Home
Weather New York
WeatherRadar
RainRadar
TemperatureRadar
WindRadar
LightningRadar
Weather News
Editor's Pick
Discover the app
Weather widget
Contact us
Apps
Career
    Home / Weather News /

    United States history - Top 5 strongest landfalling hurricanes

08:30 PM
June 1, 2025

United States history
Top 5 strongest landfalling hurricanes

Hurricane Michael makes landfall on October 10, 2018.
Hurricane Michael makes landfall on October 10, 2018. - © NOAA NESDIS

Many hurricanes have made landfall in the U.S., but every system is different. Here are the top 5 strongest hurricanes to make landfall in U.S. history based on the sustained winds at landfall.

1. Labor Day Hurricane - 1935

Hitting September 2, 1935, almost 100 years ago, this historical major hurricane is still the most intense on record. The lowest pressure was down to 892 millibars (mb), and sustained winds were whipping at 185 mph at landfall near Long Key, Fla. Twenty feet of storm surge were recorded, which destroyed the railway along the Keys and brought down buildings. It caused $100 million in damages (1935 dollars) and more than 400 fatalities.

2. Major Hurricane Camille - 1962

With sustained winds at 175 mph and a pressure of 900 mb, Major Hurricane Camille made landfall in Waveland, Miss., on August 17, 1962, as a Category 5 hurricane. Peak storm surge reached 24 feet - more than two stories high - along the Mississippi Coast.

Did you know?

A hurricane must reach sustained winds of at least 157 mph to be considered a Category 5 hurricane.

Forecasters were preparing for a turn toward Florida, but Camille stayed on its path to the central Gulf Coast. Large ships became beached, and total destruction was reported in Harrison County, Miss.

3. Major Hurricane Andrew - 1992

As a small but mighty hurricane, Major Hurricane Andrew made landfall with 165 mph sustained winds in South Florida near Homestead, south of Miami, on August 24, 1992.

With its pressure down to 922 mb and winds gusting as high as 174 mph, Andrew caused extensive damage, but with almost 1.2 million people evacuating the impact area, it had a lower fatality count (65) compared to what could have been. However, the evacuation caused Florida's biggest traffic jam along I-95.

4. Major Hurricane Michael - 2018

Major Hurricane Michael made landfall with winds of 160 mph on Mexico Beach, Fla., after 26 years without a U.S. landfalling Category 5 hurricane. It was also the first Category 5 hurricane to make landfall in this area of the Florida Panhandle on record.

Michael caused more than $18 billion (2018 dollars) in damages in Florida alone, and 4 percent of the Florida population was without power. Mexico Beach and its surrounding areas of the Panhandle are less developed, with plentiful pine forests making up much of the landscape. The Florida Forest Service classified 12 percent of the damaged forest region as 'catastrophic.'

Get to know the WindRadarread more

5. Major Hurricane Ian - 2022

With sustained winds of 150 mph, Major Hurricane Ian slammed into Southwest Florida, making landfall near Cayo Costa, Fla., on September 28, 2022. The hurricane tore through the Sanibel Causeway, the highway connecting Sanibel and Captiva islands to mainland Florida, took the lives of 149 people in Florida alone and dropped more than 30 inches of rain in Ponce Inlet, Fla.

Ian cost Florida more than $109 billion in damages with total damages for the U.S. coming to $112 billion, the third costliest hurricane on record for the U.S.

Recommended external content from YouTube

We need your consent to show content from YouTube. You can withdraw your consent at any time.

I agree that content from YouTube will be displayed to me.
Privacy policy
Becca Parker
More on the topic
Hurricane Polo remains dangerous. Active Pacific. . . Thursday, September 24, 2026
Thursday, September 24, 2026

Active Pacific

Hurricane Polo remains dangerous
10 facts about fog. Low clouds. . . Sunday, September 27, 2026
Fog impacting the Appalachian Mountains.
Sunday, September 27, 2026

Low clouds

10 facts about fog
Hurricane parade in the Pacific. Karina is very strong. . Weather Videos. Tuesday, September 1, 2026
WindRadar for Friday, showing the three hurricanes – Lowell, Karina and Maria – over the Pacific.
Weather VideosTuesday, September 1, 2026

Karina is very strong

Hurricane parade in the Pacific
All weather news
This might also interest you
Autumn foliage: weather's impact. Leaf-peeping season!. . . Sunday, October 4, 2026
Cool nights can help intensify autumn foliage color!
Sunday, October 4, 2026

Leaf-peeping season!

Autumn foliage: weather's impact
When a hurricane is on the way.... You can be ready!. . . Thursday, October 8, 2026
Thursday, October 8, 2026

You can be ready!

When a hurricane is on the way...
Be ready for tropical activity. Tips & tools. . . Wednesday, October 7, 2026
Track hurricanes with the WeatherRadar
Wednesday, October 7, 2026

Tips & tools

Be ready for tropical activity
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is also available on

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

instagramfacebookthreadslinkList