Top 10 Worst Hurricanes of All Time

Some storms rip through history like they're trying to rewrite it. Entire cities turned to waterlogged skeletons, coastlines redrawn overnight, and lives split into "before" and "after" by a single cyclone's path. You don't forget the names. You can't. These are the hurricanes that punched holes through levees, broke records, and left emergency response systems scrambling in their wake.

Which hurricanes truly earned a spot among the worst of all time? Was it the one that caused the most deaths? The one that left entire neighborhoods without power for months? The one that made insurance companies collectively sweat? Whatever your metric, vote for the storms that, in your view, brought the most destruction, chaos, and tragedy.

1. Hurricane Katrina, 2005

   Hurricane Katrina was one of the most devastating hurricanes to ever hit the United States. It made landfall on August 29, 2005, in Louisiana, causing catastrophic damage in New Orleans and the surrounding areas. The storm caused extensive flooding and left over 1,800 people dead, making it the costliest hurricane in U.S. history.

   I was in Long Beach, MS when this hurricane hit. My house was about 200 feet from the water. My dad didn't think it was gonna be bad, ha! We almost died in our attic, and my neighbors drowned.

   I was only two when this storm hit the Gulf Coast, and I still remember my dad waking me up before the storm and water rushing into the house. My house actually collapsed on the left side, but my dad's tractor held it up. If it wasn't for that tractor, I would be dead. Hurricane Katrina was the worst experience of my life.

   I don't know what it was like during Katrina, but I read about it and it sounds awful.

2. Hurricane Harvey, 2017

   Hurricane Harvey was a Category 4 hurricane that made landfall in Texas on August 25, 2017. It caused catastrophic flooding in Houston and other parts of southeast Texas, leading to the displacement of over 30,000 people and causing an estimated $125 billion in damages.

   What was bad about Harvey is the fact that it stayed in place for days, dumping over 50 inches of rain over Houston and surrounding areas. The costliest hurricane in the US since Katrina.

   This storm tied with Katrina as the costliest Atlantic hurricane. It deserved retirement.

   The flooding... Does Houston exist anymore?

3. Hurricane Maria, 2017

   Hurricane Maria was a Category 5 hurricane that made landfall in Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017. It caused extensive damage to the island, leading to widespread power outages and a humanitarian crisis. The storm resulted in an estimated 2,975 deaths and caused over $90 billion in damages.

   No power for over two months in my case (although I know people who didn't have power for 156 days, literally). No water running for almost the same time (and when we actually got it, we were forced to reduce its use due to rationing) and no signal in most of the island (my family and I had to drive to another town for signal to communicate with our loved ones).

   In my case, I was able to get full signal back in about a month because we moved. We actually had to move because where we used to live was devastated, plus getting actual food was impossible. My family and I ate canned sausages for weeks because there was nothing else. Ice was impossible to get, and the lines for it (like the ones for getting gasoline) were infinite.

   We literally had to drive there at midnight to try and be the first ones there, and somehow there was always someone there already. We spent literally half a day in line just for fuel and food. It was horrible.

4. Hurricane Mitch, 1998

   Hurricane Mitch formed in the western Caribbean and reached Category 5 strength with sustained winds over 155 miles per hour. It caused widespread flooding and landslides across Central America after stalling near the region. The storm resulted in tens of thousands of fatalities and extensive infrastructure damage.

5. Hurricane Andrew, 1992

   Hurricane Andrew was a Category 5 hurricane that made landfall in Florida on August 24, 1992. It caused extensive damage, with an estimated $27 billion in damages and 65 deaths. The storm is particularly notable for its impact on the city of Homestead, which was nearly destroyed by the hurricane.

   Don't know much of what happened, but the evacuation was bad in my area. I think one area took a long time to recover, but I'm not completely sure.

   It's sad because my name is Andrew. I really hate when people tease me about this.

6. The Great Galveston Hurricane, 1900

   The Great Galveston Hurricane was a Category 4 hurricane that struck Galveston, Texas, on September 8, 1900. It is the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history, with an estimated death toll of between 6,000 and 12,000 people. The storm caused massive destruction, with over 3,600 homes destroyed and a third of the city's population left homeless.

   Indubitably the deadliest and clearly the worst hurricane ever! It changed Galveston's history forever and killed an estimated 8,000 people! While Katrina cost the most out of any hurricane ever, and though 2,000 people died in Katrina, making it overall worse, one could argue that life is invaluable, therefore superseding any financial loss.

   This one should be number one.

   If you haven't heard about it, you need to.

   How is this not number one? It was the deadliest hurricane in history!

7. Hurricane Irma, 2017

   Hurricane Irma was a Category 5 hurricane that made landfall in the Caribbean and Florida in September 2017. It caused widespread destruction and resulted in over $50 billion in damages. The storm caused 134 deaths, including 92 in the United States.

   Also, Irma only made landfall as a low Category 4 on the Keys, 2 days and 7 hours after its final time at 185 mph strength. While there was a lot of flooding, a lot of fear, and many lives ruined, there have, believe it or not, been worse.

   Slightly worse than Harvey to me. I mean, Category 4, and potentially for very few, a brutal 5. Dear Lord.

   A cat 5. A CAT 5.

   When it comes to storm power, Harvey and Katrina were child's play.

8. Hurricane Sandy, 2013

   Hurricane Sandy was a Category 3 hurricane that struck the eastern United States in October 2012. The storm caused extensive damage in New York and New Jersey, resulting in 159 deaths and over $68 billion in damages. Sandy is notable for its impact on New York City, where it caused massive flooding and power outages.

   I say Superstorm/Hurricane Sandy is the worst hurricane ever. It was like a bucking bronco that just never got tired. It only got more powerful. More powerful and more deadly. Bad old Sandy deserves to be retired.

   It should be in the top 3.

   Seaside Heights, NJ got the worst of it.

9. Hurricane Florence, 2018

   Hurricane Florence intensified into a major hurricane over the Atlantic before weakening prior to landfall in the Carolinas. It produced prolonged rainfall that led to severe freshwater flooding across North and South Carolina. The storm caused widespread power outages and significant property losses.

   May have been a Category 1 at landfall, but it stalled, like Harvey, and it has killed around 20 people so far.

10. Hurricane Michael, 2018

    Hurricane Michael was a Category 5 hurricane that made landfall in the Florida Panhandle in October 2018. It caused extensive damage, particularly in the cities of Panama City and Mexico Beach, resulting in 74 deaths and over $25 billion in damages. The storm was the strongest hurricane on record to hit the Florida Panhandle.

    I was praying for everyone in the panhandle to make sure they came out of that monster storm alive. To make my friends not cry anymore about their loved ones in the panhandle, I started making dark humor jokes about Hurricane Michael and Andrew. It cheered them up, and I was glad to make them happy, but even I felt terrible after I saw the aftermath that Michael had left in the panhandle.

    While Andrew and Irma were worse for Florida as a whole, Michael was the worst storm to affect the areas it destroyed.

The Newcomers
11. ?

    Hurricane Dorian, 2019

    Hurricane Dorian was a Category 5 hurricane that struck the Bahamas in September 2019. It caused catastrophic damage, particularly on the islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama, resulting in 74 deaths and over 3.4 billion dollars in damages. The storm also caused significant damage in North Carolina, particularly in the Outer Banks.

    It caused damage from Barbados to Newfoundland.

12. ?

    Hurricane Milton, 2024

    Hurricane Milton developed in 2024 and moved toward the southeastern United States after strengthening over the Atlantic. The storm produced coastal impacts including strong winds and heavy rainfall near its landfall area. Milton weakened as it moved inland and eventually dissipated.

    Yet another devastating hurricane in the US. This was a monstrous Category 5 storm (and the strongest in the Gulf since Rita in 2005) that hit Florida about as hard as Ian did two years prior.

    It made landfall in Siesta Key and badly affected the Tampa Bay area, Sarasota, and even areas impacted by Ian, especially Fort Myers. It killed around 35 people and caused approximately $85 billion in damages, making it one of the costliest storms in history.

The Contenders

13. The Great Hurricane of 1780

    The Great Hurricane of 1780 was a Category 5 hurricane that struck the Caribbean in October 1780. It is the deadliest Atlantic hurricane on record, with an estimated death toll between 22,000 and 27,500 people. The storm caused catastrophic damage to the islands of Barbados, St. Lucia, and Martinique.

    Legend has it that they never knew the category of that hurricane. It was the deadliest hurricane of all time and should've been #1.

    The deadliest hurricane in the Atlantic basin. It caused an estimated 22,000 to 27,000 fatalities.

    This was worse than the Galveston Hurricane and Hurricane Mitch.

14. Hurricane Ike, 2008

    Hurricane Ike approached the Texas coast as a large Category 2 hurricane but produced storm surge levels typically associated with stronger storms. Coastal communities around Galveston and the Bolivar Peninsula experienced extensive flooding and structural damage. The storm also caused widespread power outages across multiple states.

    This hurricane hit Houston head-on as a Category 2-3, and since it was my first hurricane, it was kinda scary. The worst parts? It struck us all at night, and there were these winds that sounded just like high-pitched tornadoes all around where I live, sounding not too far away at all and bearing down on me as I sat there listening to them.

    Yeah, sure, it was very cool to be in a hurricane, but now since Harvey is here, I kinda don't want to be in a hurricane or very near one ever again. It sucks. Truly does. Plus, the worst thing is that everyone goes ballistic with, "Oh no! The world is ending!" Crap.

15. Hurricane Hugo, 1989

    Hurricane Hugo reached Category 5 intensity before making landfall as a major hurricane in the Caribbean and later in South Carolina. Strong winds and storm surge damaged homes, businesses, and forests along its path. Several islands and coastal communities experienced long-term disruptions to infrastructure and services.

16. Hurricane Rita, 2005

    Hurricane Rita was a Category 3 hurricane that struck Texas and Louisiana in September 2005. It caused extensive damage, particularly in the cities of Beaumont and Port Arthur, resulting in 120 deaths and over $18 billion in damages. The storm also caused significant damage in the Florida Keys.

17. Hurricane David, 1979

    Hurricane David developed in the Atlantic and strengthened into a Category 5 hurricane before striking the Dominican Republic. Wind damage and flooding affected large portions of the island nation. The storm later impacted the southeastern United States with additional rainfall and wind-related damage.

    2,000+ dead in the Caribbean. The WMO made a great choice retiring this name, though I'm not a huge fan of its replacement, Danny (no offense intended).

18. Hurricane Gilbert, 1988

    Hurricane Gilbert was a Category 5 hurricane that struck the Caribbean and Mexico in September 1988. It caused extensive damage, resulting in over 300 deaths and $7.1 billion in damages. The storm also caused significant damage in Jamaica and Honduras.

    The most intense hurricane in the Atlantic basin at the time.

19. Hurricane Isabel, 2003

    Hurricane Isabel strengthened into a Category 5 storm over the Atlantic before weakening prior to landfall in North Carolina. Strong winds and storm surge affected coastal and inland areas across the Mid-Atlantic. Widespread utility disruptions and infrastructure damage were reported in several states.

    Hurricane Isabel was one of the costliest hurricanes of all time. With winds up to 168 mph, it hit over 20 cities.

20. Long Island Express, 1938

    The Long Island Express, also known as the Great New England Hurricane of 1938, made landfall on Long Island as a fast-moving Category 3 system. Its rapid forward speed produced severe coastal flooding in Rhode Island and Connecticut. The hurricane continued into New England, causing widespread damage across several northeastern states.

21. Hurricane Hazel, 1954

    Hurricane Hazel was a Category 4 hurricane that struck the eastern United States and Canada in October 1954. It caused extensive damage, particularly in Toronto, resulting in 95 deaths and over $300 million in damages. The storm also caused significant damage in North Carolina and Virginia.

    It could have killed over 1,000 people.

22. Hurricane Matthew, 2016

    Hurricane Matthew reached Category 5 status in the Caribbean and delivered heavy rainfall and storm surge to several countries, including Haiti. It then tracked along the southeastern U.S. coast, causing flooding and coastal erosion. Thousands of homes and roadways were damaged throughout its path.

    Being the dumbest kid I was, I decided to hide under my covers and thought that a Category 3 hurricane was going to kill me. But I knew how much damage it caused for Haiti and areas that had been affected, so I still send my prayers to those affected by this hurricane.

23. Hurricane Wilma, 2005

    

    Hurricane Wilma rapidly intensified into one of the strongest hurricanes on record in the Atlantic basin. It crossed the Yucatán Peninsula before moving toward South Florida, where it caused extensive wind damage and power outages. The storm also disrupted transportation and agricultural operations in affected regions.

    I never lived through this hurricane, but I did hear stories about my grandmother's door almost falling down due to how strong Wilma's winds were. My aunts, working at the corner store, quickly ran home and tried to help keep the door intact before the wind knocked it down.

    The most intense hurricane in the Atlantic basin.

24. Great Atlantic Hurricane, 1944

    The Great Atlantic Hurricane was a Category 3 hurricane that struck the east coast of the United States in September 1944. The storm caused extensive damage and resulted in 390 deaths, primarily due to the sinking of several ships at sea.

25. Hurricane Joan-Miriam, 1988

    Hurricane Joan formed in the southwestern Caribbean and made landfall in Nicaragua in October 1988 as a major hurricane. After crossing Central America, it redeveloped in the eastern Pacific where it was renamed Miriam. The storm caused extensive damage in Nicaragua and continued inland until weakening over Mexico.

    Killed 200 to 300 people in Central America and happened 10 years before Mitch (the worst hurricane ever to hit Central America).

26. Hurricane Nate, 2017

    Hurricane Nate was a Category 1 hurricane that made landfall in Louisiana on October 7, 2017. The storm caused flooding and power outages in several states along the Gulf Coast, resulting in 46 deaths and over $1 billion in damages.

    Costliest hurricane to hit Costa Rica, even if Joan was worse for the country at the time.

27. Hurricane Floyd, 1999

    Hurricane Floyd was a Category 2 hurricane that made landfall in North Carolina in September 1999. Although it weakened before hitting the state, it caused extensive flooding and resulted in 57 deaths, mostly due to the flooding. The storm caused over $6 billion in damages.