 Historical Hurricanes Tropical storms and hurricanes have been influencing people for centuries, but only in the past one hundred years, have we been able to track their progress with increasing proficiency.
Each tropical cyclone we monitor contributes to our very short hurricane climatology. Memorable hurricanes have left their mark on coast lines, towns, and people around the world. Some devastating hurricanes have been "retired." Their names will no longer be used for future storms. Other names are repeated every six years in the North Atlantic. Significant Hurricanes Of The Twentieth Century
The following hurricanes are some of the most significant on record through 1998 that have affected the United States, based on intensity and damage totals.Storm | At Landfall | Damage | Deaths | | 1900 Galveston TX | Cat. 4 | $707,762,000(1990) | 6,000+ | | 1909 Grand Isle LA | Cat. 4 | NA | 350 | | 1915 New Orleans LA | Cat. 4 | NA | 275 | | 1915 Galveston TX | Cat. 4 | $1,177,937,000(1990) | 275 | | 1919 Florida Keys | Cat. 4 | NA | 600-900 (est) | | 1926 Miami FL | Cat. 4 | $112,000,000(1926)
or
$1,315,397,000(1990) | 243 | | 1928 Lake Okeechobee FL | Cat. 4 | NA | 1,836 | | 1935 Florida Keys | Cat. 5 | NA | 408 | | 1938 New England | Cat. 3 | $306,000,000(1938)
or
$3,593,853,000(1990) | 600 | | 1944 Northeast US | Cat. 3 | $100,000,000+(1944)
or
$25,055,000(1990) | 390 | | 1954 Hurricane Hazel | Cat. 4 | $281,000,000(1954)
or
$1,444,752,000(1990) | 95 | | 1957 Hurricane Audrey | Cat. 4 | $150,000,000(1957)
or
$696,091,000(1990) | 390 | | 1960 Hurricane Donna | Cat. 4 | $387,000,000(1960)
or
$1,823,605,000(1990) | 50 | | 1961 Hurricane Carla | Cat. 4 | $408,000,000(1961)
or
$1,926,731,000(1990) | 46 | | 1965 Hurricane Betsy | Cat. 3 | $1,420,500,000(1965)
or
$6,461,303,000(1990) | 75 | | 1969 Hurricane Camille | Cat. 5 | $$1,420,700,000(1969)
or
$5,242,380,000(1990) | 256 | | 1972 Hurricane Agnes | Cat. 1 | $2,100,000,000(1972)
or
$6,418,143,000(1990) | 122 | | 1979 Hurricane Frederic | Cat. 3 | $2,300,000,000(1979)
or
$3,502,942,000(1990) | NA | | 1983 Hurricane Alicia | Cat. 3 | $2,000,000,000(1983)
or
$2,391,854,000(1990) | NA | | 1985 Hurricane Elena | Cat. 3 | $1,250,000,000(1985)
or
$1,392,693,000(1990) | NA | | 1989 Hurricane Hugo | Cat. 4 | $7,000,000,000(1985)
or
$7,155,120,000(1990) | NA | | 1992 Hurricane Andrew | Cat. 4 | $25,000,000,000(1992) | NA | | 1995 Hurricane Fran | Cat. 3 | | | | 1995 Hurricane Opal | | | | | 1998 Hurricane Georges | | | |
Retired Atlantic Basin Hurricane Names [as of 1998] |
|---|
| Agnes | Carmen | Eloise | Hugo | | Alicia | Carol | Fifi | Inez | | Allen | Celia | Flora | Ione | | Andrew | Cleo | Frederic | Janet | | Anita | Connie | Gilbert | Joan | | Audrey | David | Gloria | Klaus | | Betsy | Diana | Gracie | Luis | | Beulah | Donna | Hattie | Marilyn | | Bob | Dora | Hazel | Opal | | Camille | Edna | Hilda | Roxanne | | Carla | Elena | Georges | Mitch |
For other historical hurricanes from earlier in the century, check out the 1900 hurricane that battered Galveston, Texas, or one of the most powerful hurricanes to strike the United States, Camille, or Andrew, which blew through southern Florida and battered Louisiana in 1992. For current tropical activity, check our Tropical Update. |
