August’s most destructive hurricanes

 

Hurricane Katrina at peak intensity, August 2005 (Source: NOAA)

The hurricane season often gets much busier during the month of August.  Below are some of the high impact August hurricanes that have made landfall in the United States in recent years.

Ida (2021): Ida reached peak intensity over the northern Gulf of Mexico as a powerful Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 150 mph.  It made landfall at Category 4 intensity in Port Fourchon, Louisiana and ranks as one of the strongest hurricanes to ever make landfall in Louisiana.  It caused widespread damage not only along the US Gulf Coast but inland areas as well. 

The DC Metro Area had heavy rain and severe weather due to the remnants of Ida.  A September 1 rainfall record of 4.13” was reported at BWI Airport.  Several tornadoes were also reported in the DC Area, including an EF-2 in Anne Arundel County that caused a lot of damage in suburban Annapolis, Maryland.  Ida ranks as the sixth costliest hurricane in U.S. history with $82.4 billion worth of damage (2023 dollars), according to NOAA.  Ida also claimed nearly 100 lives in the United States.

Laura (2020): Laura was the first major hurricane of the record 2020 season.  It made landfall as a powerful Category 4 on August 27 in Cameron, Louisiana.  Its sustained winds were 150 mph at landfall.  Laura’s impacts also reached areas well inland as far north as Arkansas and Kentucky.  Laura ranks as the 15^th costliest hurricane in U.S. history with $27.2 billion in damage.  It was also responsible for 47 direct deaths, according to NOAA.

Harvey (2017): Harvey was a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 130 mph at peak intensity.  When Harvey made landfall in Texas it was the first major hurricane to make landfall in the United States since Wilma in 2005.  Unfortunately, Harvey was a slow moving storm that left widespread damage both at the coast as well as across inland areas. 

Devastating flooding ensued with 4’ rainfall totals in spots.  Harvey remains the second costliest hurricane on record in the United States, having done approximately $155 billion in damage (adjusted for inflation).  Dozens of fatalities resulted from Harvey, according to NOAA.

Katrina (2005):  A powerful Category 5 hurricane over the Gulf of Mexico less than 48 hours before making landfall, many feared Katrina was the doomsday scenario for the U.S. Gulf Coast.  Fortunately, Katrina weakened to a Category 3 hurricane before making landfall east of New Orleans.  However, because Katrina was such a large and intense hurricane, its storm surge was still commensurate with a stronger hurricane. 

The worst case scenario for a hurricane in New Orleans would be if a Category 4 or 5 storm were to make landfall just west of the city.  That’s because the strongest winds and most dangerous conditions are on the right or eastern side of the hurricane.  Nevertheless, Katrina became the costliest hurricane in U.S. history, according to NOAA.  Katrina caused approximately $193.8 billion in damage adjusted for inflation, with a death toll of more than 1,800 in the United States.