Natural Disasters
Hurricanes by State 2026
Total Hurricanes to Hit Coastline 1851-2022
State | Total Hurricanes to Hit Coastline 1851-2022↓ | |
|---|---|---|
 | Florida | 121 |
 | Louisiana | 64 |
 | Texas | 64 |
 | North Carolina | 58 |
 | South Carolina | 32 |
 | Alabama | 23 |
 | Georgia | 21 |
 | New York | 15 |
 | Mississippi | 14 |
 | Virginia | 13 |
 | Massachusetts | 12 |
 | Connecticut | 11 |
 | Rhode Island | 10 |
 | New Jersey | 4 |
 | Maine | 3 |
 | Delaware | 2 |
 | Maryland | 2 |
 | New Hampshire | 1 |
 | Pennsylvania | 1 |
 | United States | 471 |
- Definitions (according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration):
- A “tropical cyclone” is a general term that refers to rotating storm systems that originate in tropical waters and have closed, low-level circulation. Tropical cyclones start out as “tropical depressions”. When their winds reach a sustained 39 miles per hour, the depression becomes a “tropical storm”. Once a tropical storm attains maximum sustained winds of 74 miles per hour or higher, it is then classified as a hurricane, typhoon, or tropical cyclone, depending upon where the storm originates in the world.
- A “hurricane” is a tropical cyclone that originates in the North Atlantic, central North Pacific, and eastern North Pacific.
- A “typhoon” is a tropical cyclone that originates in the Northwest Pacific.
- Tropical cyclones that originate in the South Pacific and Indian Ocean retain the title “tropical cyclone”.
- Hurricanes are measured using the Saffir-Simpson Scale, which classifies hurricane-strength tropical cyclones into five categories (1-5) based on maximum sustained wind speed.
- Major hurricanes (also called intense hurricanes) are those which fall into categories 3, 4, and 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale.
Florida
The West Coast has long since been vulnerable to earthquakes and wildfires, but those states along the Atlantic Coast or by the Gulf of Mexico have long since been susceptible to hurricanes. A typical year in the US is hit by 12 named storms, which comprises 9 hurricanes and 3 larger, much more significant hurricanes. This makes it difficult for some households in many places to acquire cost-effective insurance for their assets and property. Florida has the unfortunate position of being hit by the majority of hurricanes.
Of the 467 hurricanes to buffet America, 120 of them have hit Florida, with many more causing an indirect backlash to the state. Although it is nicknamed the “Sunshine State”, it has been affected by about 40% of the hurricanes in US history. Roughly a fifth of the hurricanes that make landfall in Florida have been classified as Category 3, which is a very severe level of the storm.
Texas
Texas has some proximity to the Atlantic Coast but is also somewhat positioned close to the Gulf of Mexico. If Texas was a smaller state by landmass, it would not be affected so greatly by the number of storms. Nevertheless, Texas is in second place for experiencing the most hurricanes in America - about one-fifth to be precise. Of the 64 hurricanes that have made landfall in Texas, 30% have been considered to be major - but far fewer have had the same effects as those who have attacked the unfortunate souls living in Florida during the time of a storm.
Louisiana
Louisiana is close behind Texas with 62 hurricanes. Of course, Louisiana borders Florida and is much closer to the Atlantic than some of the other states. The climate can sometimes be described as tropical, which aids in the increased velocity of winds and rain. It also accounts for about a fifth of all hurricanes that have made landfall in the United States. 29% of all hurricanes in Louisiana are classified as severe or major hurricanes.
North Carolina
North Carolina comes in with the fourth-most hurricanes. Accounting for 19% of the hurricanes, this would be the state that holds another fifth of the most severe storms in America. The saving grace is that the topography of the state has reduced the number of severe storms within certain regions, with only 6 of the 58 recorded hurricanes being classified as major. This means that although North Carolina is high on the list for the number of hurricanes in the nation, it has the lowest percentage of severity.
South Carolina
The numbers drop drastically in South Carolina, which accounts for only 10% of the hurricanes in the U.S., with 31 recorded storms. Unfortunately, although it receives roughly half the storms of its northern counterpart, they tend to be more intense.
