As Hurricane Milton Damage Assessment Begins, These Are The 25 Cities Most Vulnerable to Hurricanes

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Part of what made Hurricane Helene so devastating to the Southeast was the storm’s unexpected path. Prior to Helene, only one other hurricane had reached Asheville in the last 100 years. Other hard-hit inland cities were similarly unfamiliar with – and consequently unprepared for – storms of Helene’s severity.

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Conversely, Hurricane Milton’s destructive path through central Florida is well-trodden. Most of the Atlantic hurricane season is centered in the Gulf Coast, with some cities experiencing an average of one major storm a year. Using historical data from the NOAA, we looked at which cities have experienced the most hurricane activity in the last 100 years.

To determine the cities with the most hurricanes, 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 number of storms with sustained wind speeds of at least 39 miles per hour within their boundaries from 1922 to 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. Beaumont, TX

• Storms with 39+ mph winds, 1922 to 2022: 0.9 per year
• Avg. maximum sustained wind speed: 66.4 mph
• Strongest recorded storm: Hurricane Laura 2020 (149.6 mph sustained wind speed)

 

24. Jacksonville, FL

• Storms with 39+ mph winds, 1922 to 2022: 0.9 per year
• Avg. maximum sustained wind speed: 59.5 mph
• Strongest recorded storm: Hurricane Dora 1964 (109.3 mph sustained wind speed)

 

23. West Palm Beach, FL

• Storms with 39+ mph winds, 1922 to 2022: 0.9 per year
• Avg. maximum sustained wind speed: 81.2 mph
• Strongest recorded storm: Unnamed hurricane 1928 (146.1 mph sustained wind speed)

 

22. Metairie, LA

• Storms with 39+ mph winds, 1922 to 2022: 0.9 per year
• Avg. maximum sustained wind speed: 64.9 mph
• Strongest recorded storm: Hurricane Ida 2021 (143.8 mph sustained wind speed)

 

21. Lafayette, LA

• Storms with 39+ mph winds, 1922 to 2022: 0.9 per year
• Avg. maximum sustained wind speed: 68.6 mph
• Strongest recorded storm: Hurricane Carmen 1974 (120.8 mph sustained wind speed)

 

20. Riverview, FL

• Storms with 39+ mph winds, 1922 to 2022: 0.9 per year
• Avg. maximum sustained wind speed: 70.4 mph
• Strongest recorded storm: Hurricane Charley 2004 (139.2 mph sustained wind speed)

 

19. Charleston, SC

• Storms with 39+ mph winds, 1922 to 2022: 0.9 per year
• Avg. maximum sustained wind speed: 60.7 mph
• Strongest recorded storm: Hurricane Hugo 1989 (138.1 mph sustained wind speed)

 

18. Brandon, FL

• Storms with 39+ mph winds, 1922 to 2022: 0.9 per year
• Avg. maximum sustained wind speed: 68.7 mph
• Strongest recorded storm: Hurricane Charley 2004 (139.2 mph sustained wind speed)

 

17. Lakeland, FL

• Storms with 39+ mph winds, 1922 to 2022: 0.9 per year
• Avg. maximum sustained wind speed: 68.7 mph
• Strongest recorded storm: Hurricane Charley 2004 (139.2 mph sustained wind speed)

 

16. Savannah, GA

• Storms with 39+ mph winds, 1922 to 2022: 0.9 per year
• Avg. maximum sustained wind speed: 59.2 mph
• Strongest recorded storm: Hurricane Gracie 1959 (132.3 mph sustained wind speed)

 

15. Tallahassee, FL

• Storms with 39+ mph winds, 1922 to 2022: 0.9 per year
• Avg. maximum sustained wind speed: 56.2 mph
• Strongest recorded storm: Unnamed hurricane 1941 (92.1 mph sustained wind speed)

 

14. Wilmington, NC

• Storms with 39+ mph winds, 1922 to 2022: 1.0 per year
• Avg. maximum sustained wind speed: 70.5 mph
• Strongest recorded storm: Hurricane Hazel 1954 (132.3 mph sustained wind speed)

 

13. Spring Hill, FL

• Storms with 39+ mph winds, 1922 to 2022: 1.0 per year
• Avg. maximum sustained wind speed: 66.7 mph
• Strongest recorded storm: Hurricane Easy 1950 (120.8 mph sustained wind speed)

 

12. Baton Rouge, LA

• Storms with 39+ mph winds, 1922 to 2022: 1.0 per year
• Avg. maximum sustained wind speed: 63.4 mph
• Strongest recorded storm: Hurricane Ida 2021 (132.3 mph sustained wind speed)

 

11. Orlando, FL

• Storms with 39+ mph winds, 1922 to 2022: 1.0 per year
• Avg. maximum sustained wind speed: 62.0 mph
• Strongest recorded storm: Hurricane Charley 2004 (139.2 mph sustained wind speed)

 

10. Pearland, TX

• Storms with 39+ mph winds, 1922 to 2022: 1.0 per year
• Avg. maximum sustained wind speed: 68.8 mph
• Strongest recorded storm: Unnamed hurricane 1932 (149.6 mph sustained wind speed)

 

9. Palm Bay, FL

• Storms with 39+ mph winds, 1922 to 2022: 1.0 per year
• Avg. maximum sustained wind speed: 64.2 mph
• Strongest recorded storm: Unnamed hurricane 1933 (126.6 mph sustained wind speed)

 

8. League City, TX

• Storms with 39+ mph winds, 1922 to 2022: 1.0 per year
• Avg. maximum sustained wind speed: 69.1 mph
• Strongest recorded storm: Unnamed hurricane 1932 (149.6 mph sustained wind speed)

 

7. Mobile, AL

• Storms with 39+ mph winds, 1922 to 2022: 1.0 per year
• Avg. maximum sustained wind speed: 69.4 mph
• Strongest recorded storm: Hurricane Frederic 1979 (132.3 mph sustained wind speed)

 

6. Tampa, FL

• Storms with 39+ mph winds, 1922 to 2022: 1.1 per year
• Avg. maximum sustained wind speed: 68.9 mph
• Strongest recorded storm: Hurricane Charley 2004 (139.2 mph sustained wind speed)

 

5. Pasadena, TX

• Storms with 39+ mph winds, 1922 to 2022: 1.1 per year
• Avg. maximum sustained wind speed: 67.7 mph
• Strongest recorded storm: Unnamed hurricane 1932 (149.6 mph sustained wind speed)

 

4. Lehigh Acres, FL

• Storms with 39+ mph winds, 1922 to 2022: 1.1 per year
• Avg. maximum sustained wind speed: 80.4 mph
• Strongest recorded storm: Unnamed hurricane 1935 (166.9 mph sustained wind speed)

 

3. Port St. Lucie, FL

• Storms with 39+ mph winds, 1922 to 2022: 1.2 per year
• Avg. maximum sustained wind speed: 72.9 mph
• Strongest recorded storm: Unnamed hurricane 1928 (146.1 mph sustained wind speed)

 

2. New Orleans, LA

• Storms with 39+ mph winds, 1922 to 2022: 1.2 per year
• Avg. maximum sustained wind speed: 69.8 mph
• Strongest recorded storm: Hurricane Camille 1969 (172.6 mph sustained wind speed)

 

1. Houston, TX

• Storms with 39+ mph winds, 1922 to 2022: 1.4 per year
• Avg. maximum sustained wind speed: 64.9 mph
• Strongest recorded storm: Unnamed hurricane 1932 (149.6 mph sustained wind speed)

 

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