List of Category 4 Atlantic hurricanes

A Category 4 Atlantic hurricane is a tropical cyclone that reaches Category 4 intensity on the Saffir–Simpson 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, 143 hurricanes have attained Category 4 hurricane status since 1851, the start of modern meteorological record keeping.

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). "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. 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. 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.

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. It is possible that the increase in Atlantic tropical storm and hurricane frequency is primarily due to improved monitoring.

Due to growing population in major coastal cities, many areas have become more vulnerable to strong hurricanes, especially categories 4 and 5.

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. Sustained winds are taken using an Anemometer at 10 meters (33 ft) above the ground.

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. 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.

Systems

1851–1949

Name Duration Peak intensity Areas affected Damage
(USD)
Deaths Refs
Wind speed Pressure
Unnamed August 30 – September 11, 1853 150 mph (240 km/h) 924 hPa (27.29 inHg) None None None
Unnamed August 7 – 14, 1856 150 mph (240 km/h) 934 hPa (27.58 inHg) United States Gulf Coast
Unnamed September 20 – October 7, 1866 140 mph (220 km/h) 938 hPa (27.70 inHg) The Caribbean
Unnamed September 24 – October 9, 1878 140 mph (220 km/h) 938 hPa (27.70 inHg) The Caribbean
Unnamed August 4 – 14, 1880 150 mph (240 km/h) 931 hPa (27.49 inHg) The Caribbean, Mexico, Texas
Unnamed September 27 – October 11, 1880 140 mph (220 km/h) 928 hPa (27.40 inHg) None None None
Unnamed October 4 - 18, 1882 140 mph (220 km/h) 975 hPa (28.79 inHg) The Caribbean, Southeastern United States
Unnamed August 12 - 21, 1886 150 mph (240 km/h) 925 hPa (27.32 inHg)
Unnamed September 27 - October 5, 1893 130 mph (215 km/h) 948 hPa (27.99 inHg)
Unnamed October 11 -20, 1894 130 mph (215 km/h) 931 hPa (27.49 inHg)
Unnamed September 25 - October 6, 1898 130 mph (215 km/h) 938 hPa (27.70 inHg) Eastern United States, Atlantic Canada
Unnamed August 3 - September 4, 1899 150 mph (240 km/h) 930 hPa (27.46 inHg) The Caribbean, Eastern United States, Atlantic Canada
Unnamed August 27 - September 15, 1900 145 mph (230 km/h) 936 hPa (27.64 inHg) The Caribbean, Eastern United States, Atlantic Canada
Unnamed August 25 – September 12, 1906 130 mph (215 km/h) 950 hPa (28.05 inHg) Lesser Antiles, Greater Antiles
Unnamed October 9 – 23, 1910 150 mph (240 km/h) 924 hPa (27.29 inHg)
Unnamed August 5 – 23, 1915 145 mph (230 km/h) 940 hPa (27.76 inHg)
Unnamed September 21 – October 1, 1915 145 mph (230 km/h) 931 hPa (27.49 inHg)
Unnamed August 12 – 20, 1916 130 mph (215 km/h) 932 hPa (27.52 inHg)
Unnamed September 20 – 30, 1917 150 mph (240 km/h) 928 hPa (27.40 inHg)
Unnamed September 2 – 16, 1919 150 mph (240 km/h) 927 hPa (27.37 inHg)
Unnamed October 20 – 30, 1921 140 mph (220 km/h) 941 hPa (27.79 inHg)
Unnamed July 22 - August 2, 1926 140 mph (220 km/h) 967 hPa (28.56 inHg)
Unnamed September 1 – 21, 1926 140 mph (220 km/h) 957 hPa (28.26 inHg)
Unnamed September 11 – 22, 1926 150 mph (240 km/h) 930 hPa (27.46 inHg)
Unnamed October 14 – 28, 1926 150 mph (240 km/h) 934 hPa (27.58 inHg)
Unnamed September 22 – October 4, 1929 155 mph (250 km/h) 924 hPa (27.29 inHg) The Bahamas, Eastern United States, Atlantic Canada
Unnamed August 29 – September 17, 1930 155 mph (250 km/h) 933 hPa (27.55 inHg) The Caribbean, Southeastern United States
Unnamed September 1931 130 mph (215 km/h) 952 hPa (28.11 inHg)
Unnamed August 1932 150 mph (240 km/h) 935 hPa (27.61 inHg)
Unnamed September 1932 145 mph (230 km/h) 943 hPa (27.85 inHg)
Unnamed August 1933 140 mph (220 km/h) 940 hPa (27.76 inHg)
Unnamed August, September 1933 140 mph (220 km/h) 945 hPa (27.91 inHg)
Unnamed September 1933 140 mph (220 km/h) 947 hPa (27.96 inHg)
Unnamed August 1935 130 mph (215 km/h) 955 hPa (28.20 inHg)
Unnamed September, October 1935 140 mph (220 km/h) 945 hPa (27.91 inHg)
Unnamed October 1939 140 mph (220 km/h) 941 hPa (27.79 inHg)
Unnamed September 1941 130 mph (215 km/h) 957 hPa (28.26 inHg)
Unnamed August 1943 140 mph (220 km/h)
Unnamed October 1944 145 mph (230 km/h) 937 hPa (27.67 inHg)
Unnamed September 1945 130 mph (215 km/h) 949 hPa (28.02 inHg)
Unnamed September 1947 145 mph (230 km/h) 938 hPa (27.70 inHg)
Unnamed September 1948 130 mph (215 km/h) 940 hPa (27.76 inHg)
Unnamed September 1948 130 mph (215 km/h) 940 hPa (27.76 inHg)
Unnamed August 1949 130 mph (215 km/h) 954 hPa (28.17 inHg)

1950–1974

In the years between 1950 and 1974, there were 26 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.

List of Category 4 Atlantic hurricanes from 1950 to 1974
Storm
name
Track Season Dates as a
Category 4
Maximum
sustained winds
Minimum pressure Notes
Dog 1950 September 1–7 145 mph (230 km/h) 943 mbar (hPa; 27.85 inHg)
Fox 1950 September 14–15 140 mph (220 km/h) 946 mbar (hPa; 27.94 inHg)
King 1950 October 18 130 mph (215 km/h) 955 mbar (hPa; 28.2 inHg)
Charlie 1951 August 19 130 mph (215 km/h) 958 mbar (hPa; 28.29 inHg)
Easy 1951 September 7–8 150 mph (240 km/h) 937 mbar (hPa; 27.67 inHg)
Fox 1952 October 15 145 mph (230 km/h) 934 mbar (hPa; 27.58 inHg)
Hazel 1954 October 23–24 130 mph (215 km/h) 938 mbar (hPa; 27.70 inHg)
Connie 1955 August 7 140 mph (220 km/h) 944 mbar (hPa; 27.88 inHg)
Ione 1955 September 18 140 mph (220 km/h) 938 mbar (hPa; 27.70 inHg)
Carrie 1957 September 7–8 140 mph (220 km/h) 945 mbar (hPa; 27.91 inHg)
Cleo 1958 August 16 140 mph (220 km/h) 947 mbar (hPa; 27.96 inHg)
Daisy 1958 August 28 130 mph (215 km/h) 948 mbar (hPa; 27.99 inHg)
Helene 1958 September 27 150 mph (240 km/h) 930 mbar (hPa; 27.46 inHg)
Gracie 1959 September 29 140 mph (220 km/h) 950 mbar (hPa; 28.05 inHg)
Donna 1960 September 6–10 145 mph (230 km/h) 930 mbar (hPa; 27.46 inHg)
Betsy 1961 September 5–6 130 mph (215 km/h) 945 mbar (hPa; 27.91 inHg)
Carla 1961 September 10-11 145 mph (233 km/h) 927 mbar (hPa; 27.73 inHg)
Frances 1961 October 7 130 mph (215 km/h) 948 mbar (hPa; 27.99 inHg)
Flora 1963 October 2–3 150 mph (240 km/h) 933 mbar (hPa; 27.55 inHg)
Cleo 1964 August 23–24 150 mph (240 km/h) 938 mbar (hPa; 27.70 inHg)
Dora 1964 September 6 130 mph (215 km/h) 942 mbar (hPa; 27.82 inHg)
Gladys 1964 September 17 130 mph (215 km/h) 945 mbar (hPa; 27.91 inHg)
Hilda 1964 October 1–2 140 mph (220 km/h) 941 mbar (hPa; 27.79 inHg)
Betsy 1965 September 4–9 140 mph (220 km/h) 942 mbar (hPa; 27.82 inHg)
Celia 1970 August 3 140 mph (220 km/h) 944 mbar (hPa; 27.88 inHg)
Carmen 1974 September 1–7 150 mph (240 km/h) 928 mbar (hPa; 27.40 inHg)
Sources: Atlantic Hurricane Best Track File 1851–2012

1975–1999

In the years between 1976 and 1999, 23 Category 4 hurricanes formed in the basin:

List of Category 4 Atlantic hurricanes from 1976 to 2000
Storm
name
Track Season Dates as a
Category 4
Maximum
sustained winds
Minimum pressure Notes
Gladys 1975 October 2–3 140 mph (220 km/h) 939 mbar (hPa; 27.73 inHg)
Ella 1978 September 4 140 mph (220 km/h) 956 mbar (hPa; 28.23 inHg)
Greta 1978 September 18 130 mph (215 km/h) 947 mbar (hPa; 27.96 inHg)
Frederic 1979 September 12–13 130 mph (215 km/h) 943 mbar (hPa; 27.85 inHg)
Harvey 1981 September 14 130 mph (215 km/h) 946 mbar (hPa; 27.94 inHg)
Debby 1982 September 18 130 mph (215 km/h) 950 mbar (hPa; 28.05 inHg)
Diana 1984 September 11-12 130 mph (215 km/h) 949 mbar (hPa; 28.02 inHg)
Gloria 1985 September 24-25 145 mph (230 km/h) 919 mbar (hPa; 27.14 inHg)
Helene 1988 September 22-23 145 mph (230 km/h) 938 mbar (hPa; 27.70 inHg)
Joan 1988 October 21-22 145 mph (230 km/h) 932 mbar (hPa; 27.52 inHg)
Gabrielle 1989 September 4–7 145 mph (230 km/h) 937 mbar (hPa; 27.67 inHg)
Claudette 1991 September 7 130 mph (215 km/h) 944 mbar (hPa; 27.88 inHg)
Felix 1995 August 12-13 140 mph (220 km/h) 929 mbar (hPa; 27.43 inHg)
Luis 1995 September 1-8 150 mph (240 km/h) 935 mbar (hPa; 27.61 inHg)
Opal 1995 October 4 150 mph (240 km/h) 916 mbar (hPa; 27.05 inHg)
Edouard 1996 August 25-28 145 mph (230 km/h) 933 mbar (hPa; 27.55 inHg)
Hortense 1996 September 12–13 140 mph (220 km/h) 935 mbar (hPa; 27.61 inHg)
Georges 1998 September 19-20 155 mph (250 km/h) 937 mbar (hPa; 27.67 inHg)
Bret 1999 August 22 145 mph (230 km/h) 944 mbar (hPa; 27.88 inHg)
Cindy 1999 August 28-29 140 mph (220 km/h) 942 mbar (hPa; 27.82 inHg)
Floyd 1999 September 12-14 155 mph (250 km/h) 921 mbar (hPa; 27.2 inHg)
Gert 1999 September 15–17 150 mph (240 km/h) 930 mbar (hPa; 27.46 inHg)
Lenny 1999 November 17-18 155 mph (250 km/h) 933 mbar (hPa; 27.55 inHg)
Sources: Atlantic Hurricane Best Track File 1851–2012

2000–2025

In the years between 2000 and 2025, 40 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.

List of Category 4 Atlantic hurricanes from 2000–present
Storm
name
Track Season Dates as a
Category 4
Maximum
sustained winds
Minimum pressure Notes
Isaac 2000 September 28–29 140 mph (220 km/h) 943 mbar (hPa; 27.85 inHg)
Keith 2000 October 1 140 mph (220 km/h) 939 mbar (hPa; 27.73 inHg)
Iris 2001 October 8–9 145 mph (230 km/h) 948 mbar (hPa; 27.99 inHg)
Michelle 2001 November 3–4 140 mph (220 km/h) 933 mbar (hPa; 27.55 inHg)
Lili 2002 October 2–3 145 mph (230 km/h) 938 mbar (hPa; 27.70 inHg)
Fabian 2003 August 31–September 5 145 mph (230 km/h) 939 mbar (hPa; 27.73 inHg)
Charley 2004 August 13 150 mph (240 km/h) 941 mbar (hPa; 27.79 inHg)
Frances 2004 August 28–September 2 145 mph (230 km/h) 935 mbar (hPa; 27.61 inHg)
Karl 2004 September 20–21 145 mph (230 km/h) 938 mbar (hPa; 27.70 inHg)
Dennis 2005 July 8–10 150 mph (240 km/h) 930 mbar (hPa; 27.46 inHg)
Gustav 2008 August 30–31 155 mph (250 km/h) 941 mbar (hPa; 27.79 inHg)
Ike 2008 September 4–8 145 mph (230 km/h) 935 mbar (hPa; 27.61 inHg)
Omar 2008 October 16 130 mph (215 km/h) 958 mbar (hPa; 28.29 inHg)
Paloma 2008 November 8 145 mph (230 km/h) 944 mbar (hPa; 27.88 inHg)
Bill 2009 August 19–20 130 mph (215 km/h) 943 mbar (hPa; 27.85 inHg)
Danielle 2010 August 27 130 mph (215 km/h) 942 mbar (hPa; 27.82 inHg)
Earl 2010 August 30–September 2 145 mph (230 km/h) 927 mbar (hPa; 27.37 inHg)
Igor 2010 September 12–17 155 mph (250 km/h) 924 mbar (hPa; 27.29 inHg)
Julia 2010 September 15 140 mph (220 km/h) 948 mbar (hPa; 27.99 inHg)
Katia 2011 September 6 140 mph (220 km/h) 942 mbar (hPa; 27.82 inHg)
Ophelia 2011 October 2 140 mph (220 km/h) 940 mbar (hPa; 27.76 inHg)
Gonzalo 2014 October 15–17 145 mph (230 km/h) 940 mbar (hPa; 27.76 inHg)
Joaquin 2015 October 1–3 155 mph (250 km/h) 931 mbar (hPa; 27.64 inHg)
Nicole 2016 October 12–13 140 mph (220 km/h) 950 mbar (hPa; 28.05 inHg)
Harvey 2017 August 26 130 mph (215 km/h) 937 mbar (hPa; 27.67 inHg)
Jose 2017 September 8–10 155 mph (250 km/h) 938 mbar (hPa; 27.70 inHg)
Florence 2018 September 5–12 150 mph (240 km/h) 937 mbar (hPa; 27.67 inHg)
Laura 2020 August 26–27 150 mph (240 km/h) 937 mbar (hPa; 27.67 inHg)
Teddy 2020 September 17–18 140 mph (220 km/h) 945 mbar (hPa; 27.91 inHg)
Delta 2020 October 6 140 mph (220 km/h) 953 mbar (hPa; 28.14 inHg)
Eta 2020 November 2–3 150 mph (240 km/h) 923 mbar (hPa; 27.26 inHg)
Iota 2020 November 16–17 155 mph (250 km/h) 917 mbar (hPa; 27.08 inHg)
Ida 2021 August 29 150 mph (240 km/h) 929 mbar (hPa; 27.43 inHg)
Sam 2021 September 25–October 2 155 mph (250 km/h) 927 mbar (hPa; 27.4 inHg)
Fiona 2022 September 21–23 140 mph (220 km/h) 931 mbar (hPa; 27.34 inHg)
Franklin 2023 August 28–29 150 mph (240 km/h) 926 mbar (hPa; 27.67 inHg)
Idalia 2023 August 30 130 mph (215 km/h) 942 mbar (hPa; 27.82 inHg)
Helene 2024 September 26 140 mph (220 km/h) 939 mbar (hPa; 27.73 inHg)
Kirk 2024 October 3–5 150 mph (230 km/h) 928 mbar (hPa; 27.58 inHg)
Gabrielle 2025 September 22–23 140 mph (220 km/h) 948 mbar (hPa; 27.99 inHg)
Sources: Atlantic Hurricane Best Track File 1851–2021

Number by month

Number of recorded Category 4 Atlantic hurricanes by month
Month Number of hurricanes
June
1
July
2
August
40
September
52
October
46
November
5

Landfalls

The following hurricanes from the above lists made landfall at some location while a tropical cyclone with winds of greater than 39 mph (63 km/h). 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.

Name Year
Category 4
Category 3
Category 2
Category 1
Tropical storm
"Last Island" 1856 Louisiana
"Unnamed" 1866 Bahamas
"Unnamed" 1878 Haiti & Turks and Caicos Islands
"Unnamed" 1880 Texas Quintana Roo Guadeloupe
"Unnamed" 1882 Cuba Florida
Indianola 1886 Texas Dominican Republic & Cuba
Cheniere Caminada 1893 Louisiana Quintana Roo & Mississippi
Unnamed 1894 Saint Lucia
Georgia 1898 Georgia
San Ciriaco 1899 Guadeloupe & Puerto Rico Bahamas & North Carolina
Galveston (1900) 1900 Texas Antigua, Nevis, Dominican Republic & Cuba
Unnamed 1910 Cuba Florida
Galveston (1915) 1915 Texas Jamaica Guadeloupe
New Orleans 1915 Louisiana
Florida Keys 1919 Bahamas & Texas Puerto Rico
Tampa Bay 1921 Florida
Nassau 1926 Bahamas Florida
Miami 1926 Bahamas & Florida Alabama
Unnamed 1926 Cuba Bermuda
Unnamed 1929 Bahamas Florida Florida
San Zenón 1930 Dominican Republic Guadeloupe Cuba & Florida
Unnamed 1932 Texas
San Ciprián 1932 Puerto Rico Dominican Republic Belize
Chesapeake–Potomac 1933 North Carolina
Treasure Coast 1933 Bahamas Florida
Outer Banks 1933 North Carolina Nova Scotia
Unnamed 1945 Florida Bahamas South Carolina
Unnamed 1948 Florida Cuba
Unnamed 1949 Florida Bahamas
Charlie 1951 Quintana Roo Tamaulipas Jamaica Dominica
King 1950 Florida Cuba
Fox 1952 Cuba Bahamas Bahamas
Hazel 1954 North Carolina Haiti & Turks and Caicos Islands
Connie 1955 North Carolina
Carrie 1957 Azores
Helene 1958 North Carolina Newfoundland
Gracie 1959 South Carolina
Donna 1960 Florida Barbuda, Anguilla, & Bahamas North Carolina, New York & Connecticut
Carla 1961 Texas
Flora 1963 Haiti Tobago & Cuba Cuba
Cleo 1964 Guadeloupe & Haiti Florida Cuba Georgia
Dora 1964 Florida
Hilda 1964 Louisiana
Betsy 1965 Louisiana Bahamas & Florida
Celia 1970 Texas
Carmen 1974 Quintana Roo Louisiana
Greta 1978 Honduras Belize
Frederic 1979 Alabama Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic & Cuba
Diana 1984 North Carolina
Gloria 1985 North Carolina New York & Connecticut
Joan 1988 Nicaragua Grenada, Colombia & Venezuela
Luis 1995 Barbuda
Opal 1995 Florida Yucatán Peninsula
Hortense 1996 Puerto Rico & Nova Scotia Guadeloupe
Georges 1998 Antigua, Saint Kitts, Puerto Rico & Dominican Republic Florida & Mississippi Cuba
Bret 1999 Texas
Floyd 1999 Bahamas Bahamas North Carolina Virginia, New Jersey, New York & Connecticut
Lenny 1999 Saint Martin Anguilla Saint Barthélemy Antigua
Keith 2000 Belize & Tamaulipas
Iris 2001 Belize
Michelle 2001 Cuba Bahamas
Lili 2002 Cuba Cayman Islands & Louisiana
Charley 2004 Florida Cuba South Carolina
Frances 2004 Bahamas Bahamas & Florida Florida
Dennis 2005 Cuba Florida
Gustav 2008 Cuba (2x) Louisiana Haiti Jamaica
Ike 2008 Cuba Bahamas Texas Cuba
Paloma 2008 Cuba
Bill 2009 Newfoundland
Earl 2010 Nova Scotia Prince Edward Island
Igor 2010 Newfoundland
Gonzalo 2014 Bermuda Antigua, Saint Martin & Anguilla
Joaquin 2015 Bahamas Bahamas (2x)
Harvey 2017 Texas Texas Barbados, Saint Vincent & Louisiana
Florence 2018 North Carolina
Laura 2020 Louisiana Antigua, Nevis, Dominican Republic & Cuba (2x)
Delta 2020 Quintana Roo & Louisiana
Eta 2020 Nicaragua Cuba & Florida (2x)
Iota 2020 Nicaragua
Ida 2021 Louisiana Cuba
Fiona 2022 Grand Turk Island Puerto Rico & Dominican Republic Guadeloupe
Franklin 2023 Dominican Republic
Idalia 2023 Florida
Helene 2024 Florida

See also

wikipedia, wiki, encyclopedia, book, library, article, read, free download, Information about List of Category 4 Atlantic hurricanes, What is List of Category 4 Atlantic hurricanes? What does List of Category 4 Atlantic hurricanes mean?