List of Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes

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Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates

File:Milton 2024-10-07 1920Z.jpg
Hurricane Milton as a Category 5 hurricane on October 7, 2024

A Category 5 Atlantic hurricane is a tropical cyclone that reaches Category 5 intensity on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale, within the Atlantic Ocean to the north of the equator. They are among the strongest tropical cyclones that can form on Earth, having 1-minute sustained wind speeds of at least Script error: No such module "convert".. The United States National Hurricane Center currently estimates that 11 tropical cyclones between 1851 (the first Atlantic hurricane season to be included in the official Atlantic tropical cyclone record) and 1959 peaked as Category 5 hurricanes. However, because technologies such as satellite monitoring were not available until the 1960s, some cyclones may have remained undetected. Since 1960, 31 Atlantic hurricanes have reached Category 5.

Background

File:Map of Atlantic Category Five hurricanes.png
Tracks of all known Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes between 1851 and 2024.

Within the Atlantic Ocean to the north of the equator, hurricanes are officially monitored by the United States's National Hurricane Center (NHC), however, other meteorological services, such as Météo-France, the United Kingdom's Met Office and Environment Canada also monitor the basin. Within the region, a Category 5 hurricane is a tropical cyclone which reaches Category 5 status on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale, that is, a tropical cyclone that has 1-minute mean maximum sustained wind speeds of Script error: No such module "convert". or greater at Script error: No such module "convert". above ground.[1]

A total of 42 tropical cyclones have been estimated to have peaked as Category 5 hurricanes on the SSHWS, with the first occurrence recorded in 1924. No Category 5 hurricanes were observed officially before 1924. It can be presumed that earlier storms reached Category 5 strength over open waters, but the strongest winds were not measured. Although the anemometer, a device used for measuring wind speed, was invented in 1846, during major hurricane strikes the instruments were often blown away or damaged, leaving the hurricane's peak intensity unrecorded. For example, as the Great Beaufort Hurricane of 1879 struck North Carolina, the anemometer cups were blown away when indicating Script error: No such module "convert"..[2]

since May 2018Template:Dated maintenance category (articles)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., a reanalysis of weather data was ongoing by researchers who may upgrade or downgrade Atlantic hurricanes.[3] For example, the 1825 Santa Ana hurricane is suspected to have reached Category 5 strength.[4] Furthermore, paleotempestological research aims to identify past major hurricanes by comparing sedimentary evidence of recent and past hurricane strikes. For example, a "giant hurricane" significantly more powerful than Hurricane Hattie (Category 5) has been identified in Belizean sediment, having struck the region sometime before 1500.[5]

Records

File:1924 Atlantic hurricane 10 track.png
An October Category 5 hurricane that hit Cuba, Florida, and The Bahamas in 1924. It was the first hurricane to be officially recognized as a Category 5 on the modern-day Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

Officially, the decade with the most Category 5 hurricanes is 2000–2009, with eight Category 5 hurricanes having occurred: Isabel (2003), Ivan (2004), Emily (2005), Katrina (2005), Rita (2005), Wilma (2005), Dean (2007), and Felix (2007). The previous decades with the most Category 5 hurricanes were the 1930s and 1960s, with six occurring between 1930 and 1939.[6] The most Category 5 hurricanes recorded in a single season is four, in 2005. The most consecutive years to feature at least one Category 5 hurricane each is four, from 2016 to 2019.[7]

File:Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes 1980-present.jpg
A collage of all Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes since 1980

Ten Atlantic hurricanes—Camille, Allen, Andrew, Isabel, Ivan, Dean, Felix, Irma, Maria, and Milton—reached Category 5 intensity on more than one occasion; that is, by reaching Category 5 intensity, weakening to a Category 4 status or lower, and then becoming a Category 5 hurricane again. Such hurricanes have their dates shown together. Camille, Andrew, Dean, Felix, Irma, Maria, and Milton each attained Category 5 status twice during their lifespans. Allen, Isabel, and Ivan reached Category 5 intensity on three occasions. The 1932 Cuba hurricane holds the record for the most time spent as a Category 5 hurricane (although it took place before satellite or aircraft reconnaissance, so this record may be somewhat suspect). Irma holds the record for the longest continuous span as a Category 5 storm in the satellite era.[6][8]

Of the 42 Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes on record, 2 have been recorded in July, 8 in August, 25 in September, 7 in October, and 1 in November. There have been no officially recorded June or off-season Category 5 hurricanes.[6]

The July and August Category 5 hurricanes reached their high intensities in both the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. These are the areas most favorable for tropical cyclone development in those months.[6][9]

September sees the most Category 5 hurricanes, with over half of the total. This coincides with the climatological peak of the Atlantic hurricane season, which occurs in early September.[10] September Category 5s reached their strengths in any of the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and open Atlantic. These places are where September tropical cyclones are likely to form.[9] Many of these hurricanes are either Cape Verde hurricanes, which develop their strength due to a long track over warm waters,[11] or else intensify over the warm Loop Current in the Gulf of Mexico.

All but two of the Category 5 hurricanes in October and November (the exceptions being Michael and Milton) reached their intensities in the western Caribbean, a region that Atlantic hurricanes strongly gravitate toward late in the season.[9] This is due to the climatology of the area, which sometimes has a high-altitude anticyclone that promotes rapid intensification late in the season, as well as warm waters.

Systems

Name Category 5 intensity Peak intensity Areas affected Damage
(USD)
Deaths Refs.
Dates Duration Wind speed Pressure
Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Central America, Mexico, Cuba
Florida, The Bahamas
Template:Nts [12][13]
Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Lesser Antilles, The Bahamas
United States East Coast, Atlantic Canada
Template:Ntsp Template:Nts [14]
Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". The Bahamas, Northeastern United States Template:Nts [15]
Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Lesser Antilles, Jamaica, Cayman Islands
Cuba, The Bahamas, Bermuda
Template:Ntsp Template:Nts [16]
Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". The Bahamas, Cuba, Florida
Texas, Tamaulipas
Template:Ntsp Template:Nts [17]
Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Jamaica, Yucatán Peninsula Template:Ntsp Template:Nts [18]
Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". The Bahamas, Florida, Georgia
The Carolinas, Virginia
Template:Nts [19]
Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Eastern United States, Southwestern Quebec Template:Ntsp Template:Nts [20]
Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Eastern United States, Atlantic Canada Template:Ntsp Template:Nts [21]
Carol Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Bermuda, New England, Atlantic Canada Template:Ntsp Template:Nts [22]
Janet Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Lesser Antilles, Central America Template:Ntsp Template:Nts [23]
Esther Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". East Coast of the United States Template:Ntsp Template:Nts [24]
Hattie Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Central America Template:Ntsp Template:Nts [25][26]
Inez Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Greater Antilles, Florida, Mexico Template:Ntsp Template:Nts [27]
Beulah Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". The Caribbean, Mexico, Texas Template:Ntsp Template:Nts [28]
Camille Script error: No such module "sort".Template:Efn Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Cuba, United States Gulf Coast Template:Ntsp Template:Nts [29]
Edith Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". The Caribbean, Central America
Mexico, United States Gulf Coast
Template:Ntsp Template:Nts [30]
Anita Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Mexico Script error: No such module "sort". Template:Nts [31]
David Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". The Caribbean, United States East coast Template:Ntsp Template:Nts Template:EM-DAT[32]
Allen Script error: No such module "sort".Template:Efn Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". The Caribbean, Yucatán Peninsula
Mexico, South Texas
Template:Ntsp Template:Nts [33][34][35]
Gilbert Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Jamaica, Venezuela, Central America
Hispaniola, Mexico
Template:Ntsp Template:Nts [36][37]
Hugo Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". The Caribbean, United States East Coast Template:Ntsp Template:Nts [29][38][39]
Andrew Script error: No such module "sort".Template:Efn Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". The Bahamas, Florida, United States Gulf Coast Template:Ntsp Template:Nts [29][40]
Mitch Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Central America, Yucatán Peninsula, South Florida Template:Ntsp Template:Nts [41][42][43][44]
Isabel Script error: No such module "sort".Template:Efn Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Greater Antilles, Bahamas
Eastern United States, Ontario
Template:Ntsp Template:Nts [29][45]
Ivan Script error: No such module "sort".Template:Efn Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". The Caribbean, Venezuela, United States Gulf Coast Template:Ntsp Template:Nts [29][46]
Emily Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Windward Islands, Jamaica, Mexico, Texas Template:Ntsp Template:Nts [47]
Katrina Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Bahamas, United States Gulf Coast Template:Ntsp Template:Nts [48]
Rita Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Cuba, United States Gulf Coast Template:Ntsp Template:Nts [49]
Wilma Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Greater Antilles, Central America, Mexico, Florida Template:Ntsp Template:Nts [50][51][52][53]
Dean Script error: No such module "sort".Template:Efn Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". The Caribbean, Central America Template:Ntsp Template:Nts [33][54][55]
Felix Script error: No such module "sort".Template:Efn Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Nicaragua, Honduras Template:Ntsp Template:Nts [56][55][57][58]
Matthew Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Antilles, Venezuela, Colombia
United States East Coast, Atlantic Canada
Template:Ntsp Template:Nts [59]
Irma Script error: No such module "sort".Template:Efn Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Cape Verde, The Caribbean, Virgin Islands
Cuba, Florida
Template:Ntsp Template:Nts [60]
Maria Script error: No such module "sort".Template:Efn Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Lesser Antilles, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico
Dominican Republic, Turks and Caicos Islands
Template:Ntsp Template:Nts [61]
Michael Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Central America, United States Gulf Coast Template:Ntsp Template:Nts [62]
Dorian Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". The Caribbean, The Bahamas,
United States East Coast, Atlantic Canada, Greenland
Template:Ntsp Template:Nts [63]
Lorenzo Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Cabo Verde, Azores, Western Europe Template:Ntsp Template:Nts [64]
Ian Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Caribbean, Cuba, Florida, The Carolinas Template:Ntsp Template:Nts [65]
Lee Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Bermuda, New England, Atlantic Canada Template:Ntsp Template:Nts [66]
Beryl Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Caribbean, Puerto Rico, Yucatán Peninsula, Texas Template:Ntsp Template:Nts [67]
Milton Script error: No such module "sort".Template:Efn Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Yucatán Peninsula, Florida, and The Bahamas Template:Ntsp 45 [68]

Notes

Template:Notelist

Other systems

The 1947 Fort Lauderdale hurricane and Hurricanes Dog (1950), Easy (1951), Cleo (1958), Donna (1960), Ethel (1960) and Carla (1961) were all originally estimated to have Category 5 sustained wind speeds. However, later systematic studies by the Atlantic hurricane reanalysis project found that the wind speeds associated with these systems were overestimated and downgraded them to either Category 4 or 3. Most recently, Hurricane Iota (2020) was operationally considered to be a Category 5 hurricane, with estimated 1-minute sustained wind speeds of Template:Cvt.[69] However, during their routine post-analysis best track process after the season, the NHC downgraded Iota to a Category 4 hurricane as a result of post season reanalysis, which suggested that there was a high bias in windspeeds derived from the Stepped Frequency Microwave Radiometer instrument.[69]

Number by month

Template:Bar graph

Landfalls

File:Michael 2018-10-10 1732Z.jpg
Hurricane Michael as it was making landfall as a Category 5 hurricane in 2018

Nearly all Atlantic Category 5 hurricanes have made landfall at some location while a tropical or subtropical cyclone. This is primarily because of their proximity to land in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, where the usual synoptic weather patterns carry them towards land, as opposed to the westward, oceanic mean track of Eastern Pacific hurricanes.[70] Nineteen of the storms made landfall at least once while at Category 5 intensity;[6] 2007 and 2017 are the only years in which two storms made landfall at this intensity.[6] All but five landfalling systems (the 1944 Great Atlantic hurricane, Carol, Esther, Mitch and Isabel) did so at major hurricane strength.

Many of these systems made landfall shortly after weakening from a Category 5 hurricane. This weakening can be caused by dry air near land, shallower waters due to shelving, interaction with land, eyewall replacement cycles, increased vertical wind shear, or cooler waters near shore.[48]Script error: No such module "Unsubst". The only Atlantic Category 5 hurricanes that did not make landfall while a tropical or subtropical cyclone were Hurricane Lee, which still made landfall as an extratropical cyclone in Nova Scotia, and Hurricane Lorenzo, which still brought hurricane-force winds to the Azores. These two storms are therefore not included in the table below.

The following table lists these hurricanes by landfall intensity.

Name Year
Category 5
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Category 4
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Category 3
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Category 2
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Category 1
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Tropical or
subtropical storm
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Tropical or
subtropical depression
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Refs.
Script error: No such module "sort". 1924 Cuba Florida The Bahamas [6][71]
Script error: No such module "sort". 1928 Puerto Rico Guadeloupe, Lucayan Archipelago, Florida South Carolina [6]
Script error: No such module "sort". 1932 The Bahamas [6]
Script error: No such module "sort". 1932 Little Cayman, Cuba The Bahamas Martinique [6]
Script error: No such module "sort". 1933 The Bahamas Cuba, Texas [6]
Script error: No such module "sort". 1933 Yucatán Peninsula Mainland Mexico [6]
Script error: No such module "sort". 1935 Florida Keys Northwest Florida The Bahamas [6]
Script error: No such module "sort". 1938 New York, Connecticut [6]
Script error: No such module "sort". 1944 New York, Rhode Island [6]
Carol 1953 New Brunswick [6]
Janet 1955 Yucatán Peninsula Mainland Mexico [72]
Esther 1961 Massachusetts, Maine [73]
Hattie 1961 Belize [72]
Inez 1966 Dominican Republic Cuba, Haiti, mainland Mexico Cuba [72]
Beulah 1967 Mexico [72]
Camille 1969 Mississippi Cuba [72]
Edith 1971 Nicaragua Louisiana Belize, Mexico [30]
Anita 1977 Mainland Mexico [6]
David 1979 Dominican Republic Dominica Florida Cuba, The Bahamas, Georgia [6]
Allen 1980 Texas, Barbados [6]
Gilbert 1988 Quintana Roo Jamaica, Tamaulipas [36]
Hugo 1989 Guadeloupe, Saint Croix, South Carolina Puerto Rico [38]
Andrew 1992 Eleuthera, Florida Berry Islands Louisiana [40]
Mitch 1998 Honduras Campeche, Florida [41]
Isabel 2003 North Carolina [45]
Ivan 2004 Alabama, Grenada Louisiana [46]
Emily 2005 Quintana Roo Tamaulipas Grenada [47]
Katrina 2005 Louisiana, Mississippi Florida [48]
Rita 2005 Louisiana [49]
Wilma 2005 Cozumel, Quintana Roo Florida [50]
Dean 2007 Quintana Roo Veracruz [54]
Felix 2007 Nicaragua Grenada [56]
Matthew 2016 Haiti, Cuba, Grand Bahama South Carolina [59]
Irma 2017 Barbuda, Saint Martin, Virgin Gorda, Cuba Little Inagua, Florida Keys Southwest Florida [60]
Maria 2017 Dominica Puerto Rico [74]
Michael 2018 Florida [62]
Dorian 2019 Abaco Islands, Grand Bahama (2×) North Carolina St. Thomas Saint Lucia, Barbados [63]
Ian 2022 Florida (2x) Cuba South Carolina [65]
Beryl 2024 Carriacou Quintana Roo, Texas [75]
Milton 2024 Florida [76]

See also

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References

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External links

Template:Top icon Script error: No such module "Navbox". Template:Tropical cyclones by intensity