We’re now diving into the third month of the Atlantic hurricane season.
We've seen a calm season so far, but historically, August is the month where we see activity increase.
Since record-keeping of tropical cyclones began in the 1850s, over 300 hurricanes have moved through the Atlantic during August.
The Last Island Hurricane of 1856
This was a quick developing hurricane that formed on Aug. 9, west of Key West, Fla. It moved through the Gulf of Mexico, and less than 48 hours later, it was a major Category 4 hurricane.
On Aug. 10, it made landfall in Last Island, La. where winds peaked at 150 mph. It rapidly weakened to a tropical storm once it moved inland, but still caused massive damage.
Offshore, more than 180 people drowned because of boats sinking in the rough seas. The storm surge submerged Last Island and destroyed every structure and crop.
After the island re-emerged, it looked as if a town had never existed. Birds only inhabit the island now.
The Georgia Hurricane of 1881
The Georgia Hurricane first emerged in the central Atlantic on Aug. 22 and gained hurricane status by Aug. 24.
It continued on a northwest track, making landfall between St. Simons Island and Savannah, Ga. on Aug. 27 as a Category 2 hurricane.
Although it wasn’t the strongest hurricane, people weren't prepared because of the lack of communication tools. Damaging winds and flooding led to 335 deaths in Savannah alone, and the total death toll was 700.
The Sea Islands Hurricane of 1893
The Sea Islands Hurricane was the sixth storm of the season and formed near Cape Verde on Aug. 15.
It crawled across the Atlantic, strengthening to a major Category 3 hurricane before making landfall south of Tybee Island, Ga.
High winds and a sixteen-foot storm surge devastated the barrier islands of Georgia and South Carolina, killing more than 2,000 people.
The Great Galveston Hurricane of 1900
The Great Galveston hurricane was the deadliest hurricane on record. It first emerged in the central Atlantic on Aug. 27 and moved west, making its first landfall in the Dominican Republic.
It then made its way into the Gulf of Mexico where it strengthened to a major Category 4 hurricane and made landfall in Galveston, Texas on Sept. 8.
Gusty winds downed many communication lines, which meant most of the people of Galveston were unaware of what was coming. Winds and storm surge were the primary causes of destruction. The storm flattened buildings and inundated the city with floodwaters.
The hurricane killed more than 8,000 people in Texas, making it the deadliest hurricane in history. It also left tens of thousands of people homeless.
The Great Labor Day Hurricane of 1935
The Great Labor Day Hurricane first formed to the northeast of Turks and Caicos on Aug. 29, and afterwards, made its way west. It intensified quickly and made landfall on Long Key, Fla. on Sept. 2 as a major Category 5 hurricane with winds peaking at 185 mph.
It became the first of four category 5 hurricanes to strike the continental United States.
Wind gusts reached over 200 mph, and storm surge reached 20 feet. The islands in the Keys experienced near total destruction, with almost every building, bridge and road destroyed.
Due to forecasting errors, the Weather Bureau could not predict the path of the storm very well, leading to 485 people dying in the Florida Keys.
Hurricane Camille in 1969
Camille first developed off the coast of Grand Cayman on Aug. 14 and strengthened quickly to a major Category 3 Hurricane before making its first landfall in Cuba on Aug. 15.
After damaging many homes, Hurricane Camille moved into the Gulf of Mexico, where it strengthened to Category 5 hurricane strength and became the second Category 5 hurricane to make landfall in the continental United States.
It then made landfall along the coast of Mississippi. The storm tide reached close to 25 feet for many, causing devastating flooding.
It also destroyed many businesses, farm buildings, homes and crops, and 256 people lost their lives.
Hurricane Andrew in 1992
Andrew developed in the central Atlantic on Aug. 16 and continued on a northwest track where it developed into a major Category 5 hurricane by Aug. 22.
It made its first landfall near Homestead, Fla. on Aug. 24 with winds peaking at 165 mph. Gusts reached even higher, near 177 mph.
Rainfall was moderate, but it was the wind that caused the most damage. Miami-Dade County saw the most damage, with over 100,000 homes destroyed.
Andrew continued into the Gulf of Mexico, weakened slightly, and made a second landfall as a Category 3 hurricane along the coast of Louisiana.
The deaths were not high, but it did 27.3 billion dollars in damage, making it the sixth costliest hurricane to affect the United States in recorded history.
It is also the third Category 5 hurricane to strike the continental United States. Hurricane Michael in 2018 was the last Category 5 hurricane to make landfall in the continental United States.
The National Hurricane Center originally classified Andrew as a Category 4 storm. It wasn't until 10 years later when researchers at the National Hurricane Center reclassified Andrew as a Category 5 storm.
Hurricane Charley in 2004
Hurricane Charley first developed as a tropical wave on Aug. 9 to the southeast of Barbados. It continued on a northwest track, strengthening to a Category 3 hurricane and making landfall in Cuba on Aug. 13.
Charley continued northward toward Florida, weakening to a Category 2 hurricane and then quickly intensifying to a Category 4 hurricane and making landfall in Punta Gorda near Ft. Myers on the same day.
Strong winds caused extreme damage to parts of Florida. Charley flattened buildings, left millions of people without power, and caused billions of dollars of damage to agriculture.
The hurricane also injured hundreds of people, and there were 10 direct deaths because of the hurricane.
Charley was one of four hurricanes to bring devastating destruction to Florida in the year 2004. In fact, the hurricanes all occurred within a 6 week time period. The others include Frances, Ivan and Jeanne. The World Meteorological Organization hurricane committee retired all four hurricane names because of damage and loss of life.
Hurricane Katrina in 2005
Hurricane Katrina is one of the most notorious storms on our list. It first developed on Aug. 23, strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane on Aug. 25 and made its first landfall in southeastern Florida.
After doing damage in Florida, Katrina moved into the Gulf of Mexico, rapidly strengthening to a Category 5 Hurricane on Aug. 28.
Katrina made landfall along the coast of Louisiana, and then shortly after, made a third landfall along the coast of Mississippi, both times as a Category 3 hurricane.
Life and property damage were massive. Winds flattened buildings, and storm surge inundated entire cities. Katrina caused $125 billion in damage and killed 1,833 people, putting this hurricane in the top 5 for the deadliest hurricanes on record.
Hurricane Harvey in 2017
Harvey first started as a wave of low pressure off the coast of Africa on Aug. 13 and moved west, where it developed into a tropical storm on Aug. 17, bringing impacts to areas in the eastern Caribbean.
It then tracked northwest, slightly weakening, and then rapidly intensified in the Gulf of Mexico to a Category 4 Hurricane on Aug. 25.
Harvey made landfall near Rockport, Texas the same day, bringing incredible wind damage to the surrounding areas, with winds peaking at 130 mph.
It then weakened as it moved further inland, but eventually made its way back to the Gulf of Mexico, where it made a second landfall near Cameron, Louisiana, and this time it brought catastrophic flooding to the coastal areas of Texas and Louisiana.
Harvey dumped 60.58 inches of rainfall in Nederland, Texas, making it the highest rainfall total from a tropical cyclone in recorded history.
Hurricane Florence in 2018
Florence was an interesting cyclone that first started as an area of low pressure off the coast of Africa on Aug. 30 and tracked northwest, reaching tropical storm status by Sept. 1.
Florence reached hurricane status by Sept. 4, but underwent rapid intensification and became a major Category 4 hurricane by Sept. 5.
It then weakened back to a tropical storm on Sept. 7, re-strengthened into a hurricane on Sept. 9, and underwent rapid intensification on Sept. 10, becoming a Category 4 hurricane, once again.
As the cyclone neared the coast of the Carolinas, it weakened and made landfall near Wrightsville Beach, N.C. as a Category 1 hurricane.
Because the storm slowed down near the coast, catastrophic flooding occurred in the Carolinas. Florence dropped over 35 inches of rain in North Carolina, making it the wettest tropical cyclone on record for the state.
Floodwaters inundated every major highway in North Carolina, several cities became isolated, and crews rescued more than 5,000 people from the floodwaters.
Hurricane Ida in 2021
Last on our list is Hurricane Ida, which started as a tropical wave off the coast of Africa on Aug. 14, moved west and became a tropical depression on Aug. 26 southwest of Jamaica.
It then took a northwest turn toward the Gulf of Mexico, where it rapidly intensified into a Category 4 hurricane before it made landfall along the coast of Louisiana on Aug. 29.
Ida devastated southeast Louisiana. Many areas, including New Orleans, went weeks without power. Damage in Louisiana alone totaled nearly $55 billion, and areas like Grand Isle, La. became uninhabitable.
Ida also triggered a tornado outbreak in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, and as Ida turned toward the Northeast, several tornadoes formed in the northeastern U.S., leading to more destroyed homes and deaths.
Severe flooding affected thousands of structures in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania and shut down most of the transportation systems in New York City. The flooding led to several hundred water rescues across the Northeast.
Ida killed over 80 people in the U.S. and caused $75 billion in damage, making it the fifth costliest storm to hit the U.S. and the number one costliest storm to hit the Northeast.
The official season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30., and forecasters predict a near-average season this year.
No matter how many storms scientists predict, remember it only takes one storm to devastate a community. Aways prepare before a storm moves into your area.
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