Fastest Hurricane Wind Speeds Ever Recorded in the US: Where Do Helene and Milton Rank?

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Making landfall within 13 days of one another, Hurricanes Helene and Milton have contributed to one of the worst Atlantic hurricane seasons in recent history. Both formed in the Gulf Coast and took disparate paths throughout the country, Helene mowing up through western North Carolina while Milton stormed across central Florida and into the Atlantic.

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While at the moment there is little official data on the two most recent hurricanes – Helene actually knocked one of the nation’s top data centers offline – it is worth looking at historical hurricane tracks to see how Helene and Milton compare. By estimating Helene’s maximum sustained wind speed on land at 140 mph and Milton’s at 120 mph, according to recent news coverage, both would indeed rank among the fastest hurricane wind speeds in recorded history. But a look at the data reveals a number of destructive storms that far outrank both recent hurricanes.

To determine the fastest hurricane wind speeds ever recorded in the United States, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed recent news coverage and data on historical hurricane tracks from 1842 to 2022 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Storm track segments were ranked based on maximum sustained wind speed recorded. Only named storm track segments that intersect with the contiguous United States were considered.

30. Hurricane Milton (2024)

• Maximum sustained land wind speed: 120.0 mph
• Site of record: Sarasota County, FL
• Date of record: October 9, 2024

 

29. Hurricane Easy (1950)

• Maximum sustained land wind speed: 120.8 mph
• Site of record: Levy County, FL
• Date of record: September 5, 1950

 

28. Hurricane Carmen (1974)

• Maximum sustained land wind speed: 120.8 mph
• Site of record: St. Mary Parish, LA
• Date of record: September 8, 1974

 

27. Hurricane Frederic (1979)

• Maximum sustained land wind speed: 120.8 mph
• Site of record: George County, MS
• Date of record: September 13, 1979

 

26. Hurricane Allen (1980)

• Maximum sustained land wind speed: 120.8 mph
• Site of record: Cameron County, TX
• Date of record: August 10, 1980

 

25. Hurricane Jeanne (2004)

• Maximum sustained land wind speed: 120.8 mph
• Site of record: Martin County, FL
• Date of record: September 26, 2004

 

24. Hurricane Audrey (1957)

• Maximum sustained land wind speed: 126.6 mph
• Site of record: Cameron Parish, LA
• Date of record: June 27, 1957

 

23. Hurricane Beulah (1967)

• Maximum sustained land wind speed: 126.6 mph
• Site of record: Cameron County, TX
• Date of record: September 20, 1967

 

22. Hurricane Eloise (1975)

• Maximum sustained land wind speed: 126.6 mph
• Site of record: Coffee County, AL
• Date of record: September 23, 1975

 

21. Hurricane Bret (1999)

• Maximum sustained land wind speed: 126.6 mph
• Site of record: Kenedy County, TX
• Date of record: August 22, 1999

 

20. Hurricane Dennis (2005)

• Maximum sustained land wind speed: 126.6 mph
• Site of record: Escambia County, FL
• Date of record: July 10, 2005

 

19. Hurricane Katrina (2005)

• Maximum sustained land wind speed: 126.6 mph
• Site of record: St. Tammany Parish, LA
• Date of record: August 29, 2005

 

18. Hurricane King (1950)

• Maximum sustained land wind speed: 132.3 mph
• Site of record: Miami-Dade County, FL
• Date of record: October 18, 1950

 

17. Hurricane Hazel (1954)

• Maximum sustained land wind speed: 132.3 mph
• Site of record: Horry County, SC
• Date of record: October 15, 1954

 

16. Hurricane Gracie (1959)

• Maximum sustained land wind speed: 132.3 mph
• Site of record: Colleton County, SC
• Date of record: September 29, 1959

 

15. Hurricane Betsy (1965)

• Maximum sustained land wind speed: 132.3 mph
• Site of record: Jefferson Parish, LA
• Date of record: September 10, 1965

 

14. Hurricane Harvey (2017)

• Maximum sustained land wind speed: 132.3 mph
• Site of record: Aransas County, TX
• Date of record: August 26, 2017

 

13. Hurricane Irma (2017)

• Maximum sustained land wind speed: 132.3 mph
• Site of record: Monroe County, FL
• Date of record: September 10, 2017

 

12. Hurricane Celia (1970)

• Maximum sustained land wind speed: 138.1 mph
• Site of record: Nueces County, TX
• Date of record: August 3, 1970

 

11. Hurricane Hugo (1989)

• Maximum sustained land wind speed: 138.1 mph
• Site of record: Berkeley County, SC
• Date of record: September 22, 1989

 

10. Hurricane Charley (2004)

• Maximum sustained land wind speed: 139.2 mph
• Site of record: DeSoto County, FL
• Date of record: August 13, 2004

 

9. Hurricane Ian (2022)

• Maximum sustained land wind speed: 139.2 mph
• Site of record: DeSoto County, FL
• Date of record: September 28, 2022

 

8. Hurricane Helene (2024)

• Maximum sustained land wind speed: 140.0 mph
• Site of record: Taylor County, FL
• Date of record: September 26, 2024

 

7. Hurricane Donna (1960)

• Maximum sustained land wind speed: 143.8 mph
• Site of record: Monroe County, FL
• Date of record: September 10, 1960

 

6. Hurricane Carla (1961)

• Maximum sustained land wind speed: 143.8 mph
• Site of record: Calhoun County, TX
• Date of record: September 11, 1961

 

5. Hurricane Laura (2020)

• Maximum sustained land wind speed: 149.6 mph
• Site of record: Cameron Parish, LA
• Date of record: August 27, 2020

 

4. Hurricane Ida (2021)

• Maximum sustained land wind speed: 149.6 mph
• Site of record: Lafourche Parish, LA
• Date of record: August 29, 2021

 

3. Hurricane Michael (2018)

• Maximum sustained land wind speed: 161.1 mph
• Site of record: Bay County, FL
• Date of record: October 10, 2018

 

2. Hurricane Andrew (1992)

• Maximum sustained land wind speed: 166.9 mph
• Site of record: Miami-Dade County, FL
• Date of record: August 24, 1992

 

1. Hurricane Camille (1969)

• Maximum sustained land wind speed: 172.6 mph
• Site of record: Hancock County, MS
• Date of record: August 18, 1969

 

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