How many Category 5 hurricanes have hit the US as Hurricane Milton joins elite list of Atlantic storms

The highest classification is Category 5, meaning a tempest with sustained upwind speeds of 157 mph oregon more.

Since 1924, the National Hurricane Center has recorded astir 42 tropical cyclones that person reached Category 5 strength successful the Atlantic basin, with Hurricane Milton being the astir recent, presently threatening Florida’s Gulf Coast with 180 mph winds.

A conveyance is stranded successful precocious waters connected a flooded road astatine Interstate 10 and Washington successful Houston, connected Monday, July 8, 2024, aft Hurricane Beryl came ashore. (AP Photo/Maria Lysaker, File)

However, the full fig of Category 5 storms is apt higher, arsenic monitoring technology, specified arsenic satellites, wasn’t disposable until the 1960s. Many almighty storms mightiness person gone undetected earlier then.

Some Category 5 hurricanes person reached that strength aggregate times during their lifespan. For example, Hurricanes Allen successful 1980, Isabel successful 2003, and Ivan successful 2004 each achieved Category 5 spot 3 abstracted times.

The 1932 Cuba hurricane and Hurricane Irma successful 2007 clasp the grounds for the longest clip spent arsenic a Category 5, each maintaining that spot for 78 and 77 hours, respectively, according to NOAA.

Although respective hurricanes person peaked astatine Category 5, lone 4 person made landfall successful the US astatine that intensity.

1935 Labor Day Hurricane

In aboriginal September 1935, the Labor Day Hurricane became the astir aggravated tempest to ever marque landfall successful the US, devastating Florida. It claimed 408 lives, galore of whom were World War I veterans stationed successful the Florida Keys. The tempest caused $6 cardinal successful damage, equivalent to $137 cardinal successful 2024.

A antheral walks adjacent a flooded country adjacent the Swannanoa river, effects from Hurricane Helene , Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, successful Asheville, N.C. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco, File)

Hurricane Camille (1969)

Camille, the strongest hurricane of the 1969 season, deed Mississippi conscionable earlier midnight connected August 17. It generated a tempest surge of 24 feet, flattening astir of the coastline. Camille caused $1.42 cardinal successful damages (over $12 cardinal successful 2024) and near much than 259 radical dead.

Hurricane Andrew (1992)

On August 22, 1992, Hurricane Andrew struck confederate Florida arsenic a Category 5 tempest with sustained winds of up to 165 mph and gusts arsenic precocious arsenic 174 mph. It caused $30 cardinal successful harm and much than 40 deaths, becoming the costliest earthy catastrophe successful US past astatine that time. After the 1992 season, “Andrew” was retired from the database of aboriginal tempest names.

A agelong of Bradenton Beach, Fla, that is inactive recovering from flooding and harm from Hurricane Helene is seen up of the accomplishment of Hurricane Milton connected Anna Maria Island, Tuesay, Oct. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Hurricane Michael (2018)

On October 10, 2018, Hurricane Michael made landfall successful Mexico Beach, Florida, with highest winds of 160 mph, the strongest tempest to deed the Florida Panhandle. Initially classified arsenic a Category 4, it was aboriginal upgraded to Category 5 aft post-storm analysis. Michael resulted successful 74 deaths, including 59 successful the US and 15 successful Central America, and caused $25.1 cardinal successful damages.

Notable Category 5 Hurricanes

Here is simply a database of the 42 recorded tropical cyclones that reached Category 5 presumption successful the Atlantic basin since 1924:

– Cuba (1924)
– San Felipe II Okeechobee (1928)
– Bahamas (1932)
– Cuba (1932)
– Cuba-Brownsville (1933)
– Tampico (1933)
– Labor Day (1935)
– New England (1938)
– Great Atlantic (1944)
– Carol (1953)
– Janet (1955)
– Esther (1961)
– Hattie (1961)
– Inez (1966)
– Beulah (1967)
– Camille (1969)
– Edith (1971)
– Anita (1977)
– David (1979)
– Allen (1980)
– Gilbert (1988)
– Hugo (1989)
– Andrew (1992)
– Mitch (1998)
– Isabel (2003)
– Ivan (2004)
– Emily (2005)
– Katrina (2005)
– Rita (2005)
– Wilma (2005)
– Dean (2007)
– Felix (2007)
– Matthew (2016)
– Irma (2017)
– Maria (2017)
– Michael (2018)
– Dorian (2019)
– Lorenzo (2019)
– Ian (2022)
– Lee (2023)
– Beryl (2024)
– Milton (2024)