1851-2006

RANK	HURRICANE	YEAR	CATEGORY (at landfall)	MINIMUM PRESSURE
				Millibars	Inches
1	FL (Keys)	1935	5	892	26.35
2	CAMILLE (MS/SE LA/VA)	1969	5	909	26.84
3	KATRINA (LA)	2005	3	920	27.17
4	ANDREW (SE FL/SE LA)	1992	5	922	27.23
5	TX (Indianola)	1886	4	925	27.31
6	FL (Keys)/S TX	1919	4	927	27.37
7	FL (Lake Okeechobee)	1928	4	929	27.43
8	DONNA (FL/Eastern U.S.)	1960	4	930	27.46
9	LA (New Orleans)	1915	4	931	27.49
9	CARLA (N & Central TX)	1961	4	931	27.49
11	LA (Last Island)	1856	4	934	27.58
12	HUGO (SC)	1989	4	934	27.58
13	FL (Miami)/MS/AL/Pensacola	1926	4	935	27.61
14	TX (Galveston)	1900	4	936	27.64
15	RITA (NE TX,W LA)	2005	3	937	27.67
16	GA/FL (Brunswick)	1898	4	938	27.70
17	HAZEL (SC/NC)	1954	4	938	27.70
18	SE FL/SE LA/MS	1947	4	940	27.76
19	N TX	1932	4	941	27.79
19	CHARLEY (SW FL)	2004	4	941	27.79
21	GLORIA (Eastern U.S.)	1985	3&	942	27.82
21	OPAL (NW FL/AL)	1995	3&	942	27.82
23	FL (Central)	1888	3	945	27.91
23	E NC	1899	3	945	27.91
23	AUDREY (SW LA/N TX)	1957	4#	945	27.91
23	TX (Galveston)	1915	4#	945	27.91
23	CELIA (S TX)	1970	3	945	27.91
23	ALLEN (S TX)	1980	3	945	27.91
29	New England	1938	3	946	27.94
29	FREDERIC (AL/MS)	1979	3	946	27.94
29	IVAN (AL, NW FL)	2004	3	946	27.94
29	DENNIS (NW FL)	2005	3	946	27.94
33	NE U.S.	1944	3	947	27.97
33	SC/NC	1906	3	947	27.97
35	LA (Chenier Caminanda)	1893	3	948	27.99
35	BETSY (SE FL/SE LA)	1965	3	948	27.99
35	SE FL/NW FL	1929	3	948	27.99
35	SE FL	1933	3	948	27.99
35	S TX	1916	3	948	27.99
35	MS/AL	1916	3	948	27.99
41	NW FL	1882	3	949	28.02
41	DIANA (NC)	1984	3+	949	28.02
41	S TX	1933	3	949	28.02
44	WILMA (SW FL)	2005	3	950	28.05
44	GA/SC	1854	3	950	28.05
44	LA/MS	1855	3	950	28.05
44	LA/MS/AL	1860	3	950	28.05
44	LA	1879	3	950	28.05
44	BEULAH (S TX)	1967	3	950	28.05
44	HILDA (Central LA)	1964	3	950	28.05
44	GRACIE (SC)	1959	3	950	28.05
44	TX (Central)	1942	3	950	28.05
44	JEANNE (FL)	2004	3	950	28.05
54	SE FL	1945	3	951	28.08
54	BRET (S TX)	1999	3	951	28.08
56	LA (Grand Isle)	1909	3	952	28.11
56	FL (Tampa Bay)	1921	3	952	28.11
56	CARMEN (Central LA)	1974	3	952	28.11
56	SC/NC	1885	3	953	28.14
56	S FL	1906	3	953	28.14
61	GA/SC	1893	3	954	28.17
61	EDNA (New England)	1954	3	954	28.17
61	SE FL	1949	3	954	28.17
61	FRAN (NC)	1996	3	954	28.17
65	SE FL	1871	3	955	28.20
65	LA/TX	1886	3	955	28.20
65	SC/NC	1893	3	955	28.20
65	NW FL	1894	3	955	28.20
65	ELOISE (NW FL)	1975	3	955	28.20
65	KING (SE FL)	1950	3	955	28.20
65	Central LA	1926	3	955	28.20
65	SW LA	1918	3	955	28.20

Notes :
Includes only major hurricanes at their most intense landfall.
^&Highest category justified by winds.
^#Classified 4 because of estimated winds.
⁺Cape Fear, NC area only; was a category 2 at final landfall.

ADDENDUM

RANK	HURRICANE	YEAR	CATEGORY (at landfall)	MINIMUM PRESSURE
				Millibars	Inches
4	DAVID (S of PR)	1979	4	924	27.29
9	San Felipe (PR)	1928	5	931	27.49
18	HUGO (USVI & PR)	1989	4	940	27.76
44	INIKI (KAUAI, HI)	1992	UNK	950	27.91
65	DOT (KAUAI, HI)	1959	UNK	955	28.11