List of Category 4 Atlantic hurricanes
Category 4 hurricanes are tropical cyclones that reach Category 4 intensity on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale. Category 4 hurricanes that later attained Category 5 strength are not included in this list. The Atlantic basin includes the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. Category 4 is the second-highest hurricane classification category on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale, and storms that are of this intensity maintain maximum sustained winds of 113–136 knots (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h). Based on the Atlantic hurricane database, 142 hurricanes have attained Category 4 hurricane status since 1851, the start of modern meteorological record keeping. Category 4 storms are considered extreme hurricanes. Hurricane Ike, which was a Category 4 storm, brought on a 24 ft storm surge, the third greatest storm surge ever recorded (after Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Camille, respectively).
Statistics
Wind, Damage, and Storm Surge statistics
Category 4 hurricanes have maximum sustained winds of 113–136 knots (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h).[1] "Sustained winds" refers to the average wind speed observed over one minute at a height of 10 meters (33 ft) above ground. Gusts can be up to 30% higher than the sustained winds.[2] Mobile homes and other buildings without fixed structures can be completely destroyed, and the lower floors of sturdier structures usually sustain major damage. In addition to the winds, the cyclones generally produce a storm surge of 13–18 feet (4–5.5 m) above normal, potentially causing major beach erosion. Heavy, irreparable damage and/or near complete destruction of gas station canopies and other wide span overhang type structures are also very common, and mobile and manufactured homes are often completely destroyed. Low-level terrain may be flooded well inland, as well.[3] In addition, Category 4 hurricanes are often Cape Verde-type hurricanes. Cape Verde hurricanes are usually the strongest, and their track sometimes points them towards the United States, or other land.[4]
Air pressure statistics
The record high and low statistics for a Category 4 hurricane, in terms of pressure in millibars (mbar) and hectopascals (hPa), are Hurricane Opal of 1995, peaking at a record low of 916 mbar/hPa, and the 1926 Nassau hurricane, peaking at a record high of 967 mbar/hPa. These, on average, are the peaks of a Category 5 major hurricane and a Category 2 hurricane. The average pressure for a Category 4 Atlantic hurricane is between 932 and 945 mbar/hPa, just to delimit boundaries of what pressure a Category 4 hurricane peaks at.
History of Category 4 Atlantic hurricanes
The number of Category 4 and 5 hurricanes appears to have nearly doubled in occurrence from 1970 to 2004.[5] It is likely that the increase in Atlantic tropical storm and hurricane frequency is primarily due to improved monitoring.[6][7][8][9][10]
Due to growing population in major coastal cities, many areas have become more vulnerable to strong hurricanes, especially categories 4 and 5.[11]
Meteorological measurements
All of the storms listed in this analysis are listed in chronological order, but they also list the minimum central pressure and maximum sustained winds. Each of these meteorological readings are taken using a specific meteorological instrument. For modern storms, the minimum pressure measurements are taken by Reconnaissance Aircraft using dropsondes, or by determining it from satellite imagery using the Dvorak technique. For older storms, pressures are often incomplete, typically being provided by ship-reports or land-observations. None of these methods can provide constant pressure measurements; thus it is possible the only measurement occurred when the cyclone was at a lesser strength.[12] Sustained winds are taken using an Anemometer at 10 meters (33 ft) above the ground.[13]
Climatology
A total of 94 hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean Basin, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, have reached Category 4 status as their peak intensity. (Note that Category 4 storms that intensified later to Category 5 status are not included in this analysis.)
Most Category 4 hurricanes occur during September, with 51 storms occurring in that month. This coincides with the average peak of the Atlantic hurricane season, which occurs on September 10.[14] Most Category 4 hurricanes develop in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. Several Category 4 hurricanes are Cape Verde-type hurricanes. There have been no Category 4 hurricanes to form in either May or December, or in any other month outside the traditional bounds of the Atlantic hurricane season.
List of Category 4 hurricanes
Listed in chronological order
All data listed is provided by the NHC best track, unless otherwise noted. Also, some pressure readings for the older storms may have been taken at a time other than the storm's peak intensity. Thus, some pressure readings might not be the minimum pressure.
Some pressure readings are unavailable due to scarce information.
| Period | Number | Number per year |
|---|---|---|
| 1851–1900 | 13 | 0.26 |
| 1901–1950 | 29 | 0.58 |
| 1951–1975 | 22 | 0.88 |
| 1976–2000 | 24 | 0.96 |
| 2001–2020 | 29 | 1.4 |
1851–1900
In the years between 1851 and 1900, thirteen Category 4 storms are known to have occurred in the Atlantic Ocean. These numbers are limited by the observation techniques used prior to the use of satellite imagery in the 1960s.
| Name | Season | Month | Max. sustained winds | Minimum pressure | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Knots) | (km/h) | (mph) | (mbar) | ||||
| Hurricane #3 | 1853 | August, September | 130 | 240 | 150 | 924 | |
| "1856 Last Island Hurricane" | 1856 | August | 130 | 240 | 150 | 934 | |
| Hurricane #6 | 1866 | September, October | 120 | 220 | 140 | 938 | |
| Hurricane #7 | 1878 | September, October | 120 | 220 | 140 | 938 | |
| Hurricane #2 | 1880 | August | 130 | 240 | 150 | 931 | |
| Hurricane #8 | 1880 | September, October | 120 | 220 | 140 | 928 | |
| Hurricane #6 | 1882 | October | 120 | 220 | 140 | 975 | |
| Indianola Hurricane of 1886 | 1886 | August | 130 | 240 | 150 | 925 | |
| Hurricane #10 | 1893 | September, October | 115 | 215 | 130 | 948 | |
| Hurricane #6 | 1894 | October | 115 | 215 | 130 | 931 | |
| 1898 Georgia hurricane | 1898 | September, October | 115 | 215 | 130 | 930 | |
| 1899 San Ciriaco hurricane | 1899 | August, September | 130 | 240 | 150 | 930 | |
| Galveston Hurricane of 1900 | 1900 | August, September | 125 | 230 | 145 | 936 | |
| Sources: Atlantic Hurricane Best Track File 1851–2012.[15] | |||||||
1901–1950
Between 1901 and 1950, 29 Category 4 hurricanes formed in the Atlantic Basin.
1951–1975
In the years between 1951 and 1975, there were 23 Category 4 hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean. A dagger (
) denotes that the storm temporarily weakened below Category 4 intensity during the specified period of time.
| Storm name |
Track | Season | Dates as a Category 4 |
Maximum sustained winds |
Minimum pressure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Charlie |  |
1951 | August 19 | 130 mph (215 km/h) | 958 mbar (hPa; 28.29 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Easy |  |
1951 | September 7–8 | 150 mph (240 km/h) | 937 mbar (hPa; 27.67 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Fox |  |
1952 | October 15 | 145 mph (230 km/h) | 934 mbar (hPa; 27.58 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Hazel |  |
1954 | October 23–24 | 130 mph (215 km/h) | 938 mbar (hPa; 27.70 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Connie |  |
1955 | August 7 | 140 mph (220 km/h) | 944 mbar (hPa; 27.88 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Ione |  |
1955 | September 18 | 140 mph (220 km/h) | 938 mbar (hPa; 27.70 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Carrie |  |
1957 | September 7–8 | 140 mph (220 km/h) | 945 mbar (hPa; 27.91 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Cleo |  |
1958 | August 16 | 140 mph (220 km/h) | 947 mbar (hPa; 27.96 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Daisy |  |
1958 | August 28 | 130 mph (215 km/h) | 948 mbar (hPa; 27.99 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Helene |  |
1958 | September 27 | 150 mph (240 km/h) | 930 mbar (hPa; 27.46 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Gracie |  |
1959 | September 29 | 140 mph (220 km/h) | 950 mbar (hPa; 28.05 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Donna |  |
1960 | September 6–10 |
145 mph (230 km/h) | 930 mbar (hPa; 27.46 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Betsy |  |
1961 | September 5–6 | 130 mph (215 km/h) | 945 mbar (hPa; 27.91 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Carla |  |
1961 | September 10–11 | 145 mph (230 km/h) | 927 mbar (hPa; 27.37 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Frances |  |
1961 | October 7 | 130 mph (215 km/h) | 948 mbar (hPa; 27.99 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Flora |  |
1963 | October 2–3 | 150 mph (240 km/h) | 933 mbar (hPa; 27.55 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Cleo |  |
1964 | August 23–24 | 150 mph (240 km/h) | 938 mbar (hPa; 27.70 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Dora |  |
1964 | September 6 | 130 mph (215 km/h) | 942 mbar (hPa; 27.82 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Gladys |  |
1964 | September 17 | 130 mph (215 km/h) | 945 mbar (hPa; 27.91 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Hilda |  |
1964 | October 1–2 | 140 mph (220 km/h) | 941 mbar (hPa; 27.79 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Betsy |  |
1965 | September 4–9 |
140 mph (220 km/h) | 942 mbar (hPa; 27.82 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Inez |  |
1966 | September 28–October 9 |
150 mph (240 km/h) | 929 mbar (hPa; 27.43 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Carmen |  |
1974 | September 1–7 |
150 mph (240 km/h) | 928 mbar (hPa; 27.40 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Gladys |  |
1975 | October 2–3 | 140 mph (220 km/h) | 939 mbar (hPa; 27.73 inHg) | |
| Sources: Atlantic Hurricane Best Track File 1851–2012[15] | ||||||
1976–2000
In the years between 1976 and 2000, 24 Category 4 hurricanes formed in the basin:
| Storm name |
Track | Season | Dates as a Category 4 |
Maximum sustained winds |
Minimum pressure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ella |  |
1978 | September 4 | 140 mph (220 km/h) | 956 mbar (hPa; 28.23 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Greta |  |
1978 | September 18 | 130 mph (215 km/h) | 947 mbar (hPa; 27.96 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Frederic |  |
1979 | September 12–13 | 130 mph (215 km/h) | 943 mbar (hPa; 27.85 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Harvey |  |
1981 | September 14 | 130 mph (215 km/h) | 946 mbar (hPa; 27.94 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Debby |  |
1982 | September 18 | 130 mph (215 km/h) | 950 mbar (hPa; 28.05 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Diana |  |
1984 | September 11-12 | 130 mph (215 km/h) | 949 mbar (hPa; 28.02 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Gloria |  |
1985 | September 24-25 | 145 mph (230 km/h) | 919 mbar (hPa; 27.14 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Helene |  |
1988 | September 22-23 | 145 mph (230 km/h) | 938 mbar (hPa; 27.70 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Joan |  |
1988 | October 21-22 | 145 mph (230 km/h) | 932 mbar (hPa; 27.52 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Gabrielle |  |
1989 | September 4–7 | 145 mph (230 km/h) | 937 mbar (hPa; 27.67 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Claudette |  |
1991 | September 7 | 130 mph (215 km/h) | 944 mbar (hPa; 27.88 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Felix |  |
1995 | August 12-13 | 140 mph (220 km/h) | 929 mbar (hPa; 27.43 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Luis |  |
1995 | September 1-8 | 150 mph (240 km/h) | 935 mbar (hPa; 27.61 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Opal |  |
1995 | October 4 | 150 mph (240 km/h) | 916 mbar (hPa; 27.05 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Edouard |  |
1996 | August 25-28 |
145 mph (230 km/h) | 933 mbar (hPa; 27.55 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Hortense |  |
1996 | September 12–13 | 140 mph (220 km/h) | 935 mbar (hPa; 27.61 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Georges |  |
1998 | September 19-20 | 155 mph (250 km/h) | 937 mbar (hPa; 27.67 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Bret |  |
1999 | August 22 | 145 mph (230 km/h) | 944 mbar (hPa; 27.88 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Cindy |  |
1999 | August 28-29 | 140 mph (220 km/h) | 942 mbar (hPa; 27.81 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Floyd |  |
1999 | September 12-14 |
155 mph (250 km/h) | 921 mbar (hPa; 27.2 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Gert |  |
1999 | September 15–17 |
150 mph (240 km/h) | 930 mbar (hPa; 27.46 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Lenny |  |
1999 | November 17-18 | 155 mph (250 km/h) | 933 mbar (hPa; 27.55 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Isaac |  |
2000 | September 28-29 | 140 mph (220 km/h) | 943 mbar (hPa; 27.85 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Keith |  |
2000 | October 1 | 140 mph (220 km/h) | 939 mbar (hPa; 27.73 inHg) | |
2001–2020
In the years between 2001 and 2020, 29 Category 4 hurricanes formed within the confines of the Atlantic Ocean. A dagger () denotes that the storm temporarily weakened below Category 4 intensity during the specified period of time.
| Storm name |
Track | Season | Dates as a Category 4 |
Maximum sustained winds |
Minimum pressure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Iris |  |
2001 | October 8–9 | 145 mph (230 km/h) | 948 mbar (hPa; 27.99 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Michelle |  |
2001 | November 3–4 |
140 mph (220 km/h) | 933 mbar (hPa; 27.55 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Lili |  |
2002 | October 2–3 | 145 mph (230 km/h) | 938 mbar (hPa; 27.70 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Fabian |  |
2003 | August 31–September 5 |
145 mph (230 km/h) | 939 mbar (hPa; 27.73 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Charley |  |
2004 | August 13 | 150 mph (240 km/h) | 941 mbar (hPa; 27.79 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Frances |  |
2004 | August 28–September 2 |
145 mph (230 km/h) | 935 mbar (hPa; 27.61 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Karl |  |
2004 | September 20–21 |
145 mph (230 km/h) | 938 mbar (hPa; 27.70 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Dennis |  |
2005 | July 8–10 |
150 mph (240 km/h) | 930 mbar (hPa; 27.46 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Gustav |  |
2008 | August 30–31 | 155 mph (250 km/h) | 941 mbar (hPa; 27.79 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Ike |  |
2008 | September 4–8 |
145 mph (230 km/h) | 935 mbar (hPa; 27.61 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Omar |  |
2008 | October 16 | 130 mph (215 km/h) | 958 mbar (hPa; 28.29 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Paloma |  |
2008 | November 8 | 145 mph (230 km/h) | 944 mbar (hPa; 27.88 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Bill |  |
2009 | August 19–20 | 130 mph (215 km/h) | 943 mbar (hPa; 27.85 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Danielle |  |
2010 | August 27 | 130 mph (215 km/h) | 942 mbar (hPa; 27.82 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Earl |  |
2010 | August 30–September 2 |
145 mph (230 km/h) | 927 mbar (hPa; 27.37 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Igor |  |
2010 | September 12–17 | 155 mph (250 km/h) | 924 mbar (hPa; 27.29 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Julia |  |
2010 | September 15 | 140 mph (220 km/h) | 948 mbar (hPa; 27.99 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Katia |  |
2011 | September 6 | 140 mph (220 km/h) | 942 mbar (hPa; 27.82 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Ophelia |  |
2011 | October 2 | 140 mph (220 km/h) | 940 mbar (hPa; 27.76 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Gonzalo |  |
2014 | October 15–17 |
145 mph (230 km/h) | 940 mbar (hPa; 27.76 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Joaquin |  |
2015 | October 1–3 |
155 mph (250 km/h) | 931 mbar (hPa; 27.64 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Nicole |  |
2016 | October 12–13 | 140 mph (220 km/h) | 950 mbar (hPa; 28.05 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Harvey |  |
2017 | August 26 | 130 mph (215 km/h) | 937 mbar (hPa; 27.67 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Jose |  |
2017 | September 8–10 | 155 mph (250 km/h) | 938 mbar (hPa; 27.70 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Florence |  |
2018 | September 5–12 |
150 mph (240 km/h) | 937 mbar (hPa; 27.67 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Laura |  |
2020 | August 26–27 | 150 mph (240 km/h) | 937 mbar (hPa; 27.67 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Teddy |  |
2020 | September 17–19 |
140 mph (220 km/h) | 945 mbar (hPa; 27.91 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Delta |  |
2020 | October 6–7 | 145 mph (230 km/h) | 953 mbar (hPa; 28.14 inHg) | |
| Hurricane Eta |  |
2020 | November 2–3 | 150 mph (240 km/h) | 923 mbar (hPa; 27.26 inHg) | |
Listed by month
|
|
Landfalls
The following hurricanes made landfall at some location at any strength. Due to inaccuracies in data, tropical depression landfalls are not included. Category 5 hurricanes are also not included in the table below. Several of these storms weakened slightly after attaining Category 4 status as they approached land; this is usually a result of dry air, shallower water due to shelving, cooler waters, or interaction with land.
See also
References
- National Hurricane Center (2007). "Saffir-Simpson Scale". National Weather Service. Retrieved 2007-11-09.
- Landsea, Chris (2006). "FAQ subject D4". HURDAT. Retrieved 2007-12-17.
- National Hurricane Center (June 22, 2006). "Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale Information". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2007-11-13.
- Landsea, Chris (2006). "FAQ subject A2". HURDAT. Retrieved 2007-12-17.
- NSF (2005). "severe Hurricanes doubled in the past 35 years". NSF. Retrieved 2013-09-03.
- Vecchi, Gabriel. "Historical Changes in Atlantic Hurricane and Tropical Storms". gfdl.noaa. Retrieved 2018-09-14.
- Villarini, Gabriele; Vecchi, Gabriel (2011). "Is the recorded increase in short‐duration North Atlantic tropical storms spurious?". Journal of Geophysical Research. 116. doi:10.1029/2010JD015493.
- Vecchi, Gabriel; Knutson, Thomas (2011). "Estimating Annual Numbers of Atlantic Hurricanes Missing from the HURDAT Database (1878–1965) Using Ship Track Density". Journal of Climate. 24 (6): 1736–1746. doi:10.1175/2010JCLI3810.1.
- Landsea, Christopher; Vecchi, Gabriel (2010). "Impact of Duration Thresholds on Atlantic Tropical Cyclone Counts". Journal of Climate. 23 (10): 2508–2519. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.163.4825. doi:10.1175/2009JCLI3034.1.
- Vecchi, Gabriel; Knutson, Thomas (2008). "On Estimates of Historical North Atlantic Tropical Cyclone Activity". Journal of Climate. 21 (14): 3580–3600. doi:10.1175/2008JCLI2178.1.
- weather.com - Vulnerable Cities: Index Archived 2007-12-22 at the Wayback Machine
- Hock, Terry (2007). "GPS dropsondes". NCAR. Archived from the original on June 7, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (2004). "Hurricane Glossary of Terms". Archived from the original on 2005-12-14. Retrieved 2006-03-24. Accessed through the Wayback Machine.
- National Hurricane Center (2007-03-08). "Tropical Cyclone Climatology". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2007-11-13.
- "Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)" (Database). United States National Hurricane Center. May 25, 2020.