What was the Worst October Hurricane ?

 

Hurricane Wilma at peak intensity, October 2005 (Source: NOAA)

Tomorrow will be the 17^th anniversary of when Hurricane Wilma became the strongest Atlantic hurricane on record with a minimum central air pressure of 882 millibars (mb).  That broke the existing record of 888 millibars set during 1988’s Hurricane Gilbert.  Both were Category 5 hurricanes in the western Caribbean Sea with peak sustained winds of 185 mph.  However, Hurricane Wilma had a lower minimum central air pressure and meteorologists consider that a more accurate measure of intensity than wind speed.  Wilma claimed 5 deaths in the United States and caused $27.9 billion in damages according to NOAA (2020 dollars).  There have been some other powerful October hurricanes.

Michael (2018):  Hurricane Michael became only the fourth Category 5 hurricane to make landfall in the United States.  It was the first to do so since Hurricane Andrew 26 years earlier and it remains one of the few hurricanes that intensified up until its landfall.  Michael reached its peak intensity as it made landfall along the Florida panhandle with sustained winds of 160 mph and a minimum central air pressure of 919 millibars.  That part of Florida had seen several Category 3 hurricanes, but never a Category 4 or 5 storm.  Michael was directly responsible for 16 deaths in the United States and caused an estimated $29.0 billion in damages (2020 dollars).

Matthew (2016):  Hurricane Matthew was the first Category 5 hurricane to develop in the Atlantic Ocean since 2007.  That’s not to say there weren’t multiple destructive and deadly hurricanes during that time frame such as Ike, Irene and Joaquin, but none had reached Category 5 intensity.  Matthew had sustained winds of 165 mph and a minimum central air pressure of 934 millibars at its peak intensity.  It caused $12.1 billion in damages (2020 dollars) and also had 34 direct U.S. fatalities.

Mitch (1998):  Mitch was upgraded to hurricane status on October 24 in the western Caribbean Sea.  Due to favorable environmental conditions, Mitch quickly intensified into one of the most intense hurricanes on record.  At peak intensity, Hurricane Mitch was a Category 5 storm with sustained winds of 180 mph and a minimum air pressure of 905 millibars.  Although Mitch weakened before impacting Central America, it caused devastating flooding in Nicaragua and Honduras.  NOAA’s estimated death toll for Hurricane Mitch was approximately 11,000. 

Opal (1995):  Opal was one of five major hurricanes to form during the very active 1995 season.  It was the strongest hurricane of the season with peak winds of 150 mph and a minimum central air pressure of 916 millibars.  Fortunately, it weakened to Category 3 intensity before making landfall near Pensacola, Florida on October 4.  Opal brought a significant storm surge to the U.S. Gulf Coast, with additional impacts far inland.  The D.C. Metro Area saw severe weather from the remnants of Opal on October 5.

Hazel (1954):  Hazel remains a rare and record-setting storm more than 60 years after it made landfall on October 15.  Hazel made landfall near the North and South Carolina border with sustained winds of 135 mph.  It remains the only Category 4 to ever make landfall in North Carolina.  It tracked northward rapidly and caused devastation as far north as Canada.  It brought Washington, D.C. and New York City their highest wind gusts on record (98 mph and 113 mph, respectively).  Hurricane Hazel was a deadly storm that claimed 95 lives, according to NOAA, combined with $281 million in damages (unadjusted for inflation).