Hurricane season brings powerful storms that can reshape coastlines, disrupt entire cities, and leave lasting impacts on the communities in their path. While not every storm reaches extreme intensity, the most dangerous hurricanes, Category 3 and above, are capable of widespread destruction, with intense winds, storm surge, and flooding that can change a region overnight.
To identify the cities most affected by these high-intensity storms, researchers analyzed historical hurricane track data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, ranking locations by how often major hurricanes have passed directly through them. The results highlight clear geographic patterns, with certain coastal regions facing repeated exposure to the strongest storms.
Unsurprisingly, Florida dominates the list, accounting for more than half of the most frequently impacted places, many clustered in the same coastal counties. Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi also appear prominently, reflecting the Gulf Coast’s vulnerability to major hurricanes. Across these regions, several communities stand out for experiencing the highest number of powerful storms, underscoring just how concentrated hurricane risk can be in specific areas of the United States.
Methodology
To determine the cities with the most Category 3 and above hurricanes, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on historical hurricane tracks from 1842 to 2022 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Census places were ranked based on the number of Category 3 and above hurricanes – storm events with maximum wind speed of 111 mph or greater – recorded within their boundaries since 1842. Hurricane tracks and census place boundaries were overlapped spatially using QGIS. Census place boundaries are from the U.S. Census Bureau and are for 2023.
Why are we covering this
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Hurricanes are the most damaging natural disasters in the United States, responsible for trillions of dollars in damages and thousands of lives. While destruction is the worst where hurricanes make landfall, they can go far inland or cause considerable damage in their aftermath as tropical storms. It is good to know an area’s propensity to be in the path of such destructive forces.
50. Starks, LA
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Unnamed hurricane 1918 (120.8 mph max wind speed)
49. Marco Shores-Hammock Bay, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Wilma 2005 (120.8 mph max wind speed)
48. Big Point, MS
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- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Frederic 1979 (120.8 mph max wind speed)
47. Hurley, MS
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Frederic 1979 (120.8 mph max wind speed)
46. Fort Myers Beach, FL
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- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Donna 1960 (120.8 mph max wind speed)
45. Iona, FL
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- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Donna 1960 (120.8 mph max wind speed)
44. Cape Coral, FL
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- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Donna 1960 (120.8 mph max wind speed)
43. Goodland, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Donna 1960 (123.1 mph max wind speed)
42. Bayview, TX
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Beulah 1967 (126.6 mph max wind speed)
41. Vinton, LA
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Audrey 1957 (126.6 mph max wind speed)
40. Laguna Vista, TX
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- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Beulah 1967 (126.6 mph max wind speed)
39. Port Isabel, TX
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Beulah 1967 (126.6 mph max wind speed)
38. Gulf Breeze, FL
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- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Dennis 2005 (126.6 mph max wind speed)
37. Medley, FL
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- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane King 1950 (132.3 mph max wind speed)
36. Port Sulphur, LA
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Unnamed hurricane 1893 (132.3 mph max wind speed)
35. El Portal, FL
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- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane King 1950 (132.3 mph max wind speed)
34. Cut Off, LA
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Betsy 1965 (132.3 mph max wind speed)
33. Galliano, LA
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Betsy 1965 (132.3 mph max wind speed)
32. Southwest Ranches, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane King 1950 (132.3 mph max wind speed)
31. Weston, FL
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- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane King 1950 (132.3 mph max wind speed)
30. Miami Beach, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane King 1950 (132.3 mph max wind speed)
29. Davie, FL
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- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane King 1950 (132.3 mph max wind speed)
28. Miami Gardens, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane King 1950 (132.3 mph max wind speed)
27. Miramar, FL
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- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane King 1950 (132.3 mph max wind speed)
26. Pembroke Pines, FL
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- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane King 1950 (132.3 mph max wind speed)
25. Hialeah, FL
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- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane King 1950 (132.3 mph max wind speed)
24. Miami, FL
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- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane King 1950 (132.3 mph max wind speed)
23. Empire, LA
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Katrina 2005 (133.5 mph max wind speed)
22. Liverpool, TX
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Unnamed hurricane 1900 (138.1 mph max wind speed)
21. Galveston, TX
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- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Unnamed hurricane 1900 (138.1 mph max wind speed)
20. Los Fresnos, TX
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- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Unnamed hurricane 1880 (139.2 mph max wind speed)
19. Marathon, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Donna 1960 (143.8 mph max wind speed)
18. Coral Gables, FL
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- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Unnamed hurricane 1926 (143.8 mph max wind speed)
17. Cameron, LA
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- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Laura 2020 (149.6 mph max wind speed)
16. Hackberry, LA
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Laura 2020 (149.6 mph max wind speed)
15. Brazoria, TX
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- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Unnamed hurricane 1932 (149.6 mph max wind speed)
14. Leisure City, FL
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- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Andrew 1992 (166.9 mph max wind speed)
13. South Miami Heights, FL
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- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Andrew 1992 (166.9 mph max wind speed)
12. Cutler Bay, FL
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- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Andrew 1992 (166.9 mph max wind speed)
11. Homestead, FL
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- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Andrew 1992 (166.9 mph max wind speed)
10. Diamondhead, MS
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- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Camille 1969 (172.6 mph max wind speed)
9. Picayune, MS
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Camille 1969 (172.6 mph max wind speed)
8. Duck Key, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Unnamed hurricane 1935 (184.1 mph max wind speed)
7. Key Largo, FL
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- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 4 storms
- Most powerful storm: Unnamed hurricane 1926 (126.6 mph max wind speed)
6. Brownsville, TX
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- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 4 storms
- Most powerful storm: Unnamed hurricane 1880 (139.2 mph max wind speed)
5. Alvin, TX
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 4 storms
- Most powerful storm: Unnamed hurricane 1932 (149.6 mph max wind speed)
4. Sanibel, FL
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- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 4 storms
- Most powerful storm: Unnamed hurricane 1935 (157.7 mph max wind speed)
3. Marco Island, FL
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- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 4 storms
- Most powerful storm: Unnamed hurricane 1935 (166.9 mph max wind speed)
2. Princeton, FL
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- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 4 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Andrew 1992 (166.9 mph max wind speed)
1. Islamorada, Village of Islands, FL
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- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 5 storms
- Most powerful storm: Unnamed hurricane 1935 (184.1 mph max wind speed)
