Dangerous October hurricanes?

 

Hurricane Milton, October 2024 (Source: NOAA)

October is the third most active month of the six-month Atlantic hurricane season behind only August and September. The frequency and intensity of tropical storms and hurricanes often decreases as October wears on. That’s not to say there haven’t been intense and high impact October hurricanes in the Atlantic.

Milton (2024): The second Category 5 hurricane of the season, Milton was also the strongest hurricane of 2025 with peak winds of 180 mph and a minimum central air pressure of 895 millibars (mb). The lower the air pressure the stronger the storm is. Fortunately, Milton weakened to a still powerful Category 3 storm when it made landfall on the west coast of Florida on October 9. It was an exceptionally destructive storm that caused $34.3 billion in damages (2024 dollars), according to NOAA, along with 32 fatalities. Milton’s lowest pressure of 895 mb tied it with 2005’s Hurricane Rita as the fourth strongest Atlantic hurricane on record.

Zeta (2020):  Zeta reached peak intensity on October 28 as a major Category 3 hurricane as it made landfall in Louisiana. Its highest sustained winds were 115 mph with a minimum central air pressure of 970 mb. Although Zeta quickly weakened after its landfall, it remains noteworthy for being the latest in the season a major hurricane has made landfall in the contiguous United States. Zeta caused $5.3 billion in U.S. damages (2024 dollars), according to NOAA, along with six fatalities. 

Michael (2018):  Hurricane Michael became only the fourth Category 5 hurricane to make landfall in the United States and first since 1992. It also remains one of the few hurricanes that intensified up until its landfall. Michael reached peak intensity as it made landfall along the Florida panhandle with sustained winds of 160 mph and a minimum central air pressure of 919 mb. That part of Florida had seen several Category 3 hurricanes, but never a Category 4 or 5 storm. Michael caused $31.2 billion in U.S. damages (2024 dollars) and claimed 16 lives during the storm, according to NOAA.

Wilma (2005):  Before impacting the United States, Wilma became the strongest Atlantic hurricane on record with a minimum central air pressure of 882 mb. Its sustained winds reached 185 mph, making it a Category 5 hurricane. Fortunately, Wilma weakened significantly before it reached southwest Florida where it made landfall on October 24 as a Category 3 storm. It caused $30 billion in damages (2024 dollars) and five fatalities in Florida.

Hazel (1954):  Hazel remains the only Category 4 hurricane to make landfall in North Carolina arriving on October 15. Due to Hazel’s fast rate of speed, it remained a powerful system as it tracked well inland. It brought Washington, D.C. its highest wind gust on record of 98 mph. Hurricane Hazel was a deadly storm that claimed 95 lives, according to NOAA, combined with $281 million in damages (unadjusted for inflation). Although the state of North Carolina feels the impacts of tropical storms and hurricanes fairly often, no major hurricane (Category 3+) has made landfall there since Fran in 1996.