The Most Intense Hurricanes in the United States 1851-2004

The following table is derived from NOAA Technical Memorandum NWS TPC-1:

THE DEADLIEST, COSTLIEST, AND MOST INTENSE
UNITED STATES TROPICAL CYCLONES FROM 1851 TO 2004
(AND OTHER FREQUENTLY REQUESTED HURRICANE FACTS)
by
Eric S. Blake, Jerry D. Jarrell(retired), Max Mayfield, and Edward N. Rappaport
NOAA/NWS/ Tropical Prediction Center/National Hurricane Center
Miami, Florida

Christopher W. Landsea
NOAA/AOML/Hurricane Research Division
Miami, Florida

Click here to read the full report.

**Table 4:** The most intense mainland United States hurricanes, 1851-2004 (includes only major hurricanes at their most intense landfall). Addendum for Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands.
Rank	Hurricane	Year	Category (at landfall)	Minimum Pressure (mb)	Minimum Pressure (in)
1	Unnamed (FL Keys)	1935	5	892	26.35
2	Camille (MS, SE LA, VA)	1969	5	909	26.84
3	Andrew (SE FL, SE LA)	1992	5	922	27.23
4	TX (Indianola)	1886	4	925	27.31
5	Unnamed (FL Keys, S TX)	1919	4	927	27.37
6	Unnamed (Lake Okeechobee FL)	1928	4	929	27.43
7	Donna (FL, Eastern U.S.)	1960	4	930	27.46
8	Unnamed (New Orleans LA)	1915	4	931	27.49
8	Carla (N & Cent. TX)	1961	4	931	27.49
10	LA (Last Island)	1856	4	934	27.58
10	Hugo (SC)	1989	4	934	27.58
12	Unnamed (Miami FL, MS, AL, Pensacola FL)	1926	4	935	27.61
13	Unnamed (Galveston TX)	1900	4	936	27.64
14	Unnamed GA/FL (Brunswick, GA)	1898	4	938	27.70
14	Hazel (SC, NC)	1954	4	938	27.70
16	Unnamed (SE FL, SE LA, MS)	1947	4	940	27.76
17	Unnamed (N TX)	1932	4	941	27.79
17	Charley (Eastern U.S.)	2004	4	941	27.79
19	Gloria (Eastern U.S.)	1985	3^a	942	27.82
19	Opal (NW FL, AL)	1995	3^a	942	27.82
21	Unnamed (Central FL)	1888	3	945	27.91
21	Unnamed (E NC)	1899	3	945	27.91
21	Audrey (SW LA, N TX)	1957	4^b	945	27.91
21	Unnamed (Galveston TX)	1915	4^b	945	27.91
21	Celia (S TX)	1970	3	945	27.91
21	Allen (S TX)	1980	3	945	27.91
27	Unnamed (New England)	1938	3	946	27.94
27	Frederic (AL, MS)	1979	3	946	27.94
27	Ivan (AL, NW FL)	2004	3	946	27.94
30	Unnamed (NE U.S.)	1944	3	947	27.97
30	Unnamed (SC, NC)	1906	3	947	27.97
32	Unnamed (LA Chenier Caminanda)	1893	3	948	27.99
32	Betsy (SE FL, SE LA)	1965	3	948	27.99
32	Unnamed (SE FL, NW FL)	1929	3	948	27.99
32	Unnamed (SE FL)	1933	3	948	27.99
32	Unnamed (S TX)	1916	3	948	27.99
32	Unnamed (MS, AL)	1916	3	948	27.99
38	Unnamed (NW FL)	1882	3	949	28.02
38	Diana (NC)	1984	3^c	949	28.02
38	Unnamed (S TX)	1933	3	949	28.02
41	Unnamed (GA/SC)	1854	3	950	28.05
41	Unnamed (LA/MS)	1855	3	950	28.05
41	Unnamed (LA/MS/AL)	1860	3	950	28.05
41	Unnamed (LA)	1879	3	950	28.05
41	Beulah (S TX)	1967	3	950	28.05
41	Hilda (Central LA)	1964	3	950	28.05
41	Gracie (SC)	1959	3	950	28.05
41	Unnamed (Central TX)	1942	3	950	28.05
41	Jeanne (FL)	2004	3	950	28.05
50	Unnamed (SE FL)	1945	3	951	28.08
50	Bret (S TX)	1999	3	951	28.08
52	Unnamed (Grand Isle LA)	1909	3	952	28.11
52	Unnamed (Tampa Bay FL)	1921	3	952	28.11
52	Carmen (Central LA)	1974	3	952	28.11
54	Unnamed (SC/NC)	1885	3	953	28.14
54	Unnamed (S FL)	1906	3	953	28.14
56	Unnamed (GA/SC)	1893	3	954	28.17
56	Edna (New England)	1954	3	954	28.17
56	Unnamed (SE FL)	1949	3	954	28.17
56	Fran (NC)	1996	3	954	28.17
60	Unnamed (SE FL)	1871	3	955	28.20
60	Unnamed (LA/TX)	1886	3	955	28.20
60	Unnamed (SC/NC)	1893	3	955	28.20
60	Unnamed (NW FL)	1894	3	955	28.20
60	Eloise (NW FL)	1975	3	955	28.20
60	King (SE FL)	1950	3	955	28.20
60	Unnamed (Central LA)	1926	3	955	28.20
60	Unnamed (SW LA)	1918	3	955	28.20
Addendum (Rank is independent of other events in group)
4	David (S of PR)	1979	4	924	27.29
8	Unnamed (San Felipe PR)	1928	4	931	27.49
16	Hugo (USVI, PR)	1989	4	940	27.76
41	Iniki (Kaua'i HI)	1992	Unknown	950	27.91
60	Dot (Kaua'i HI)	1959	Unknown	955	28.11

Notes

^a Highest category justified by winds
^b Classified Cat. 4 because of estimated winds
^c Cape Fear, North Carolina, area only; was a Category 2 at final landfall