Ranked: The 10 Most Powerful U.S. Hurricanes (1900-2025)
Hurricanes are a defining force in the U.S. climate, capable of leaving behind profound environmental, social, and economic devastation.
This visual, created in partnership with Inigo, highlights the most powerful hurricanes in U.S. history. Their strength is measured by maximum wind speeds, based on data from the NOAA Hurricane Research Division.
What Are Hurricanes?
A hurricane is a type of tropical cyclone—a powerful, rotating storm system that forms over warm ocean waters. Characterized by strong winds, heavy rainfall, and storm surges, hurricanes can cause widespread destruction when they make landfall.
In the United States, hurricanes most frequently impact coastal states along the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, particularly Florida, Texas, and Louisiana. The season officially runs from June 1 to November 30, with peak activity typically occurring in late August and September.
While some storms bring minimal damage, others—like Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Harvey—have caused catastrophic loss of life, property damage in the hundreds of billions of dollars, and long-term environmental impacts.
The Most Powerful U.S. Storms
The Labor Day hurricane of 1935 tops the list as the most powerful U.S. hurricane by wind speed. At its peak, winds reached 184 miles per hour (mph), and it was a Category 5 storm—the highest rating.
| Year | Month | Max Wind (mph) |
Name | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1935 | Sep | 184 | Labor Day | 5 |
| 1969 | Aug | 173 | Camille | 5 |
| 1992 | Aug | 167 | Andrew | 5 |
| 2018 | Oct | 161 | Michael | 5 |
| 1919 | Sep | 150 | Florida Keys | 4 |
| 1932 | Aug | 150 | Freeport | 4 |
| 2004 | Aug | 150 | Charley | 4 |
| 2020 | Aug | 150 | Laura | 4 |
| 2021 | Aug | 150 | Ida | 4 |
| 2022 | Sep | 150 | Ian | 4 |
Three other storms were in the Category 5 ranking. These include Hurricane Camille in 1969 (173 mph), Hurricane Andrew in 1992 (167 mph), and Hurricane Michael in 2018 (161 mph).
The remaining six hurricanes on the list were all Category 4 storms. Katrina, though one of the most devastating hurricanes in U.S. history, reached a peak wind speed of only 127 mph.
Risk Management
Over the past century, better forecasting, emergency planning, and stronger infrastructure have reduced hurricane-related deaths. However, hurricanes remain among the most damaging natural hazards in America.
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