The Cities With The Most Category 3+ Hurricanes
https://climate-crisis-247-bucket.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/07204928/62957-150x150.jpgAs Hurricane Erin peels up the East Coast, images of storm surge and tropical storm force winds are recalling the brutal 2024 hurricane season. Last year’s Atlantic hurricane season was one of the most extreme in recent memory, marked by several rapidly strengthening storms that caught communities off guard, caused billions in damage, and left hundreds dead.
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Hurricane Helene brought devastating winds and flooding to the Southeast, while Hurricane Milton stunned forecasters by leaping from a tropical storm to a Category 4 hurricane in just 24 hours before making landfall near the Florida Panhandle. While some of the hardest-hit areas were expected – like coastal Florida and Texas – others, like smaller inland towns in North Carolina and Georgia were blindsided by hurricanes in 2024, and may be due for more storms in the current season. A closer look at the data reveals which U.S. cities are most frequently in the path of major hurricanes.
To determine the cities with the most Category 3 and above hurricanes, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed data on historical hurricane tracks from 1842 to 2024 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Cities 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.
25. Hialeah, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 4 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane King 1950 (132.3 mph max wind speed)
24. Miami, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 4 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane King 1950 (132.3 mph max wind speed)
23. Empire, LA
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 4 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Katrina 2005 (133.5 mph max wind speed)
22. Liverpool, TX
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 4 storms
- Most powerful storm: Unnamed hurricane 1900 (138.1 mph max wind speed)
21. Galveston, TX
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 4 storms
- Most powerful storm: Unnamed hurricane 1900 (138.1 mph max wind speed)
20. Los Fresnos, TX
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 4 storms
- Most powerful storm: Unnamed hurricane 1880 (139.2 mph max wind speed)
19. Marathon, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 4 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Donna 1960 (143.8 mph max wind speed)
18. Coral Gables, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 4 storms
- Most powerful storm: Unnamed hurricane 1926 (143.8 mph max wind speed)
17. Cameron, LA
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 4 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Laura 2020 (149.6 mph max wind speed)
16. Hackberry, LA
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 4 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Laura 2020 (149.6 mph max wind speed)
15. Brazoria, TX
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 4 storms
- Most powerful storm: Unnamed hurricane 1932 (149.6 mph max wind speed)
14. Leisure City, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 4 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Andrew 1992 (166.9 mph max wind speed)
13. South Miami Heights, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 4 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Andrew 1992 (166.9 mph max wind speed)
12. Cutler Bay, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 4 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Andrew 1992 (166.9 mph max wind speed)
11. Homestead, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 4 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Andrew 1992 (166.9 mph max wind speed)
10. Diamondhead, MS
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 4 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Camille 1969 (172.6 mph max wind speed)
9. Picayune, MS
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 4 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Camille 1969 (172.6 mph max wind speed)
8. Duck Key, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 4 storms
- Most powerful storm: Unnamed hurricane 1935 (184.1 mph max wind speed)
7. Key Largo, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 5 storms
- Most powerful storm: Unnamed hurricane 1926 (126.6 mph max wind speed)
6. Brownsville, TX
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 5 storms
- Most powerful storm: Unnamed hurricane 1880 (139.2 mph max wind speed)
5. Alvin, TX
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 5 storms
- Most powerful storm: Unnamed hurricane 1932 (149.6 mph max wind speed)
4. Sanibel, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 5 storms
- Most powerful storm: Unnamed hurricane 1935 (157.7 mph max wind speed)
3. Marco Island, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 5 storms
- Most powerful storm: Unnamed hurricane 1935 (166.9 mph max wind speed)
2. Princeton, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 5 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Andrew 1992 (166.9 mph max wind speed)
1. Islamorada, Village of Islands, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 6 storms
- Most powerful storm: Unnamed hurricane 1935 (184.1 mph max wind speed)