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NOAA NOAA United States Department of Commerce

The Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492-1996


Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Tropical Cyclone Terminology
  3. Casualty Information
  4. Storm Lists and Statistics
  5. Conclusions
  6. Acknowledgements and References
  7. Appendix 1: Cyclones with 25+ deaths
  8. Appendix 2: Cyclones that may have 25+ deaths
  9. Notes to the Appendices
  10. References to the Appendices

Appendix 1. Cyclones with 25+ Deaths

Atlantic tropical cyclones causing at least 25 deaths. Lower case footnotes refer to supplementary information in Notes to Appendices. Upper case footnotes indicate sources listed in References to Appendices

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Name & Areasa of Largest Loss Approximate Dates Deaths and Data Source(S)
1. MAR, STE, BAR, offshore 10-16 Oct 1780 >22000B,22000M,L,s,>20000AC
2. Galveston (Texas) 8 Sep 1900 12000C,j,>8000-12000AA,i,>8000H
3. FIFI: Honduras 14-19 Sep 1974 8000-10000AE,3000-10000R,>3000G
4. Dominican Republic 1-6 Sep 1930 8000AD,4000K,R,2000G,AC,R,T,BC,aq
5. FLORA: Haiti, Cuba 9/30-10/8 1963 8000G,7193A,R,7191BC,>7186R
6. Pointe-a-Pitre Bay (GUA) 6 Sep 1776 >6000BD
7. Newfoundland Banks 9-12 Sep 1775 4000L,z,c,aw
8. Puerto Rico, Carolinas 8-19 Aug 1899 >3433(I,J)+AV+CG,m,>3064(T,R,BC)+AV+CG
9. FL, GUA, PR, TUR, MAR 12-17 Sep 1928 >3411R+AF+BB+I+BL,(3375-4075)b
10. Cuba, CI, Jamaica 4-10 Nov 1932 >3107AR+AU,ad,2569R,>2500G,2500AC
11. Central Atlantic 16-17 Sep 1782 >3000AX,BU,c,at,z
12. Martinique Aug 1813 >3000BD,z
13. El Salvador, Honduras 4-8 Jun 1934 >3000W,>2000T,ae,506-3006R
14. Western Cuba 21-22 Jun 1791 3000M,J,BC,bh,257Y,>30AP
15. Barbados 10-11 Aug 1831 2500B,1525B,>1500L,AC,T,BC,BI,ah
16. Belize 6-10 Sep 1931 2500BB,1500R,1500G,AC,T,BC
17. HAI, HON, offshore JAM 19-25 Oct 1935 >2150T,af,1168-2168R+W,1000-2000AC
18. DAVID: DR, Dominica, US 8/29-9/5 1979 >2068R,>2063G
19. Offshore Florida (?) 1781 >2000BP,z
20. South Carolina, Georgia 27-28 Aug 1893 2000-2500X,1000-2000D,A,R,>1000T,s
21. Eastern Gulf of Mexico 17-21 Oct 1780 2000AP
22. Cuba 7-8 Oct 1870 2000AH,1000V,>800CN,136AG
23. Louisiana 1-2 Oct 1893 2000D,T,R,1800A
24. Guadeloupe, Martinique 14-15 Aug 1666 <2000M,J,AG,AJ,d,z
25. Martinique Aug 1767 1600I
26. Mexico 28 Aug 1909 1500T,BW,1000-2000V
27. W Cuba, Straits of FL Oct 1644 <1500M,e
28. Guadeloupe, Puerto Rico 26 Jul 1825 >1300BK,>500I,374I,T,AY,372BC
29. Offshore Nicaragua 1605 1300M,ak
30. GORDON: HAI, FL, CR, DR 8-21 Nov 1994 1145CA,bc
31. Jamaica, Cuba 2-5 Oct 1780 1115AR+M,w,>415M,42BB
32. Straits of Florida 5 Sep 1622 >1090M,z,90M
33. Gulf of Mexico early Nov 1590 >1000BD,c
34. Offshore Barbados 27 Sep 1694 >1000BD
35. S Bahamas, Straits of FL 30 Jul 1715 (>1000-<2500)CM,>1000BD,1000M
36. Havana (Cuba) 15 Oct 1768 >1000Y,AG,AJ,BB,BC,>100M,n,43B,AK
37. Veracruz (Mexico) 1601 1000M,c
38. HAZEL: HAI, US, GRE, CAN 5-13 Oct 1954 1000G,600-1200AD,575-1175R
39. INEZ: Caribbean, Mexico 9/27-10/1 1966 1000R
40. Cuba, PR, Turks Islands 1-5 Sep 1888 921R+I,bi
41. St. Thomas, Puerto Rico 29 Oct 1867 >811I,BC
42. Texas, Cuba 16-17 Sep 1875 800BS,q,180C,176R,A,BW
43. Cuba, offshore Bermuda 20 Oct 1926 709(N,AI)+V
44. Martinique, TUR, PR 18-22 Aug 1891 703R,>700I,700BC
45. Georgia, South Carolina 27 Aug 1881 >700A,700D,R
46. Florida west coast around 1553 700CN,z,bf
47. Florida 1553 <700CM,z,bf
48. New England 21 Sep 1938 (682-700)BX,682CN,600D,R,494R
49. JANET: Mexico, BEL, BAR 22-28 Sep 1955 681R,538G
50. FL Keys, S Texas, Cuba 9-14 Sep 1919 >(600-900)(D,R,BW)+AI
51. MAR, DOM, New Eng., BAH 14-19 Aug 1788 >(600-700)AH+AV+J,f
52. Offshore Martinique Oct 1695 >600BD,z
53. W Atlantic, Nova Scotia 24-27 Aug 1873 >600V,600AQ,223R,AQ,128BS
54. FOX: Cuba 23-25 Oct 1952 600CN,0R,bj
55. Southwest Caribbean Sea 1708 578M
56. AUDREY: SW LA, N Texas 27 Jun 1957 550R,>509F,390D,R
57. Atlantic 10 Aug 1591 501J,AG,AJ,z
58. Offshore DR 11-12 Jul 1502 >500H,BE,500CN
59. Offshore western FL 20 Aug 1559 >500CH,z,bg
60. Offshore Puerto Rico 1720 >500M,BD
61. Georgia, SC, NC 7-9 Sep 1804 >500A,CF,500AV,>84L
62. Florida east coast 1683 496BP,c
63. Dominica 9 Sep 1806 457Y,>300BL,131T,BC
64. Martinique 13-14 Aug 1766 440M,BL,400BL,>100Y,90(AJ,BC),v
65. North Carolina 11 Sep 1857 424AV+CI,>400L
66. Florida Keys 2-3 Sep 1935 409R,408D,405R,400CN
67. SE TX, Gulf MX, CU, JAM 12-17 Aug 1915 405R+AR,403R+AI+AR
68. Jamaica 8 Sep 1712 >400AR,z
69. Jamaica, Cayman Islands 8-9 Sep 1722 400M,AG,AJ,T,BC,z
70. Louisiana 10-11 Aug 1856 400A,320X,<200S,>155L,>250BS
71. U.S. east coast, W ATL 14-15 Sep 1944 390D,R,344CN
72. Offshore SC, BAH, TUR 9/30-10/3 1866 >387V+AH,>383V+BH
73. St. Vincent, Barbados 10-11 Sep 1898 383B+BB,283B
74. DONNA: Florida, PR, BAH 4-5 Sep 1960 >364R+I,t
75. Louisiana, Mississippi 20 Sep 1909 353CB,350D,R,T
76. FL, N Gulf States, BAH 16-21 Sep 1926 349BS+V+AN,265D+V+AN,264R+V+AN
77. GILBERT: MX, JAM, HAI 9-14 Sep 1988 327(G,R)+CA
78. Cuba, offshore Florida 12-18 Oct 1944 318G,R,300N
79. HILDA: Mexico, Cuba 11-16 Sep 1955 304G,R
80. Gulf of Mexico 21 Oct 1631 300BD,(BF,c,al)
81. South Carolina 27-28 Sep 1822 300L,200A,X,R
82. Bahamas, PR, DR, FL 23-27 Jul 1926 >287AM+R,x>212AM+R,60BB
83. Near Cape Canaveral (FL) 1563 284BP,c
84. Hispaniola, PR, Jamaica 8/28-9/3 1772 >280M+I+AR+BN,z,av,280BD
85. Mississippi, LA, Jamaica 24-29 Sep 1915 279(D,R,BW,CB)+AR
86. HATTIE: Belize 26-31 Oct 1961 275G,R,264BB,262BC
87. CHARLIE: Jamaica, Mexico 15-20 Aug 1951 259R+CN
88. ALLEN: Haiti, US 4-7 Aug 1980 259G,249F,236-261R
89. CAMILLE: MS, LA, WV, VA 17-18 Aug 1969 259R
90. Puerto Rico 26-27 Sep 1932 257I,225G,I,R,BC
91. St. Lucia, Dominica, BAR 21 Oct 1817 >(251-252)AH,>200BD
92. Cuba Sep 1623 250BP,150M
93. CLEO: Lesser Antilles 22-26 Aug 1964 217R,213BC,200G
94. MX, offshore GRE, JAM 16-23 Aug 1944 216R,116R,116G
95. JOAN: NIC, CR, COL, VEN 14-22 Oct 1988 216G,g
96. Mexico 19-20 Sep 1944 203-303R,200-300G
97. Barbados 10 Sep 1675 >200CK
98. Guadeloupe, NE US coast 1-3 Sep 1821 >200CN+(Y,P)
99. Dominica, DR 20-23 Sep 1834 >200BA,BC,>100AG
100. Upper Texas coast Nov 1527 200F,z,c,191R,162CH,bd
101. Barbados 10 Aug 1674 200J,AG,AJ,T,BC,be
102. St. Kitts Before 10 Nov 1758 200BD,BN,au,z
103. Cuba 23-25 Sep 1894 200V
104. Jamaica 17-19 Nov 1912 200AL,>142AR,142BB,100G,T,BC
105. DIANE: US NE states 16-19 Aug 1955 200R,184D
106. Southeast Florida, Cuba 17-18 Oct 1906 >193V+(R,D),u
107. Cayman Islands, JAM, MAR 8-15 Aug 1903 >188AH,>183AH+(AR+BB),>149AH+AF
108. NW Atlantic, S NF coast 22-24 Aug 1927 184CO+CP+V,c
109. Tampico (Mexico) 24 Sep 1933 184->200V
110. BRET: VEN, NIC, COL 7-11 Aug 1993 184R
111. Jamaica 10/31-11/1 1744 182M,182J,AG,AJ
112. Island near Nevis, Cuba 17 Aug 1669 182CC,z
113. Delaware coast 2 Sep 1785 181BQ,z
114. Isabel: Puerto Rico 6-7 Oct 1985 180R,c,p,(86-500)AM
115. Cuba, TUR, S Texas 8/30-9/5 1933 179W+(D,BW),o
116. Georgia, SC, NC 2 Oct 1898 179A,>(150-180)R
117. North coast of Colombia 1504 175BD,c
118. Dominica 20 Sep 1806 >165J,z
119. W Cuba, FL Keys, CI 10-11 Oct 1846 >164AB+AJ+L+AT+BZ+(AK,AP),bb
120. North Carolina, Virginia 2-6 Sep 1775 >163(R,AV)+BD+BN,ax,z
121. East Texas 12-13 Oct 1886 150T,A,126BS,ao
122. Massachusetts 6 Oct 1849 143BX,27L,c
123. JAM, PR, Cuba, St. Croix 24-29 Aug 1785 >142AO,z
124. Near STT, SW Atlan., PR 2-3 Aug 1837 >141AW+AY
125. Labrador coast, W Cuba 8-15 Oct 1882 140AQ,c,36R
126. Central Atlantic 9 Oct 1913 135BS,ap
127. Mississippi, AL, NW FL 27 Sep 1906 134D,133-134R
128. Florida, Georgia, SC 28-29 Sep 1896 >130A,114T,R,>100T,100AV
129. JAM, near HAI & DR, HAI 9-13 Nov 1909 >130W+AR,c,>97W+AH
130. AGNES: US NE states, CU 19-22 Jun 1972 129R+D
131. Hispaniola 12 Sep 1724 121BD
132. Between JAM and England Aug 1803 121BY
133. Atlantic (?) Before 3 Dec 1779 120BN,c,z,ay
134. Roanoke Island (NC) 1588 <116BR,an,c
135. BERYL: Cape Verde Is. 28-29 Aug 1982 115CA
136. North Carolina, Bahamas 11 Sep 1883 106R,l
137. Gulf coast, NC 3-10 Oct 1837 105BH+L+CI,s
138. Offshore Mexico 26-27 Sep 1600 103-<940BD,c,ai
139. South Carolina, NC 15 Sep 1752 103L+CG,28R+CG
140. Cuba, Southwest Florida 13-18 Oct 1910 101W+D
141. Cuba 4-5 Oct 1844 101AK,>100T
142. Jamaica 1692 >100AR,ab
143. Honduras 23 Sep 1787 >100M,100M,J,AG,AJ,AX,BC
144. Cuba 27-28 Aug 1794 >100AH+BP
145. Jamaica 17-18 Oct 1815 >100AH,y
146. Puerto Rico 5 Sep 1852 >100AH,ac
147. Montserrat to VI 28-29 Aug 1924 >100R,34BB
148. FRANCELIA: Guatemala 8/28-9/4 1969 >100G,100R
149. Belize 2 Sep 1787 100AO
150. Martinique 4-5 Sep 1713 100B,z
151. Georgia 14-15 Sep 1824 100L,83L
152. Charleston (SC) 14 Sep 1700 98CN,97L
153. Dominican Republic 25-28 Sep 1908 98G
154. DIANA: Mexico 5-8 Aug 1990 96R
155. ALMA: Honduras, Cuba, FL 4-8 Jun 1966 90R
156. Cuba 13-14 Jun 1904 >87W
157. Curacao, PA, US E coast 9/21-10/5 1877 >84AB+V+CF,r,<=16AG
158. Windward Islands, BER 8-15 Sep 1921 >80R+R
159. New England 3-4 Oct 1841 81CN,58L,c
160. Near NC Outer Banks 21 Aug 1863 80V
161. Newfoundland Banks 26 Aug 1883 80R
162. Dominican Republic 22-24 May 1948 80R,c
163. CARRIE: SW of Azores 21 Sep 1957 80R
164. ELOISE: PR, US, HAI, DR 13-24 Sep 1975 80R
165. Jamaica, Cuba, Florida 22-29 Sep 1917 78AR+R+W
166. BETSY: SE Florida, SE LA 7-10 Sep 1965 76R
167. GERT: Mexico, HON, NIC 14-21 Sep 1993 76R
168. Cuba, Bimini 23-29 Sep 1935 74W,49R,T,BC
169. Western Cuba near end Oct 1525 73H,>72M,72BD
170. US E coast waters, Cuba 21-24 Oct 1878 >72R+AI+AQ+AV,>71R+AI+AV
171. Rio Grande Valley 4-6 Aug 1844 >70CN,70L,T,A,BW
172. Jamaica 15-16 Aug 1933 70AR
173. South Carolina 16-17 Sep 1713 70L,z
174. EMMY: Azores 3-4 Sep 1976 68R
175. Near St. Augustine (FL) 29 Aug 1880 68V,BH
176. Mexico 15 Sep 1933 63W
177. Near Tortola, Montserrat Aug 1809 62BY+AO,z
178. Offshore Mexico 12 Sep 1600 >60-<897BD,ai
179. Off US SE coast, FL 11/30-12/2 1925 60AM+R,50A
180. Cuba Oct 1527 70BO,z,am,60M,I
181. CAROL: US NE states 31 Aug 1954 60D,R
182. OPAL: Guatemala, MX, US SE states 9/30-10/04 1995 59R
183. BEULAH: TX, N MX, MAR 5-22 Sep 1967 59R,58R+BL
184. Martinique, SW Atlantic 7/26-8/3 1837 57AW,ag
185. U. S. mid-Atlantic coast 15-17 Sep 1903 57V
186. Cuba 9/20-10/1 1895 56V
187. S BAH, FL, FL Straits 15-16 Jul 1733 56M,z
188. HUGO: GUA, MON, SC 17-22 Sep 1989 56BT,49R
189. ALICE: NE MX, TX 24-26 Jun 1954 55R
190. Offshore central FL, VA 20 Oct 1870 >52BP+AV
191. Off Bermuda 1832 52BY,c
192. CESAR: NIC, HON, El Salvador 25-28 Jul 1996 51R
193. South Texas 6-7 Sep 1921 51BW,c,az
194. SE Florida, LA, MS 17-19 Sep 1947 51D,R
195. DOROTHY: Martinique, DOM 20 Aug 1970 51BC,<=51R,AF,BL
196. Newfoundland Banks 23-24 Aug 1935 >50R,c,31CP
197. Bahamas 4-5 Sep 1883 50AG
198. Cape Cod (Massachusetts) 1 Nov 1778 (50-70)BX,ba,c,z
199. Barbuda 25 Oct 1760 50M
200. North Carolina 1 Sep 1772 50L,AV,z
201. Dominica 8/28-9/1 1916 50V,AH
202. Georgia, SC, NC 11-12 Aug 1940 50D,R
203. Honduras 23-28 Sep 1941 50G,R
204. Louisiana 11 Aug 1860 47L
205. NC, coastal Virginia 18 Aug 1879 46CG+AV
206. CARLA: Texas 10-12 Sep 1961 46D,R
207. Louisiana 19 Aug 1812 45L,z
208. North-central Atlantic 8 Sep 1897 45v
209. Louisiana, MS, Alabama 27-28 Jul 1819 43L
210. Offshore US E coast 23 Aug 1806 42AV
211. Velasco (Texas) 21 Jul 1909 41D,R,BW
212. Western Atlantic 6-7 Sep 1853 40BS,as
213. U. S. mid-Atlantic coast 9-12 Sep 1889 40R,40A
214. Western Cuba 5 Oct 1634 40M,BD,aj
215. St. Marks (Florida) 1758 40A,z
216. Freeport (Texas) 13-14 Aug 1932 40D
217. Puerto Rico 15 Sep 1626 38M,I
218. Near Cape Florida (FL) 7 Sep 1838 38BP
219. HILDA: Louisiana 3-4 Oct 1964 38D,R
220. Coastal NB, NY, ME 4 Oct 1869 37AS+L+CN,c
221. ELLA: HAI, CU 8/30-9/6 1958 37-39R
222. South Carolina 4 Sep 1834 37L
223. Northeast Gulf of Mexico 26 May 1863 37V,c
224. W Atlantic, US east coast 24 Aug 1635 35BX+AV
225. Mississippi 15 Sep 1821 35S
226. Trinidad, CU, VEN, JAM 6/27-7/3 1933 35R+W+AR
227. BETSY: GUA, PR 11-12 Aug 1956 34R+I,34G+I,27BC
228. Cuba, Florida Keys 10-11 Oct 1909 34W+Z+R
229. Gulf of MX and states 4-10 Jul 1916 34W
230. Southwest Louisiana 6 Aug 1918 34D,R,CB
231. North Carolina, MA 2 Nov 1861 33L+(AV,CF)+H
232 Western Cuba 27 Aug 1826 33BY,c,z
233. Near Maritime Provinces 19 Jun 1959 33R,c
234. Southeastern Bahamas 1609 32BV,z
235. FRAN: Cape Verde Islands 15-17 Sep 1984 31CA
236. ALBERTO: Georgia, AL 4-7 Jul 1994 30CA
237. Offshore Yucatan 10-13 Aug 1880 30R+V,30BS,ar
238. Jamaica 18-19 Aug 1880 30B,AR,12AQ,12R
239. EDITH: Nicaragua, Aruba 6-11 Sep 1971 30G,R
240. GILDA: Honduras 25-27 Sep 1954 29R
241. Indianola (Texas), Cuba 17-20 Aug 1886 >28R+X+AI,>20AQ+AI
242. Virgin Islands 13-16 Aug 1793 28AH+BN,h
243. South Carolina, Florida 11-13 Oct 1893 28R+R
244. Tobago 11 Oct 1847 27O
245. Virgin Islands 21 Aug 1871 27I
246. Coastal New England 9-13 Oct 1878 27R
247. Offshore Jamaica (?) 23 Sep 1799 27BG,c
248. Texas, Gulf of MX, JAM 15-19 Aug 1916 27V+R,25V+AH
249. DORA: Mexico 12 Sep 1956 27R
250. U.S. mid-Atlantic coast 7-13 Sep 1854 26AS
251. NC, SC, offshore Bahamas 11-15 Jul 1916 26V,c
252. Bahamas, Florida 14-16 Sep 1945 26R
253. Cuba, Alabama 25-31 Aug 1950 26W+R
254. SW Atlantic, CU 9/26-10/9 1873 26V,aa
255. ANDREW: FL, LA, Bahamas 23-27 Aug 1992 26R
256. SC, offshore NC, GA 24-25 Aug 1885 25R+V
257. Georgia, South Carolina 27-29 Aug 1911 25R,24R,bk
258. Louisiana 25-26 Aug 1926 25D,R
259. CONNIE: North Carolina 11-13 Aug 1955 25D

Next: Appendix 2: Cyclones that may have 25+ deaths