The Cities Where Hurricanes Are Getting More Intense

By Evan Comen  •  October 1, 2025
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This week, Tropical Storm Imelda formed over the Bahamas, joining Hurricane Humberto in the Caribbean. The twin storm systems caused widespread power outages in the region, and are sending heavy rain and strong winds to cities along the East Coast.

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As hurricanes increase in intensity, concurrent storms like Imelda and Humberto are becoming more common. Historical hurricane tracks show that the average wind speed of storms is getting worse in many parts of the country, with some cities experiencing double-digit increases in average wind speed over the last century. . A look at historical storm tracks and wind speed measures reveals where in the United States hurricanes have become more severe in the last 180 years.

To determine the places where hurricanes are getting worse, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed data on historical hurricane tracks from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Cities, towns, and Census-designated places were ranked based on the average tricennial change in the average maximum sustained wind speed of tropical cyclones and hurricanes within their boundaries from 1842 to 2022. Triennial changes were calculated across six thirty-year periods: 1842-1872, 1872-1902, 1902-1932, 1932-1962, 1962-1992, and 1992-2022. Hurricane tracks were buffered by 50 miles and overlapped with spatial boundaries from the U.S. Census Bureau. Only cities with at least 100,000 residents were considered.

25. Wilmington, NC

Photo by Josh Austin on Unsplash

  • Avg. tricennial change in storm wind speed, 1842 to 2022: +4.8%
  • No. events with 39+ mph wind speed, 1842 to 2022: 151 storms
  • Avg. storm event wind speed, 1992 to 2022: 78.5 mph
  • Strongest recorded storm: Hurricane Hazel 1954 (132.3 mph sustained wind speed)
 

24. Raleigh, NC

Photo by Sam Szuchan on Unsplash

  • Avg. tricennial change in storm wind speed, 1842 to 2022: +4.9%
  • No. events with 39+ mph wind speed, 1842 to 2022: 91 storms
  • Avg. storm event wind speed, 1992 to 2022: 53.2 mph
  • Strongest recorded storm: Hurricane Hazel 1954 (132.3 mph sustained wind speed)
 

23. Cary, NC

Photo by Gene Gallin on Unsplash

  • Avg. tricennial change in storm wind speed, 1842 to 2022: +5.3%
  • No. events with 39+ mph wind speed, 1842 to 2022: 76 storms
  • Avg. storm event wind speed, 1992 to 2022: 53.4 mph
  • Strongest recorded storm: Hurricane Hazel 1954 (132.3 mph sustained wind speed)
 

22. Greensboro, NC

Photo by Zachary Kadolph on Unsplash

  • Avg. tricennial change in storm wind speed, 1842 to 2022: +5.5%
  • No. events with 39+ mph wind speed, 1842 to 2022: 40 storms
  • Avg. storm event wind speed, 1992 to 2022: 54.4 mph
  • Strongest recorded storm: Hurricane Fran 1996 (59.8 mph sustained wind speed)
 

21. Fort Lauderdale, FL

Photo by Luiz Cent on Unsplash

  • Avg. tricennial change in storm wind speed, 1842 to 2022: +5.6%
  • No. events with 39+ mph wind speed, 1842 to 2022: 127 storms
  • Avg. storm event wind speed, 1992 to 2022: 90.8 mph
  • Strongest recorded storm: Hurricane Andrew 1992 (166.9 mph sustained wind speed)
 

20. Rocky Mount, NC

Photo by Filip Lukic on Unsplash

  • Avg. tricennial change in storm wind speed, 1842 to 2022: +5.7%
  • No. events with 39+ mph wind speed, 1842 to 2022: 93 storms
  • Avg. storm event wind speed, 1992 to 2022: 54.5 mph
  • Strongest recorded storm: Hurricane Hazel 1954 (132.3 mph sustained wind speed)
 

19. Gastonia, NC

Photo by Karolina Bobek on Unsplash

  • Avg. tricennial change in storm wind speed, 1842 to 2022: +5.7%
  • No. events with 39+ mph wind speed, 1842 to 2022: 38 storms
  • Avg. storm event wind speed, 1992 to 2022: 51.8 mph
  • Strongest recorded storm: Hurricane Hugo 1989 (97.8 mph sustained wind speed)
 

18. Chapel Hill, NC

Photo by Colin Rowley on Unsplash

  • Avg. tricennial change in storm wind speed, 1842 to 2022: +5.8%
  • No. events with 39+ mph wind speed, 1842 to 2022: 51 storms
  • Avg. storm event wind speed, 1992 to 2022: 55.2 mph
  • Strongest recorded storm: Hurricane Hazel 1954 (132.3 mph sustained wind speed)
 

17. Burlington, NC

Photo by Jonathon Young on Unsplash

  • Avg. tricennial change in storm wind speed, 1842 to 2022: +5.9%
  • No. events with 39+ mph wind speed, 1842 to 2022: 34 storms
  • Avg. storm event wind speed, 1992 to 2022: 58.5 mph
  • Strongest recorded storm: Hurricane Fran 1996 (74.8 mph sustained wind speed) 
 

16. Apex, NC

Photo by Curtis Adams on Pexels

  • Avg. tricennial change in storm wind speed, 1842 to 2022: +5.9%
  • No. events with 39+ mph wind speed, 1842 to 2022: 71 storms
  • Avg. storm event wind speed, 1992 to 2022: 53.9 mph
  • Strongest recorded storm: Hurricane Hazel 1954 (132.3 mph sustained wind speed)
 

15. Lauderhill, FL

Photo by Connor McManus on Pexels

  • Avg. tricennial change in storm wind speed, 1842 to 2022: +6.1%
  • No. events with 39+ mph wind speed, 1842 to 2022: 128 storms
  • Avg. storm event wind speed, 1992 to 2022: 94.2 mph
  • Strongest recorded storm: Hurricane Andrew 1992 (166.9 mph sustained wind speed)
 

14. Beaumont, TX

Photo by Devin Brown on Pexels

  • Avg. tricennial change in storm wind speed, 1842 to 2022: +6.1%
  • No. events with 39+ mph wind speed, 1842 to 2022: 129 storms
  • Avg. storm event wind speed, 1992 to 2022: 70.8 mph
  • Strongest recorded storm: Hurricane Laura 2020 (149.6 mph sustained wind speed)
 

13. Fayetteville, NC

Photo by Mark Stebnicki on Pexels

  • Avg. tricennial change in storm wind speed, 1842 to 2022: +6.5%
  • No. events with 39+ mph wind speed, 1842 to 2022: 112 storms
  • Avg. storm event wind speed, 1992 to 2022: 59.8 mph
  • Strongest recorded storm: Hurricane Hazel 1954 (132.3 mph sustained wind speed)
 

12. Edinburg, TX

Photo by Jeswin Thomas on Pexels

  • Avg. tricennial change in storm wind speed, 1842 to 2022: +6.5%
  • No. events with 39+ mph wind speed, 1842 to 2022: 64 storms
  • Avg. storm event wind speed, 1992 to 2022: 75.3 mph
  • Strongest recorded storm: Unnamed Hurricane 1933 (126.6 mph sustained wind speed)
 

11. Troy, NY

Photo by Inna Kapturevska_Ua on Unsplash

  • Avg. tricennial change in storm wind speed, 1842 to 2022: +6.9%
  • No. events with 39+ mph wind speed, 1842 to 2022: 19 storms
  • Avg. storm event wind speed, 1992 to 2022: 59.8 mph
  • Strongest recorded storm: Unnamed Hurricane 1938 (115.1 mph sustained wind speed)
 

10. Port Arthur, TX

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels

  • Avg. tricennial change in storm wind speed, 1842 to 2022: +7.1%
  • No. events with 39+ mph wind speed, 1842 to 2022: 122 storms
  • Avg. storm event wind speed, 1992 to 2022: 75.0 mph
  • Strongest recorded storm: Hurricane Laura 2020 (149.6 mph sustained wind speed)
 

9. McAllen, TX

Photo by Caleb Oquendo on Pexels

  • Avg. tricennial change in storm wind speed, 1842 to 2022: +7.3%
  • No. events with 39+ mph wind speed, 1842 to 2022: 57 storms
  • Avg. storm event wind speed, 1992 to 2022: 73.6 mph
  • Strongest recorded storm: Unnamed Hurricane 1933 (126.6 mph sustained wind speed)
 

8. Mission, TX

Photo by A A on Unsplash

  • Avg. tricennial change in storm wind speed, 1842 to 2022: +7.7%
  • No. events with 39+ mph wind speed, 1842 to 2022: 38 storms
  • Avg. storm event wind speed, 1992 to 2022: 69.4 mph
  • Strongest recorded storm: Hurricane Allen 1980 (115.1 mph sustained wind speed)
 

7. Bonita Springs, FL

Photo by Josh Sorenson on Unsplash

  • Avg. tricennial change in storm wind speed, 1842 to 2022: +8.1%
  • No. events with 39+ mph wind speed, 1842 to 2022: 169 storms
  • Avg. storm event wind speed, 1992 to 2022: 80.6 mph
  • Strongest recorded storm: Unnamed Hurricane 1935 (174.9 mph sustained wind speed)
 

6. Cape Coral, FL

Photo by Jaimie D on Unsplash

  • Avg. tricennial change in storm wind speed, 1842 to 2022: +8.4%
  • No. events with 39+ mph wind speed, 1842 to 2022: 144 storms
  • Avg. storm event wind speed, 1992 to 2022: 81.8 mph
  • Strongest recorded storm: Unnamed Hurricane 1935 (166.9 mph sustained wind speed)
 

5. Kenner, LA

Photo by Tyler Domingue on Unsplash

  • Avg. tricennial change in storm wind speed, 1842 to 2022: +8.6%
  • No. events with 39+ mph wind speed, 1842 to 2022: 116 storms
  • Avg. storm event wind speed, 1992 to 2022: 70.9 mph
  • Strongest recorded storm: Hurricane Ida 2021 (143.8 mph sustained wind speed)
 

4. Lehigh Acres, FL

Photo by Ian Talmacs on Unsplash

  • Avg. tricennial change in storm wind speed, 1842 to 2022: +10.3%
  • No. events with 39+ mph wind speed, 1842 to 2022: 175 storms
  • Avg. storm event wind speed, 1992 to 2022: 81.5 mph
  • Strongest recorded storm: Unnamed Hurricane 1935 (166.9 mph sustained wind speed)
 

3. Fort Myers, FL

Photo by Josh Sorenson on Unsplash

  • Avg. tricennial change in storm wind speed, 1842 to 2022: +11.5%
  • No. events with 39+ mph wind speed, 1842 to 2022: 150 storms
  • Avg. storm event wind speed, 1992 to 2022: 84.3 mph
  • Strongest recorded storm: Unnamed Hurricane 1935 (166.9 mph sustained wind speed)
 

2. North Port, FL

Photo by Worm Funeral on Unsplash

  • Avg. tricennial change in storm wind speed, 1842 to 2022: +14.9%
  • No. events with 39+ mph wind speed, 1842 to 2022: 133 storms
  • Avg. storm event wind speed, 1992 to 2022: 78.0 mph
  • Strongest recorded storm: Unnamed Hurricane 1935 (157.7 mph sustained wind speed)
 

1. Port Charlotte, FL

Photo by Tomasz Kardasz on Unsplash

  • Avg. tricennial change in storm wind speed, 1842 to 2022: +17.0%
  • No. events with 39+ mph wind speed, 1842 to 2022: 122 storms
  • Avg. storm event wind speed, 1992 to 2022: 82.7 mph
  • Strongest recorded storm: Unnamed Hurricane 1935 (157.7 mph sustained wind speed)