10 Cities Experiencing Stronger Hurricanes

As climate change continues to reshape weather patterns, heat waves are lasting longer, droughts are worsening, wildfires are burning in places once considered low-risk, and hurricanes are striking with more sudden, explosive power.

While there is little data to support that climate change is causing hurricanes to increase in frequency, there is scientific consensus that more storms are undergoing the kind of rapid intensification that results in back-to-back Category 3+ hurricanes. Some cities along the Gulf and Atlantic coast have experienced considerable decade-over-decade increases in severe hurricanes throughout the 20th century and into the 21st 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.

10. Port Arthur, TX

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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)