NOAA forecasts a “very active” Atlantic hurricane season with 13-20 named storms, 5-9 of which might develop into hurricanes, and 2-5 could be considered significant hurricanes.
Here are the top 10 most significant hurricanes
10. Hurricane Hermine
Hurricane Hermine developed off the coast of Florida in August 2016. It strengthened to a Category 1 hurricane before weakening and hitting Florida as a tropical storm. Heavy rain caused flooding, particularly in northern Florida and southern Georgia.
9. Hurricane Sandy (second time)
A few weeks after Hurricane Irene hit the U.S., Sandy formed in the Atlantic and grew into a Category 1 storm. It wreaked havoc throughout the Caribbean and on the East Coast with torrential rain and flooding. Although it was not as deadly or damaging as its predecessor, Sandy did cause some minor flooding in the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes regions.
8. Hurricane Irene
In August 2011, Hurricane Irene made landfall in North Carolina and traveled up the East Coast. Heavy rains caused severe flooding from North Carolina to Vermont. At least 45 people in the U.S. died because of the storm, and damage was over $10 billion
7. Hurricane Floyd
Hurricane Floyd formed in mid-September 1998. As a result, it brought heavy rain to much of the southeastern U.S. In addition, the storm caused massive flooding from North Carolina to New Jersey. Moreover, Hurricane Floyd caused 56 deaths and $6.5 billion in damage.
6. Hurricane Ivan
Hurricane Ivan swept through the Caribbean and up the U.S. East Coast in September 2004. After Hurricane Andrew, it was the most devastating storm to batter the United States since 1992.
5. Hurricane Andrew
The people of southern Florida were terrified by Hurricane Andrew. Hurricane Katrina was an extremely powerful storm in American history. The storm killed 65 people and caused $27.3 billion in damage.
4. Hurricane Wilma
Hurricane Wilma formed in the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean and grew into a Category 5 hurricane. It is the strongest Atlantic hurricane ever recorded outside the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.
3. Hurricane Rita
Hurricane Rita formed just weeks after Hurricane Katrina hit the U.S. Gulf Coast. Yet, when it comes to Atlantic hurricane intensity, it is the third most powerful.
2. Hurricane Sandy (first time)
In terms of Atlantic hurricanes, Sandy was the largest ever recorded. New York City was pummelling by the storm’s torrential downpours and high gusts. It also caused flooding in coastal areas of New Jersey and Delaware. At least 182 U.S. deaths were blamed on Sandy. In addition, the storm cost an estimated $65 billion in damage
1. Hurricane Katrina
In August 2005, New Orleans and coastal Mississippi people braced for a direct hit from Hurricane Katrina. Instead, the storm smashed into the Gulf Coast as a Category 3 storm. This caused levees and floodwalls that surrounded New Orleans to fail. As a result, more than 80% of the city flooded. The city’s official death toll was nearly 1800, but other estimates put it as high as 10,000. It is the most destructive hurricane in U.S. history, with an estimated $108 billion in damage.
Conclusion
These are the top 10 most significant hurricanes in United States history. All of these storms caused millions of dollars worth of damage and claimed lives as well. This list does not contain storms that affect the entire coast of the U.S., as those are all considered major hurricanes.