List of Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes

Background

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 137 kn or greater at 10 m above ground.

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 138 mph.

, a reanalysis of weather data was ongoing by researchers who may upgrade or downgrade Atlantic hurricanes. For example, the 1825 Santa Ana hurricane is suspected to have reached Category 5 strength. 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.

Records

Officially, the decade with the most Category 5 hurricanes is the 2000s, 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. The most Category 5 hurricanes recorded in a single season is four, in 2005, followed by 2025, which recorded three. No other seasons had more than two Category 5 hurricanes. The most consecutive years to feature at least one Category 5 hurricane each is four, both from 2016 to 2019 and from 2022 to 2025.

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, and Maria each attained Category 5 status twice during their lifespans. Allen, Isabel, Ivan, and Milton 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.

Of the 45 Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes on record, 2 have been recorded in July, 8 in August, 26 in September, 8 in October, and 1 in November. There have been no officially recorded June or off-season Category 5 hurricanes.

July and August Category 5 hurricanes reached their high intensities in either the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, or the southwestern Atlantic.

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. 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. 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. 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

Notes

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 140 kn. 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.

Number by month

Landfalls

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. 20 of the storms made landfall at least once while at Category 5 intensity; 2007 and 2017 are the only years in which two storms made landfall at this intensity. All but six landfalling systems (the 1944 Great Atlantic hurricane, Carol, Esther, Mitch, Isabel, and Erin) 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.

The only Atlantic Category 5 hurricanes that did not make landfall while a tropical or subtropical cyclone were Hurricane Lorenzo, which still brought hurricane-force winds to the Azores; Hurricane Lee, which still made landfall as an extratropical cyclone in Nova Scotia; and Hurricane Humberto, which still caused increased surf along the East Coast of the United States and minor impacts to Bermuda. These three storms are therefore not included in the table below.

The following table lists these hurricanes by landfall intensity.

References

References

1. (January 2, 2019). "The Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale". United States National Hurricane Center.
2. Hudgins, James E.. (2000). "Tropical cyclones affecting North Carolina since 1586". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
3. Atlantic Oceanographic & Meteorological Laboratory. (June 8, 2010). "Current Hurricane Data Sets". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
4. Donnelly, J. P.. (2005). "Evidence of Past Intense Tropical Cyclones from Backbarrier Salt Pond Sediments: A Case Study from Isla de Culebrita, Puerto Rico, USA". Journal of Coastal Research.
5. (2009). "5000 year sedimentary record of hurricane strikes on the central coast of Belize". Quaternary International.
6. "Hurricane Dorian Becomes the 5th Atlantic Category 5 in 4 Years".
7. (October 29, 2025). "Category 5 Hurricane Atlantic Basin History".
8. Rappaport, Edward N.. "Addendum Hurricane Andrew". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
9. Staff writer. (2010). "Tropical Cyclone Climatology". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
10. Dorst, Neal. (June 10, 2010). "Tropical Cyclone FAQ G1) When is hurricane season ?". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
11. Landsea, Christopher W.. (2010-06-08). "Tropical Cyclone FAQ A2) What is a "Cape Verde" hurricane?". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
12. "1924 Major Hurricane Not Named (1924288N16277)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship.
13. (March 2009). "Documentation of Atlantic Tropical Cyclones Changes in HURDAT: Hurricane #10 in 1924". Hurricane Research Division.
14. "1928 Major Hurricane Not Named (1928250N14343)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship.
15. "1932 Major Hurricane Not Named (1932244N19296)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship.
16. "1932 Major Hurricane Not Named (1932304N15305)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship.
17. "1933 Major Hurricane Unnamed (1933234N13335)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship.
18. "1933 Major Hurricane Unnamed (1933259N11302)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship.
19. "1935 Major Hurricane Unnamed (1935241N23291)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship.
20. "1938 Major Hurricane Unnamed (1938253N13341)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship.
21. "1944 Great Atlantic hurricane (1944253N21302)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship.
22. "1953 Major Hurricane Carol (1953240N14340)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship.
23. (1955). "Hurricanes of 1955". Monthly Weather Review.
24. "1961 Major Hurricane Esther (1961254N11329)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship.
25. Dunn, Gordon E. (1962). "The Hurricane Season of 1961". Monthly Weather Review.
26. National Meteorological Services of Belize. (November 2, 2006). "Belize Marked 45th Anniversary of Deadly Hurricane Hattie". Belize National Emergency Management Organization.
27. "1966 Major Hurricane Inez (1966265N10325)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship.
28. Sugg, Arnold L. (1967). "The Hurricane Season of 1967". Monthly Weather Review.
29. National Hurricane Center. (April 1, 2014). "Re-analysis of 1969's Hurricane Camille Completed — Catastrophic hurricane now ranks as second strongest on record". United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
30. "1971 Major Hurricane Edith (1971249N11302)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship.
31. Lawrence, Miles B. (1978). "Atlantic Hurricane Season of 1977". Monthly Weather Review.
32. Hebert, Paul J. (1980). "Atlantic Hurricane Season of 1979". Monthly Weather Review.
33. Lawrence, Miles B. (1981). "Atlantic Hurricane Season of 1980". Monthly Weather Review.
34. National Hurricane Center. "Hurricane Allen July 31 – August 11". United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service.
35. Clark, Gilbert B. (October 26, 1988). "Preliminary Report: Hurricane Gilbert". United States National Hurricane Center.
36. Blake, Eric S. (August 2011). "The Deadliest, Costliest, and Most Intense United States Tropical Cyclones from 1851 to 2010 (And Other Frequently Requested Hurricane Facts)". United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service.
37. Lawrence, Miles B. (November 15, 1989). "Preliminary Report: Hurricane Hugo". United States National Hurricane Center.
38. Case, Bob. (1990). "Atlantic Hurricane Season of 1989". Monthly Weather Review.
39. Rappaport, Edward N. (December 10, 1993). "Hurricane Andrew: August 16–28". United States National Hurricane Center.
40. Guiney, John L. (April 7, 2017). "Hurricane Mitch: October 22 – November 5, 1998". United States National Hurricane Center.
41. (2004). "Mitch: The Deadliest Atlantic Hurricane Since 1780". United States National Climatic Data Center.
42. Inter-American Development Bank. "Central America After Hurricane Mitch- Costa Rica".
43. Inter-American Development Bank. "Central America After Hurricane Mitch- El Salvador".
44. Beven, John L. (April 7, 2017). "Hurricane Isabel: September 6–19, 2003". United States National Hurricane Center.
45. Stewart, Stacy R. (December 16, 2004). ["Hurricane Ivan September 2 – 24, 2004"]({{NHC TCR url). United States National Hurricane Center.
46. Franklin, James L. (March 10, 2006). ["Hurricane Emily July 11 – 21, 2005"]({{NHC TCR url). United States National Hurricane Center.
47. Knabb, Richard D. (December 20, 2005). "Hurricane Katrina: August 23 – 30, 2005". United States National Hurricane Center.
48. Knabb, Richard D. (March 17, 2006). "Hurricane Rita: September 18 - 26, 2005". United States National Hurricane Center.
49. (January 12, 2006). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Wilma: October 15 – 26, 2005". United States National Hurricane Center.
50. Comisión Nacional del Agua. (2006). "Resumen del Huracán "Wilma"".
51. Royster, Amy. (December 4, 2005). "Wilma's Waves Devastate Grand Bahama Communities". Palm Beach Post}}{{subscription required.
52. (December 4, 2005). "Hurricane Wilma exacts losses of 704 million dollars: Cuban government". Relief Web.
53. Franklin, James L. (January 31, 2008). "Hurricane Dean: August 13 – 23, 2007". United States National Hurricane Center.
54. Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Agricultura y la Alimentación (FAO), Nicaragua. (2007). "Evaluación de Daños Causados por el Huracán Félix en el Caribe de Nicaragua".
55. Beven, John L. (January 16, 2008). "Hurricane Felix: August 31 – September 5, 2007". United States National Hurricane Center.
56. Silva, José A. (January 29, 2008). "Huracán los terminó de hundir en la pobreza". El Nuevo Diario.
57. Comisión Permanente de Contingencias, Government of Honduras. (September 7, 2007). "Honduras: Informe preliminar de daños por Huracán Félix y últimas lluvias — Copeco — Boletín #53 – 07 de Septiembre 2007". Reliefweb.
58. Stewart, Stacy R. (April 7, 2017). "Hurricane Matthew: September 28 – October 9, 2016". United States National Hurricane Center.
59. (March 9, 2018). "Hurricane Irma: August 30 – September 12, 2017". United States National Hurricane Center.
60. Pasch, Richard J. (January 4, 2023). "Hurricane Maria: September 16 – 30, 2017". United States National Hurricane Center.
61. Beven II, John L. (May 17, 2019). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Michael (AL142018)". United States National Hurricane Center.
62. Avila, Lixion A. (December 16, 2019). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Dorian (AL052019)". United States National Hurricane Center.
63. Zelinsky, David A. (December 16, 2019). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Lorenzo (AL132019)". United States National Hurricane Center.
64. Bucci. (April 3, 2023). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Ian". National Hurricane Center.
65. "Q3 Global Catastrophe Recap October 2023". [[Aon (company).
66. (1 July 2024). "BERYL BECOMES A POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE IN THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN". [[National Hurricane Center]].
67. Beven, John L.. (March 31, 2025). "Tropical Cyclone Report - Hurricane Milton".
68. "Hurricane Erin Intermediate Advisory Number 21A".
69. Hagen, Andrew B.. (December 11, 2025). "Tropical Cyclone Report Hurricane Humberto".
70. Interactive, Neave. "Weather Satellite & Radar Map".
71. Stewart, Stacy. (May 18, 2021). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Iota". National Hurricane Center.
72. Landsea, Christopher W. (2010-06-08). "Tropical Cyclone FAQ G8) Why do hurricanes hit the East coast of the U.S., but never the West coast?". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
73. Mitchell, Charles L. (October 1924). "Notes on the West Indian Hurricane of October 14–23, 1924". U.S. Weather Bureau.
74. "International hurricane landfalls".
75. "HURDAT Re-analysis".
76. "Hurricane Maria Tropical Cyclone Update". National Hurricane Center.
77. Beven, John. (January 23, 2025). "Tropical Cyclone Report Hurricane Beryl".
78. "Hurricane MILTON".
79. Pasch, Richard. (January 16, 2026). "Tropical Cyclone Report Hurricane Erin". [[National Hurricane Center]].
80. Kelly, Larry. (October 28, 2025). "Hurricane Melissa Tropical Cyclone Update". National Hurricane Center.