Kristen's Classroom: Atlantic hurricane records
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Hurricane Melissa lashed Jamaica with violent winds, destructive storm surge and relentless rainfall this week, coming ashore as one of the strongest hurricanes on Atlantic record. Below is a look back at some of the other notable storms Melissa joins in the record books.
Lowest pressure
The hurricane with the lowest central pressure on record was Hurricane Wilma (2005).
A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) aircraft measured a pressure of 882 millibars in the center of the hurricane on October 19th, the lowest pressure ever measured in an Atlantic hurricane.
Strongest winds
The hurricane with the strongest winds on record was Hurricane Allen (1980).
A NOAA reconnaissance aircraft recorded maximum sustained winds of 190 mph while Allen was moving across the Yucatán, entering the Gulf.
Hurricane Allen would later make landfall on Aug.10 just northeast of Brownsville, Texas, on the south end of Padre Island as a Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph.
Most rainfall
The hurricane with the highest rainfall total was Hurricane Harvey (2017).
Hurricane Harvey came ashore in Rockport, Texas, as a Category 4 storm on August 25, 2017. The slow movement of the storm, nearly stationary at 5 mph, resulted in catastrophic rainfall totals. The highest storm total rainfall report from Harvey was 60.58″.
Highest storm surge
The hurricane with the highest storm surge on record was Hurricane Katrina (2005).
Katrina made landfall in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, as a strong Category 3 storm with wind speeds of ~127 mph and a central pressure of 920 mb. Storm surge of 24-28 feet was estimated along the western Mississippi coast.
Other notables:
- Hurricane Michael (2018): 9-14′ – Florida
- Hurricane Laura (2020): 12-18′ – Louisiana
- Hurricane Ida (2021): 9-14′ – Louisiana
- Hurricane Ian (2022): 10-15′ – Florida
Fastest intensification
The hurricane with the fastest rate of intensification was Hurricane Milton (2024).
Hurricane Milton went from a tropical depression (35 mph) to a Category 5 hurricane (160 mph) in less than 49 hours.
Costliest hurricane
The costliest hurricane on record was Hurricane Katrina (2005).
Hurricane Katrina (CAT 3) left at least 80% of New Orleans underwater, destroying thousands of homes. When adjusted for inflation, Katrina cost over $201.3 billion in damages. Katrina was also one of the deadliest hurricanes on record, with 1,392 deaths.
Most active hurricane season
The most active Atlantic hurricane season on record – 2020.
The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season saw 30 named storms, 11 of which made landfall in the continental United States. Of the 30 named storms, 14 became hurricanes (74+ mph winds), and of those 14, 7 became major hurricanes (111+ mph winds).
The old record was 28 storms in the infamous 2005 season.
Where does Hurricane Melissa (2025) fit?
Although data will need further verification before it becomes official, Hurricane Melissa (2025) is likely to go into the record books as tied for the 2nd strongest maximum sustained winds (185 mph) and tied for the 3rd lowest central pressure (892 mb).
