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123-531: Hurricane Allen was the strongest Atlantic hurricane by wind speed on record. An extremely powerful tropical cyclone , Allen affected the Caribbean , eastern and northern Mexico, and South Texas in August 1980. The second tropical depression, first named storm , and first hurricane of the 1980 Atlantic hurricane season , Allen was the sixth most intense Atlantic hurricane on record in terms of barometric pressure . It

246-528: A hurricane in 1932 reached Category 5 intensity later than any other hurricane on record in the Atlantic. The beginning of the hurricane season is most closely related to the timing of increases in sea surface temperatures , convective instability , and other thermodynamic factors. Although June marks the beginning of the hurricane season, little activity usually occurs, with an average of one tropical cyclone every two years. During this early period in

369-504: A predetermined list began in 1953. Since storm names may be used repeatedly, hurricanes that result in significant damage or casualties may have their names retired from the list at the request of the affected nations to prevent confusion. On average, 14 named storms occur each season in the North Atlantic basin, with 7 becoming hurricanes and 3 becoming major hurricanes ( Category 3 or greater). The climatological peak of activity

492-417: A "recent increase in societal impact from tropical cyclones has largely been caused by rising concentrations of population and infrastructure in coastal regions." Pielke et al. (2008) normalized mainland U.S. hurricane damage from 1900–2005 to 2005 values and found no remaining trend of increasing absolute damage. The 1970s and 1980s had low amounts of damage compared to other decades. The decade 1996–2005 has

615-579: A 12-story wing of Spohn hospital. Allen dumped 15 to 20 inches (380 to 510 mm) of rain in south Texas along a 50 to 100 mile swath of land from the coast inland, ending a summer-long drought during the Heat Wave of 1980 . The storm caused seven deaths in Texas and 17 in Louisiana (most resulting from the crash of a helicopter evacuating workers from an offshore platform). Allen spawned several tornadoes in Texas;

738-556: A Category 4 hurricane in early November 2020, becoming the third most intense tropical cyclone in November, and made landfall in Central America. In that same year, Hurricane Iota strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane on November 16, becoming the second most intense hurricane in November. Although the hurricane season is defined as beginning on June 1 and ending on November 30, tropical cyclones have formed in every month of

861-476: A Category 2 hurricane that hits a major city will likely do far more cumulative damage than a Category 5 hurricane that hits a rural area. The agency cited examples of hurricanes as reasons for removing "scientifically inaccurate" information, including Hurricane Katrina (2005) and Hurricane Ike (2008), which both had stronger than estimated storm surges, and Hurricane Charley (2004), which had weaker than estimated storm surge. Since being removed from

984-579: A coastal lake in Cape Cod suggests that hurricane activity increased significantly during the past 500–1000 years, just as the Gulf Coast was amid a quiescent period during the last millennium. Evidence also shows that the average latitude of hurricane impacts has been steadily shifting northward towards the Eastern Seaboard over the past few centuries. This change has been sped up in modern times due to

1107-649: A hyperactive period between 1400 BC and 1000 AD, when the Gulf coast was struck frequently by hurricanes; their landfall probabilities increased by 3–5 times. This millennial-scale variability has been attributed to long-term shifts in the position of the Azores High , which may also be linked to changes in the strength of the North Atlantic Oscillation . According to the Azores High hypothesis, an anti-phase pattern

1230-424: A minimum pressure of 911 mbar (26.9 inHg) the following day. This was the lowest central pressure ever recorded in the eastern Caribbean Sea. Allen maintained its extreme intensity for most of the day. However, late on August 5, the storm began to weaken as it underwent an eyewall replacement cycle and interacted with the mountainous terrain of Hispaniola , with the storm taking a northwestward jog south of

1353-503: A pressure typical of Category 5 hurricanes. Hurricane Wilma became the strongest Atlantic hurricane recorded after reaching an intensity of 882 mbar (26.05 inHg) in October ;2005; this also made Wilma the strongest tropical cyclone worldwide outside of the Pacific , where seven tropical cyclones have been recorded to intensify to lower pressures; one of these hurricanes

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1476-476: A strong correlation between the amount of Atlantic hurricane activity in the tropics and the presence of an El Niño or La Niña in the Pacific Ocean. El Niño events increase the wind shear over the Atlantic, producing a less favorable environment for formation and decreasing tropical activity in the Atlantic basin. Conversely, La Niña causes an increase in activity due to a decrease in wind shear. According to

1599-429: A tertiary low of 909 mbar (909 hPa; 26.8 inHg). Pressure falls over the southern United States at this time indicated Allen would soon slow its forward motion as it approached Texas . Allen's forward speed slowed considerably in the hours before it made landfall near Brownsville as a low-end Category 3 major hurricane on August 10. The storm rapidly weakened as it moved inland, eventually dissipating over

1722-448: A total of 29 were reported in association with the hurricane. One tornado caused $ 100 million in damage when it hit Austin, Texas , making it the costliest tropical cyclone-spawned tornado in recorded history. Two offshore oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico were destroyed by Allen, and 13 people died in a helicopter crash during the evacuation of a rig. A total of $ 300 million in damage was recorded in Texas due to Allen. Overall, however,

1845-417: A tropical cyclone may turn poleward (north) and then recurve (curve back toward the northeast into the main belt of the westerlies ). Poleward of the subtropical ridge, westerly winds prevail and generally move tropical cyclones that reach northern latitudes toward the east. The westerlies also move extratropical cyclones and their cold and warm fronts from west to east. The intensity of a tropical cyclone

1968-629: A tropical depression the following day. However, the National Hurricane Center did not initiate advisories on Allen until almost 24 hours later, when it was centered 1,300 mi (2,100 km) east of the Windward Islands . Early on August 2, as the depression moved quickly westward towards the Caribbean, it intensified into the first named storm of the 1980 Atlantic hurricane season. Allen rapidly strengthened as it continued westward. By

2091-492: A tropical wave, or a brief squall), returned to port, and reported the experience. Category 5 hurricane The Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale ( SSHWS ) classifies hurricanes —which in the Western Hemisphere are tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms —into five categories distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds . This measuring system

2214-528: Is 250.02 km/h, which, according to the definition used before the change would be Category 5. To resolve these issues, the NHC had been obliged to incorrectly report storms with wind speeds of 115 kn as 135 mph, and 135 kn as 245 km/h. The change in definition allows storms of 115 kn to be correctly rounded down to 130 mph, and storms of 135 kn to be correctly reported as 250 km/h, and still qualify as Category 4. Since

2337-411: Is expected to exist between the Gulf Coast and the Atlantic coast. During the quiescent periods, a more northeasterly position of the Azores High would result in more hurricanes being steered towards the Atlantic coast. During the hyperactive period, more hurricanes were steered towards the Gulf coast, as the Azores High was shifted to a more southwesterly position near the Caribbean. Such a displacement of

2460-492: Is generally determined by either a storm's maximum sustained winds or its lowest barometric pressure . The following table lists the most intense Atlantic hurricanes in terms of their lowest barometric pressure. In terms of wind speed, Hurricane Allen (in 1980 ) was the strongest Atlantic tropical cyclone on record, with maximum sustained winds of 165 knots (190 mph; 305 km/h). However, these measurements are suspect, since instrumentation used to document wind speeds at

2583-467: Is particularly strong in the North Atlantic, where the probability of cyclones reaching Category 3 or higher increased by 49% per decade. This is consistent with the theoretical understanding of the link between climate change and tropical cyclones and model studies. While the number of storms in the Atlantic has increased since 1995, there is no obvious global trend. The annual number of tropical cyclones worldwide remains about 87 ± 10. However,

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2706-516: Is prevalent. Only a few types of structures are capable of surviving intact, and only if located at least 3 to 5 miles (5 to 8 km) inland. They include office, condominium and apartment buildings and hotels that are of solid concrete or steel frame construction, multi-story concrete parking garages, and residences that are made of either reinforced brick or concrete / cement block and have hipped roofs with slopes of no less than 35 degrees from horizontal and no overhangs of any kind, and if

2829-455: Is some criticism of the SSHWS for not accounting for rain, storm surge , and other important factors, but SSHWS defenders say that part of the goal of SSHWS is to be straightforward and simple to understand. There have been proposals for the addition of higher categories to the scale, which would then set a maximum cutoff for Category 5, but none have been adopted as of October 2024 . In 1971,

2952-498: Is the highest category of the Saffir–Simpson scale. These storms cause complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings, and some complete building failures with small utility buildings blown over or away. The collapse of many wide-span roofs and walls, especially those with no interior supports, is common. Very heavy and irreparable damage to many wood-frame structures and total destruction to mobile/manufactured homes

3075-728: Is the least intense type of hurricane, they can still produce widespread damage and can be life-threatening storms. Hurricanes that peaked at Category 1 intensity and made landfall at that intensity include: Juan (1985), Ismael (1995), Danny (1997), Stan (2005), Humberto (2007), Isaac (2012), Manuel (2013), Earl (2016), Newton (2016), Nate (2017), Barry (2019), Lorena (2019), Hanna (2020), Isaias (2020), Gamma (2020), Nicholas (2021), Pamela (2021), Julia (2022), Lisa (2022), Nicole (2022), Debby (2024), and Oscar (2024). Extremely dangerous winds will cause extensive damage Storms of Category 2 intensity often damage roofing material, sometimes exposing

3198-545: Is the strongest tropical cyclone ever recorded in the Gulf of Mexico . Hurricanes Mitch and Dean share intensities for the ninth strongest Atlantic hurricane at 905 mbar (26.72 inHg). The tenth place for the most intense Atlantic tropical cyclone is Hurricane Maria , which is listed to have deepened to a pressure as low as 908 mbar (26.81 inHg). Many of the strongest recorded tropical cyclones weakened before their eventual landfall or demise. However, three of

3321-668: Is typically around mid-September. In April 2004, Catarina became the first storm of hurricane strength to be recorded in the South Atlantic Ocean. Since 2011, the Brazilian Navy Hydrographic Center has started to use the same scale as the North Atlantic Ocean for tropical cyclones in the South Atlantic Ocean and assign names to those that reach 35 kn (65 km/h; 40 mph). Tropical cyclones are steered by flows surrounding them throughout

3444-431: The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season , as well as after Hurricane Patricia , a few newspaper columnists and scientists brought up the suggestion of introducing Category 6. They have suggested pegging Category 6 to storms with winds greater than 174 or 180 mph (78 or 80 m/s; 151 or 156 kn; 280 or 290 km/h). Fresh calls were made for consideration of the issue after Hurricane Irma in 2017, which

3567-510: The Azores High hypothesis by Kam-biu Liu , an anti-phase pattern is expected to exist between the Gulf of Mexico coast and the North American Atlantic coast . During the quiescent periods (3000–1400 BC, and 1000 AD to present), a more northeasterly position of the Azores High would result in more hurricanes being steered toward the Atlantic coast. During the hyperactive period (1400 BC to 1000 AD), more hurricanes were steered towards

3690-524: The Central Pacific Hurricane Center assign tropical cyclone intensities in 5 knot increments, and then convert to mph and km/h with a similar rounding for other reports. So an intensity of 115 kn is rated Category 4, but the conversion to miles per hour (132.3 mph) would round down to 130 mph, making it appear to be a Category 3 storm. Likewise, an intensity of 135 kn (~155 mph, and thus Category 4)

3813-577: The Cuba hurricane in late October and early November 1932 (the strongest November hurricane on record, peaking as a Category 5 hurricane), Hurricane Lenny in mid-November 1999, and Hurricane Kate in late November 1985, which was the latest major hurricane formation on record until Hurricane Otto (a category 3 storm) in the 2016 hurricane season. Hurricane Paloma was a Category 4 storm that made landfall in Cuba in early November 2008. Hurricane Eta strengthened into

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3936-454: The Gulf Stream off the coast of the eastern United States wherever water temperatures exceed 26.5 °C (79.7 °F). Although most storms are found within tropical latitudes, occasionally storms will form further north and east due to disturbances other than tropical waves such as cold fronts and upper-level lows . These are known as baroclinically induced tropical cyclones. There is

4059-644: The Richter scale as models, he proposed a simplified 1–5 grading scale as a guide for areas that do not have hurricane building codes. The grades were based on two main factors: objective wind gust speeds sustaining for 2–3 seconds at an elevation of 9.2 meters, and subjective levels of structural damage. Saffir gave the proposed scale to the NHC for their use, where Simpson changed the terminology from "grade" to "category", organized them by sustained wind speeds of 1 minute duration, and added storm surge height ranges, adding barometric pressure ranges later on. In 1975,

4182-595: The Western Hemisphere . Hurricane Allen was also the third strongest tropical cyclone to exist in the Gulf of Mexico in terms of pressure, behind hurricanes Milton and Rita . Throughout its life, Allen moved through the deep tropics on a westerly to northwesterly course through the tropical Atlantic Ocean , Caribbean Sea , and Gulf of Mexico before making its final landfall near the United States–Mexico border . At peak strength, it passed near Haiti , causing hundreds of deaths and heavy damage. After crossing

4305-618: The Yucatán Peninsula . Hurricane Gilbert maintained a pressure of 900 hPa at landfall, as did Camille, making their landfalls tied as the second strongest. Hurricane Dean also made landfall on the peninsula, but it did so at peak intensity and with a higher barometric pressure; its landfall marked the fourth strongest in Atlantic hurricane history. Climatology serves to characterize the general properties of an average season and can be used for making forecasts. Most storms form from tropical waves in warm waters several hundred miles north of

4428-532: The equator near the Intertropical Convergence Zone from tropical waves. The Coriolis force is usually too weak to initiate sufficient rotation near the equator. Storms frequently form in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico , the Caribbean, the tropical Atlantic Ocean, and in areas as far east as the Cape Verde Islands, creating Cape Verde-type hurricanes . Systems may also strengthen over

4551-486: The first storm of 1938 , and Hurricane Alex in 2016. No major hurricanes have occurred in the off-season. Proxy records based on paleotempestological research have revealed that major hurricane activity along the Gulf Coast varies on timescales of centuries to millennia. A few major hurricanes struck the Gulf Coast during 3000–1400 BC and during the most recent millennium. These quiescent intervals were separated by

4674-462: The storm surge was reported as high as 12 feet (3.7 m) at Port Mansfield , though it may have been higher elsewhere along the Texas coast. A peak wind gust of 129 mph (208 km/h) was also measured at Port Mansfield. Tropical storm-force winds in Corpus Christi, Texas blew roof gravel through the city, which led to substantial glass breakage to the 18-story Guarantee Bank Building and

4797-412: The tropical latitudes , tropical storms and hurricanes generally move westward with a slight tendency toward the north due to being under the influence of the subtropical ridge , a high-pressure system that usually extends east–west across the subtropics. South of the subtropical ridge, surface easterly winds (blowing from east to west) prevail. If the subtropical ridge is weakened by an upper trough ,

4920-450: The 21 hurricanes currently considered to have attained Category 5 status in the eastern Pacific, only 5 had wind speeds at 175 mph (78 m/s; 152 kn; 282 km/h) or greater ( Patsy , John , Linda , Rick , and Patricia ). Only 3 had wind speeds at 180 mph (80.5 m/s; 156 kn; 290 km/h) or greater (Linda, Rick, and Patricia). Most storms which would be eligible for this category were typhoons in

5043-664: The Arctic Ocean heating up, especially from fossil fuel-caused climate change. The number and strength of Atlantic hurricanes may undergo a 50–70 year cycle known as the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation . Nyberg et al. reconstructed Atlantic major hurricane activity back to the early eighteenth century and found five periods averaging 3–5 major hurricanes per year and lasting 40–60 years, and six others averaging 1.5–2.5 major hurricanes per year and lasting 10–20 years. These periods are associated with

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5166-436: The Atlantic basin. Before the satellite era began in 1960, tropical storms or hurricanes went undetected, unless a reconnaissance aircraft encountered one, a ship reported a voyage through the storm, or a storm landed in a populated area. The official record, therefore, may lack mentions of storms in which no ship experienced gale-force winds, recognized it as a tropical storm (as opposed to a high-latitude extra-tropical cyclone,

5289-400: The Atlantic multidecadal oscillation. Throughout the periods, a decadal oscillation related to solar irradiance was responsible for enhancing or dampening the number of major hurricanes by 1–2 per year. Between 1979 and 2019, the intensity of tropical cyclones increased; globally, tropical cyclones are 8% more likely to reach major intensities ( Saffir–Simpson Categories 3 to 5). This trend

5412-450: The Atlantic, Eastern Pacific, and Central Pacific basins . These storms can cause some structural damage to small residences and utility buildings, particularly those of wood frame or manufactured materials with minor curtain wall failures. Buildings that lack a solid foundation, such as mobile homes, are usually destroyed, and gable -end roofs are peeled off. Manufactured homes usually sustain severe and irreparable damage. Flooding near

5535-598: The Azores High is consistent with paleoclimatic evidence that shows an abrupt onset of a drier climate in Haiti around 3200 C years BP, and a change towards more humid conditions in the Great Plains during the late-Holocene as more moisture was pumped up the Mississippi Valley through the Gulf coast. Preliminary data from the northern Atlantic coast seem to support the Azores High hypothesis. A 3,000-year proxy record from

5658-629: The Caribbean Sea shortly after passing south of St. Lucia . Allen's rapid intensification continued during this time, as it was steered by a mid- to upper-level ridge to its north. Shortly before 0000 UTC on August 5, the hurricane's minimum pressure decreased to 924 mbar (924 hPa; 27.3 inHg), which was noted as equivalent to Hurricane David in the previous season . Another reconnaissance aircraft shortly thereafter discovered Allen had become an extremely strong Category 5 hurricane , with sustained winds of 180 mph (290 km/h) and

5781-425: The Caribbean; its intensity made it the latest developing Category 4 hurricane, though this was well within the bounds of the hurricane season. Hurricane Hattie (October 27 – November 1, 1961) was initially thought to have been the latest forming Category 5 hurricane ever documented, as was 2020's Hurricane Iota , but both were later downgraded during subsequent reanalysis. Reanalysis also indicated that

5904-422: The Gulf coast as the Azores High was shifted to a more southwesterly position near the Caribbean. Such a displacement of the Azores High is consistent with paleoclimatic evidence that shows an abrupt onset of a drier climate in Haiti around 3200 C years BP, and a change towards more humid conditions in the Great Plains during the late- Holocene as more moisture was pumped up the Mississippi Valley through

6027-404: The Gulf coast. Preliminary data from the northern Atlantic coast seem to support the Azores High hypothesis. A 3000-year proxy record from a coastal lake in Cape Cod suggests that hurricane activity has increased significantly during the past 500–1000 years, just as the Gulf coast was amid a quiescent period of the last millennium. Approximately 97 percent of tropical cyclones that form in

6150-547: The Gulf of Mexico, Allen weakened as it struck the lower Texas coast, causing high winds, a significant storm surge, and heavy rainfall, which caused damage to South Texas . Overall, Allen killed at least 269 people and left $ 1.57 billion in damages (1980 US dollars), mostly within Haiti and the United States. Because of its impact, the name Allen was retired from the six-year revolving list of Atlantic tropical cyclone names in 1981 and

6273-509: The Haitian government to prevent possible increases in malaria cases following Allen's passage. The United States government made preparations to send personnel, as well as financial and aerial assistance, to Haiti. Tens of thousands of people evacuated the Texas coast before Allen's landfall, and forecasters advised that all areas within one mile of the coastline be cleared. The American Red Cross opened 109 shelters across Hidalgo County and in

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6396-607: The Hurricane Intensity Index, which is based on the dynamic pressure caused by a storm's winds, and the Hurricane Hazard Index, which is based on surface wind speeds, the radius of maximum winds of the storm, and its translational velocity. Both of these scales are continuous, akin to the Richter scale. However, neither of these scales has been used by officials. After the series of powerful storm systems of

6519-662: The NHC had previously rounded incorrectly to keep storms in Category ;4 in each unit of measure, the change does not affect the classification of storms from previous years. The new scale became operational on May 15, 2012. The scale separates hurricanes into five different categories based on wind. The U.S. National Hurricane Center classifies hurricanes of Category 3 and above as major hurricanes . The Joint Typhoon Warning Center classifies typhoons of 150 mph (240 km/h) or greater (strong Category 4 and Category 5) as super typhoons . Most weather agencies use

6642-406: The North Atlantic develop between June 1 and November 30, which delimit the modern-day Atlantic hurricane season. Though the beginning of the annual hurricane season has historically remained the same, the official end of the hurricane season has shifted from its initial date of October 31. Regardless, on an average of every few years, a tropical cyclone develops outside the limits of

6765-673: The North Atlantic Basin and issues reports, watches, and warnings. It is considered to be one of the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centers for tropical cyclones, as defined by the World Meteorological Organization . Until the mid-1900s, storms were named arbitrarily. From that period on, they were exclusively given feminine names, until 1979, when storms began being given both male and female names. The practice of naming storms from

6888-544: The Saffir-Simpson Scale was first published publicly. In 2009, the NHC eliminated pressure and storm surge ranges from the categories, transforming it into a pure wind scale, called the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale (Experimental) [SSHWS]. The updated scale became operational on May 15, 2010. The scale excludes flood ranges, storm surge estimations, rainfall, and location, which means

7011-432: The Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale, storm surge prediction and modeling is handled by computer numerical models such as ADCIRC and SLOSH . In 2012, the NHC extended the wind speed range for Category 4 by 1 mph in both directions, to 130–156 mph, with corresponding changes in the other units (113–136 kn, 209–251 km/h), instead of 131–155 mph (114–135 kn, 210–249 km/h). The NHC and

7134-429: The Saffir–Simpson scale because it is designed to measure the potential damage of a hurricane to human-made structures. Simpson explained that "... when you get up into winds in excess of 155 mph (249 km/h) you have enough damage if that extreme wind sustains itself for as much as six seconds on a building it's going to cause rupturing damages that are serious no matter how well it's engineered." Nonetheless,

7257-536: The ability of climatologists to make long-term data analyses in certain basins is limited by the lack of reliable historical data in some basins, primarily in the Southern Hemisphere. It has been observed that a poleward migration exists for the paths of maximum intensity of tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic, as shown by research on the latitudes at which recent tropical cyclones in the Atlantic are reaching maximum intensity. The data indicates that during

7380-480: The afternoon of August 5 into the morning of August 6 before the watches were upgraded to hurricane warnings from the morning until late afternoon of August 6. As Allen approached the Gulf of Mexico, hurricane warnings were raised for the northeast Yucatán peninsula of Mexico from the afternoon of August 6 into the morning of August 8. Gale warnings were in effect for the Florida Keys from the evening of August 6 into

7503-561: The afternoon of August 7, with maximum sustained winds of 190 mph (305 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 899 mbar (26.5 inHg). Allen had the highest maximum sustained winds ever recorded in an Atlantic hurricane . Its minimum pressure of 899 millibars was the second-lowest pressure on record for the basin at the time. The major hurricane was also very large at this time, with hurricane-force winds extending 144 mi (232 km) from its center and tropical-storm-force winds extending 345 miles. Continuing westward,

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7626-488: The afternoon of August 9 and south of Freeport during the afternoon of August 10. Gale warnings and a hurricane watch were issued for the Louisiana coast from Vermilion Bay westward from the afternoon of August 8 into the afternoon of August 9. Hurricane warnings were in effect for northeast Mexico from the early afternoon of August 9 into the late afternoon of August 10. Hurricane warnings were downgraded to gale warnings between High Island, Texas and Freeport, Texas between

7749-458: The area. These areas (except the JTWC ) use three-minute or ten-minute averaged winds to determine the maximum sustained wind speed, creating an important difference which frustrates direct comparison between maximum wind speeds of storms measured using the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale (usually 14% more intense) and those measured using a ten-minute interval (usually 12% less intense). There

7872-685: The city of Corpus Christi . Access to Padre Island National Seashore was cut off, and all visitors there and residents of Galveston Island were ordered to evacuate the respective areas. Six thousand people in lower Cameron Parish, Louisiana and low-lying suburbs of Houston , Texas were ordered to evacuate as well. A total of 2,500 troops were put on alert in Texas prior to the storm's passage. Allen caused just over $ 1 billion (1980 USD ) in damages and killed at least 269 people throughout its course (including indirect deaths). In Barbados, damages were estimated to be $ 6 million (1980 USD ) by local officials, mostly to agriculture, housing and

7995-1175: The coast destroys smaller structures, while larger structures are struck by floating debris. A large number of trees are uprooted or snapped, isolating many areas. Terrain may be flooded well inland. Near-total to total power loss is likely for up to several weeks. Home water access will likely be lost or contaminated. Hurricanes that peaked at Category 3 intensity and made landfall at that intensity include: Easy (1950), Carol (1954), Hilda (1955), Audrey (1957), Olivia (1967), Ella (1970), Caroline (1975), Eloise (1975), Olivia (1975), Alicia (1983), Elena (1985), Roxanne (1995), Fran (1996), Isidore (2002), Jeanne (2004), Lane (2006), Karl (2010), Otto (2016), Zeta (2020), Grace (2021), John (2024), and Rafael (2024). Catastrophic damage will occur Category 4 hurricanes tend to produce more extensive curtainwall failures, with some complete structural failure on small residences. Heavy, irreparable damage and near-complete destruction of gas station canopies and other wide span overhang type structures are common. Mobile and manufactured homes are often flattened. Most trees, except for

8118-623: The coast may have gone unmeasured in some instances. The combined effects of ship destruction and remote landfall limit the number of intense hurricanes in the official record before the era of hurricane reconnaissance aircraft and satellite meteorology. However, the record shows a distinct increase in the number and strength of intense hurricanes; therefore, experts regard the early data as suspect. Christopher Landsea et al. estimated an undercount bias of zero to six tropical cyclones per year between 1851 and 1885 and zero to four per year between 1886 and 1910. These undercounts roughly take into account

8241-462: The cutoff have been made. In a newspaper article published in November 2018, NOAA research scientist Jim Kossin said that the potential for more intense hurricanes was increasing as the climate warmed , and suggested that Category 6 would begin at 195 mph (85 m/s; 170 kn; 315 km/h), with a further hypothetical Category 7 beginning at 230 mph (105 m/s; 200 kn; 370 km/h). In 2024 another proposal to add "Category 6"

8364-500: The decrease in activity is increasing wind shear , although sea surface temperatures are also cooler than in September. In October, only 1.8 cyclones develop on average, despite a climatological secondary peak around 20 October. By 21 October, the average season features 9 named storms with 5 hurricanes. A third major hurricane occurs after September 28 in half of all Atlantic tropical cyclone seasons. In contrast to mid-season activity,

8487-493: The definition for sustained winds recommended by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which specifies measuring winds at a height of 33 ft (10.1 m) for 10 minutes, and then taking the average. By contrast, the U.S. National Weather Service , Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center define sustained winds as average winds over a period of one minute, measured at

8610-588: The depth of the troposphere (the atmospheric layer ranging from the ground to about eight miles (13 km) high). Neil Frank , former director of the United States National Hurricane Center , used analogies such as "a leaf carried along in a stream" or a "brick moving through a river of air" to describe the way atmospheric flow affects the path of a hurricane across the ocean. Specifically, air flow around high pressure systems and toward low-pressure areas influences hurricane tracks. In

8733-493: The earliest developing Category 4 hurricane on record after it reached 115 mph on June 27. However, reanalysis from 1956 to 1960 by NOAA downgraded Audrey to a Category 3, making Hurricane Dennis of 2005 the earliest Category 4 on record on July 8, 2005. The earliest-forming Category 5 hurricane , Beryl , reached the highest intensity on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale on July 2, 2024. Though

8856-446: The earliest forming major hurricane – a tropical cyclone with winds exceeding 115 mph (185 km/h)  – however, following post-storm analysis, it was determined that Able only reached Category 1 strength, which made Hurricane Alma of 1966 the new record holder, as it became a major hurricane on June 8. Though it developed within the bounds of the Atlantic hurricane season, Hurricane Audrey in 1957 became

8979-506: The early afternoon of August 3 until the late morning of August 4. As Allen moved into the Caribbean sea, hurricane watches were issued for southeastern sections of the Dominican Republic and the southwestern peninsula of Haiti from 11 am on August 4 until the morning of August 5. Gale warnings were then in effect for the southern Dominican Republic from the night of August 4 into the night of August 5, while southern Haiti maintained

9102-399: The early morning of August 8. As Allen approached its final landfall, the northeast Mexican coast and Texas coast were placed under a hurricane watch from the morning of August 8 until the morning of August 9 for Mexico and the afternoon of August 9 for Texas. Hurricane warnings were posted for the Texas coast during the afternoon of August 8, and were lowered north of Freeport, Texas during

9225-639: The first intense hurricane develops by 4 September. The peak of the hurricane season occurs in September and corresponds with low wind shear and the warmest sea surface temperatures . The month of September sees an average of 3 storms a year. By September 24, the average Atlantic season features 7 named tropical storms, including 4 hurricanes. In addition, two major hurricanes occur on average by 28 September. Relatively few tropical cyclones make landfall at these intensities. The favorable conditions found during September begin to decay in October. The main reason for

9348-493: The first tropical storm occurred by 11 July in half of the seasons, and a second formed by 8 August. Formation usually occurs in the eastern Caribbean around the Lesser Antilles , in the northern and eastern parts of the Gulf of Mexico , in the vicinity of the northern Bahamas , and off the coast of The Carolinas and Virginia over the Gulf Stream . Storms travel westward through the Caribbean and then either move towards

9471-934: The hardiest, are uprooted or snapped, isolating many areas. These storms cause extensive beach erosion . Terrain may be flooded far inland. Total and long-lived electrical and water losses are to be expected, possibly for many weeks. The 1900 Galveston hurricane , the deadliest natural disaster to hit the United States, peaked at an intensity that corresponds to a modern-day Category 4 storm. Other examples of storms that peaked at Category 4 intensity and made landfall at that intensity include: Hazel (1954), Gracie (1959), Donna (1960), Carla (1961), Flora (1963), Betsy (1965), Celia (1970), Carmen (1974), Madeline (1976), Frederic (1979), Joan (1988), Iniki (1992), Charley (2004), Dennis (2005), Ike (2008), Harvey (2017), Laura (2020), Eta (2020), Iota (2020), Ida (2021), Lidia (2023), and Helene (2024). Catastrophic damage will occur Category 5

9594-546: The hurricane in Haiti. A disaster committee and executive committee to address the aftermath of the storm was formed by Haitian President Jean-Claude Duvalier , the latter of which was headed by members of the Haitian Ministry of Health and Hatian Red Cross, while members of the committees included representatives from the army, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and others. Emergency instructions were issued by

9717-852: The hurricane season, tropical systems usually form in the Gulf of Mexico or off the east coast of the United States. Since 1851, a total of 81 tropical storms and hurricanes formed in June. During this period, two of these systems developed in the deep tropics east of the Lesser Antilles. Since 1870, three major hurricanes have formed during June, such as Hurricane Audrey in 1957 . Audrey attained an intensity greater than that of any Atlantic tropical cyclone during June or July until Hurricanes Dennis and Emily of 2005. The easternmost forming storm during June, Tropical Storm Bret in 2023, formed at 40.3°W. Little tropical activity occurs during July, with only one tropical cyclone usually forming. From 1944 to 1996,

9840-763: The hurricane threatens populated areas. Total and extremely long-lived power outages and water losses are to be expected, possibly for up to several months. Historical examples of storms that made landfall at Category 5 status include: "Cuba" (1924), "Okeechobee" (1928), "Bahamas" (1932), "Cuba–Brownsville" (1933), "Labor Day" (1935), Janet (1955), Inez (1966), Camille (1969), Edith (1971), Anita (1977), David (1979), Gilbert (1988), Andrew (1992), Dean (2007), Felix (2007), Irma (2017), Maria (2017), Michael (2018), Dorian (2019), and Otis (2023) (the only Pacific hurricane to make landfall at Category 5 intensity). Some scientists, including Kerry Emanuel and Lakshmi Kantha, have criticized

9963-612: The inherent uncertainty in estimating the strength of tropical cyclones. Wind speeds in knots are then converted to other units and rounded to the nearest 5 mph or 5 km/h. The Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale is used officially only to describe hurricanes that form in the Atlantic Ocean and northern Pacific Ocean east of the International Date Line . Other areas use different scales to label these storms, which are called cyclones or typhoons , depending on

10086-461: The island, a common track deviation for most hurricanes that have passed through the area. Allen resumed a more westward course as it left behind Hispaniola and passed north of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands on August 6. The very warm waters of the northwestern Caribbean Sea allowed the storm to begin another phase of rapid intensification. Allen reached its second and greatest peak intensity on

10209-462: The island. Waves 6 metres (20 ft) high battered the coast of the island during the storm. Torrential rainfall caused damage to agriculture on Saint Vincent . In the central Caribbean, Cayman Brac was hit by winds in excess of 115 mph (185 km/h) which caused considerable property damage. A coral reef at Discovery Bay, Jamaica was devastated by the wave action from the storm. Offshore Jamaica, greater numbers of smaller-sized Damselfishes

10332-535: The late afternoon of August 9 and the late afternoon of August 10. Hurricane watches were dropped for the Louisiana coast during the late afternoon of August 9. Hurricane warnings were downgraded to gale warnings for the lower Texas coast south of Freeport from the late afternoon of August 10 into the early morning of August 11. In addition to the various watches and warnings put in place ahead of Allen's arrival, various international governments took measures to prepare for

10455-426: The local fishing industry. The highest recorded winds on the island were 68 knots (78 mph (126 km/h)) on its south side, though Allen likely brought much stronger winds of greater than 100 knots (115 mph (185 km/h)) on the northern part of Barbados under the eyewall of the hurricane. About 500 houses were either damaged or destroyed. No deaths were reported. St. Lucia sustained catastrophic damage from

10578-405: The mean locus of formation shifts westward to the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, reversing the eastward progression of June through August. Wind shear from the westerlies increases throughout November, generally preventing cyclone formation. On average, one tropical storm forms during every other November. On rare occasions, a major hurricane occurs. The few intense hurricanes in November include

10701-427: The measurements taken during Wilma and Gilbert were documented using dropsonde , this pressure remains the lowest measured over land. Hurricane Rita is the fourth strongest Atlantic hurricane in terms of barometric pressure and one of three tropical cyclones from 2005 on the list, with the others being Wilma and Katrina at first and seventh respectively. However, with a barometric pressure of 26.43 inHg, Rita

10824-640: The most storms outside the hurricane season, with four off-season storms having occurred during it. However, high vertical wind shear and low sea surface temperatures generally preclude tropical cyclone formation during the off-season. Among the tropical cyclones that formed in December, the lifespan of two continued into January of the following calendar year: Hurricane Alice in 1954–55, and Tropical Storm Zeta in 2005–06. Seven tropical or subtropical cyclones formed in January, two of which became Category 1 hurricanes:

10947-561: The mountainous terrain of northern Mexico the following day. As Allen approached the Caribbean Sea , gale warnings and a hurricane watch were issued for the islands of Barbados , St. Lucia, St. Vincent , Dominica , Grenada , Martinique , and Guadeloupe during the daylight hours of August 3. Gale warnings were in effect for Antigua from 11 am on August 3 until 11 am on August 4. Hurricane warnings were raised for Barbados, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Martinique, and Dominica from

11070-459: The name was replaced by Andrew. The remnants of the storm caused a brief lapse in the heat wave of 1980 in places like Dallas/Fort Worth , Texas, which had recorded 69 days of 100 °F (38 °C) heat. Allen was an early-season Cape Verde-type hurricane , originating from a tropical wave that left the African coastline on July 30. The system developed quickly as it moved westward, becoming

11193-774: The north and curve near the eastern coast of the United States or stay on a north-westward track and enter the Gulf of Mexico . Since 1851, a total of 105 tropical storms have formed during July. Since 1870, ten of these storms reached major hurricane intensity; out of them, only Hurricane Emily of 2005 and Hurricane Beryl of 2024 , attained Category 5 hurricane status. The easternmost forming storm and longest-lived during July, Hurricane Bertha in 2008 , formed at 22.9°W and lasted 17 days. A decrease in wind shear from July to August contributes to an increase in tropical activity. An average of 2.8 Atlantic tropical storms develop annually in August. On average, four named tropical storms, including one hurricane, occur by August 30, and

11316-465: The official end of the Atlantic hurricane season occurs on November 30, the dates of October 31 and November 15 have also historically marked the end date for the hurricane season. December, the only month of the year after the hurricane season, has featured the cyclogenesis of fourteen tropical cyclones. Tropical Storm Zeta in 2005 was the latest tropical cyclone to attain tropical storm intensity, as it did so on December 30. However,

11439-422: The past thirty years, the peak intensity of these storms has shifted poleward in both hemispheres at a rate of approximately 60 km per decade, amounting to approximately one degree of latitude per decade. Atlantic storms are becoming more financially destructive, since five of the ten most expensive storms in United States history have occurred since 1990. According to the World Meteorological Organization ,

11562-542: The potential damage and flooding a hurricane will cause upon landfall . The Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale is based on the highest wind speed averaged over a one-minute interval 10 m above the surface. Although the scale shows wind speeds in continuous speed ranges, the US National Hurricane Center and the Central Pacific Hurricane Center assign tropical cyclone intensities in 5-knot (kn) increments (e.g., 100, 105, 110, 115 kn, etc.) because of

11685-1065: The roof, and inflict damage upon poorly constructed doors and windows. Poorly constructed signs and piers can receive considerable damage and many trees are uprooted or snapped. Mobile homes, whether anchored or not, are typically damaged and sometimes destroyed, and many manufactured homes suffer structural damage. Small craft in unprotected anchorages may break their moorings . Extensive to near-total power outages and scattered loss of potable water are likely, possibly lasting many days. Hurricanes that peaked at Category 2 intensity and made landfall at that intensity include: Alice (1954), Ella (1958), Ginny (1963), Fifi (1974), Diana (1990), Gert (1993), Rosa (1994), Erin (1995), Alma (1996), Marty (2003), Juan (2003), Alex (2010), Richard (2010), Tomas (2010), Carlotta (2012), Arthur (2014), Sally (2020), Olaf (2021), Rick (2021), Agatha (2022), and Francine (2024). Devastating damage will occur Tropical cyclones of Category 3 and higher are described as major hurricanes in

11808-813: The same 33 ft (10.1 m) height, and that is the definition used for this scale. The five categories are described in the following subsections, in order of increasing intensity. Example hurricanes for each category are limited to those which made landfall at their maximum achieved category on the scale. Very dangerous winds will produce some damage Category 1 storms usually cause no significant structural damage to most well-constructed permanent structures. They can topple unanchored mobile homes , as well as uproot or snap weak trees. Poorly attached roof shingles or tiles can blow off. Coastal flooding and pier damage are often associated with Category 1 storms. Power outages are typically widespread to extensive, sometimes lasting several days. Even though it

11931-402: The scale as being too simplistic, namely that the scale takes into account neither the physical size of a storm nor the amount of precipitation it produces. They and others point out that the Saffir–Simpson scale, unlike the moment magnitude scale used to measure earthquakes , is not continuous, and is quantized into a small number of categories. Proposed replacement classifications include

12054-403: The scale was developed by civil engineer Herbert Saffir and meteorologist Robert Simpson , who at the time was director of the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC). In 1973, the scale was introduced to the general public, and saw widespread use after Neil Frank replaced Simpson at the helm of the NHC in 1974. The scale was created by Herbert Saffir, a structural engineer , who in 1969

12177-471: The season . As of September 2021, there have been 88 tropical cyclones in the off-season, with the most recent being Tropical Storm Ana in May 2021. The first tropical cyclone of the 1938 Atlantic hurricane season , which formed on January 3, became the earliest-forming tropical storm, as post-hurricane reanalysis concluded about the storm in December 2012. Hurricane Able in 1951 was initially thought to be

12300-547: The seasons of 1900–25; however, many intense storms formed during 1870–99. During the 1887 season , 19 tropical storms formed, of which a record 4 occurred after November 1; 11 of the storms strengthened into hurricanes. Few hurricanes occurred from the 1840s to 1860s; however, many struck in the early 19th century, including an 1821 storm that made landfall over New York City. Some historical weather experts say these storms may have been as high as Category 4 in strength. These active hurricane seasons predated satellite coverage of

12423-482: The second Hurricane Alice in 1954 was the latest forming tropical cyclone to attain hurricane intensity. Both Zeta and Alice were the only two storms to exist in two calendar years – the former from 1954 to 1955 and the latter from 2005 to 2006. No storms have been recorded to exceed Category 1 hurricane intensity in December. In 1999 , Hurricane Lenny reached Category 4 intensity on November 17 as it took an unprecedented west-to-east track across

12546-425: The second most damage among the past 11 decades, with only the decade of 1926–1935 surpassing its costs. The most damaging single storm is the 1926 Miami hurricane , with $ 157 billion of normalized damage. Partially because of the threat of hurricanes, some coastal regions had sparse populations between major ports until the advent of automobile tourism; therefore, the most severe portions of hurricanes striking

12669-436: The southern portion of Allen's circulation passed over the Yucatán Peninsula , causing the cyclone to weaken again. Allen bottomed out with winds of 130 mph (210 km/h) on August 8. Continued movement west over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico allowed Allen to restrengthen into a Category 5 hurricane for a third time as it moved over the open waters of the Gulf. The hurricane's central pressure dropped back to

12792-628: The storm caused less damage than initially feared in the United States due to its suddenly diminished power, as well as its highest tides and winds hitting a sparsely populated portion of the Texas coast. Areas of northeastern Mexico saw heavy rains with the passage of Allen, with the highest totals exceeding 7 inches (180 mm). The hurricane earlier brushed the Yucatán Peninsula. As Allen only affected sparsely populated regions of Mexico, there were no reports of significant damage. The Panamanian freighter Georgios G went missing on August 5 on

12915-684: The storm, with an estimated 333,000 people considered at risk for food shortage. Roughly 60% of the nation's coffee crop was destroyed. In Port-au-Prince , Allen caused many fallen trees, local flooding, and temporary disruptions to electric power and telephone services. 41 deaths were caused by tin roofs flying off homes and around 1,200 became homeless due to the flooding. The island of Île-à-Vache had its food supply depleted and its entire water supply contaminated with salt water . Another 140 people were reported dead from flooding. In all, 220 people were killed and 835,000 were left homeless by catastrophic flooding and wind damage from Allen. In Texas,

13038-418: The storms remained intense enough at landfall to be considered some of the strongest, most powerful land falling hurricanes – three of the ten hurricanes on the list constitute the three most intense Atlantic landfalls in recorded history. The 1935 Labor Day hurricane made landfall at peak intensity, making it the most intense Atlantic landfall. Though it weakened slightly before its eventual landfall on

13161-497: The strong category 3 hurricane. Sustained winds of 90 knots (170 km/h) and a sea level pressure as low as 967 millibars (28.6 inHg) were reported at Hewanorra. A total of $ 235 million in damage was incurred on the island. Eighteen people lost their lives as a result of the storm's passage. One death in Guadeloupe was attributed to Allen. In Martinique, damage was extensive as the storm passed 50 miles (80 km) south of

13284-497: The time an aircraft reconnaissance plane entered the tropical cyclone's center late on August 3, it had already achieved major hurricane status, with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (200 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 967 mbar (28.6 inHg), making Allen a Category 3 hurricane. The storm's central pressure dropped to 951 mbar (28.1 inHg) that night as its eye passed north of Barbados on August 4. Allen continued to move quickly westward and entered

13407-430: The time was likely to succumb to winds of such intensity. Nonetheless, their central pressures are low enough to rank them among the strongest recorded Atlantic hurricanes. Owing to their intensity, the strongest Atlantic hurricanes have all attained Category 5 classification. Hurricane Opal , the strongest Category 4 hurricane recorded, intensified to reach a minimum pressure of 916 hPa (27.05 inHg),

13530-584: The typical size of tropical cyclones, the density of shipping tracks over the Atlantic basin, and the amount of populated coastline. Few above-normal hurricane seasons occurred from 1970 to 1994, and even less have occurred since 1995. Destructive hurricanes struck frequently from 1926 to 1960, especially in New England. In 1933 , twenty-one Atlantic tropical storms formed; the only years with more of them were 2005 and 2020 , which saw 28 and 30 storms, respectively. Tropical hurricanes occurred infrequently during

13653-462: The warnings from the night of August 4 into the morning of August 5. The hurricane watch was issued for Jamaica during the morning hours of August 5, while hurricane warnings were raised for the southwest peninsula of Haiti from the late morning of August 5 into the morning of August 6. Hurricane warnings went into effect for Jamaica from around noon on August 5 until late in the afternoon of August 6. The Cayman Islands saw hurricane watches issued from

13776-406: The way to Belize City with 25 people on board. While information on the ship's fate is incomplete, it was likely intercepted by Allen on its course. Because of the hurricane's destructive impacts, the name Allen was retired from the Atlantic tropical storm name list by the World Meteorological Organization in the spring of 1981, and will never again be used for a future Atlantic hurricane. It

13899-409: The western Pacific, most notably typhoons Tip , Halong , Mawar , and Bolaven in 1979, 2019, 2023 and 2023 respectively, each with sustained winds of 190 mph (305 km/h), and typhoons Haiyan , Meranti , Goni , and Surigae in 2013, 2016, 2020 and 2021 respectively, each with sustained winds of 195 mph (315 km/h). Occasionally, suggestions of using even higher wind speeds as

14022-546: The windows are either made of hurricane-resistant safety glass or covered with shutters. Unless most of these requirements are met, the catastrophic destruction of a structure may occur. The storm's flooding causes major damage to the lower floors of all structures near the shoreline. Many coastal structures can be completely flattened or washed away by the storm surge. Virtually all trees are uprooted or snapped and some may be debarked, isolating most affected communities. Massive evacuation of residential areas may be required if

14145-459: The year. Since 1870, there have been 32 off-season cyclones, 18 of which occurred in May. In the same period, nine storms formed in December, three in April, and one each in January, February, and March. During four years ( 1887 , 1953 , 2003 , and 2007 ), tropical cyclones formed in the North Atlantic Ocean both during or before May and during December. 1887 holds the record for being the year with

14268-408: Was Hurricane Patricia in 2015 in the east Pacific; it had a pressure reading of 872 mbar. Preceding Wilma is Hurricane Gilbert , which held the record for the most intense Atlantic hurricane for 17 years. The 1935 Labor Day hurricane , with a pressure of 892 mbar (hPa; 26.34 inHg), is the third strongest Atlantic hurricane and the strongest documented tropical cyclone before 1950. Since

14391-524: Was commissioned by the United Nations to study low-cost housing in hurricane-prone areas. In 1971, while conducting the study, Saffir realized there was no simple scale for describing the likely effects of a hurricane. By using subjective damage-based scales for earthquake intensity like the Modified Mercalli intensity scale or MSK-64 intensity scale and the objective numerical gradation method of

14514-502: Was formerly known as the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale , or SSHS . To be classified as a hurricane, a tropical cyclone must have one-minute-average maximum sustained winds at 10 m (33 ft) above the surface of at least 74 mph (64 kn, 119 km/h; Category 1). The highest classification in the scale, Category 5 , consists of storms with sustained winds of at least 157 mph (137 kn, 252 km/h). The classifications can provide some indication of

14637-412: Was made, with a minimum wind speed of 192 mph (309 km/h), with risk factors such as the effects of climate change and warming ocean temperatures part of that research. In the NHC area of responsibility, only Patricia had winds greater than 190 mph (85 m/s; 165 kn; 305 km/h). According to Robert Simpson, co-creator of the scale, there are no reasons for a Category 6 on

14760-462: Was one of the few hurricanes to reach Category 5 status on the Saffir–Simpson scale on three occasions, and spent more time at Category 5 status than all but two other Atlantic hurricanes . Allen is the only hurricane in the recorded history of the Atlantic basin to achieve sustained winds of 190 mph (305 km/h), Until Hurricane Patricia in 2015, these were also the highest sustained winds in

14883-613: Was replaced with Andrew for the 1986 season . Atlantic hurricane Tropical cyclones can be categorized by intensity. Tropical storms have one-minute maximum sustained winds of at least 39 mph (34 knots, 17 m/s, 63 km/h), while hurricanes must achieve the target of one-minute maximum sustained winds that is 75 mph or more (64 knots, 33 m/s, 119 km/h). Most North Atlantic tropical cyclones form between August 1 and November 30, when most tropical disturbances occur. The United States National Hurricane Center (NHC) monitors tropical weather systems for

15006-627: Was the subject of a number of seemingly credible false news reports as a "Category 6" storm, partly in consequence of so many local politicians using the term. Only a few storms of this intensity have been recorded. Of the 42 hurricanes currently considered to have attained Category 5 status in the Atlantic, 19 had wind speeds at 175 mph (78 m/s; 152 kn; 282 km/h) or greater. Only 9 had wind speeds at 180 mph (80.5 m/s; 156 kn; 290 km/h) or greater (the 1935 Labor Day hurricane , Allen , Gilbert , Mitch , Rita , Wilma , Irma , Dorian , and Milton ). Of

15129-576: Was witnessed in the wake of Allen. Storm surge and strong waves along Jamaica's northeastern coast damaged buildings, and 10 in (250 mm) to 20 in (510 mm) inches of rainfall was recorded. Eight deaths in Jamaica occurred due to Allen. Three additional deaths were attributed to Allen in Cuba . Extensive damage occurred in Haiti due to high winds and flash flooding . Total costs for that country were estimated to be at more than $ 400 million (1980 USD ). 2.5 million people were affected by

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