The Most Powerful Hurricanes of All Time

Source: Courtesy of NOAA / Getty Images

20. Hurricane Lenny (November, 1999)
> Minimum pressure millibars: 933
> Max. wind speed at landfall: 135 mph
> Max. wind speed measured: 135 mph
> Affected area: Eastern Caribbean islands, Leeward and Windward islands

Source: Courtesy of NOAA

19. Hurricane Joan (October, 1988)
> Minimum pressure millibars: 932
> Max. wind speed at landfall: 125 mph
> Max. wind speed measured: 125 mph
> Affected area: North coast of South America, Central America, Curacao, Guajira Peninsula of Colombia

Source: Courtesy of NOAA

18. 1916 Texas Hurricane (August, 1916)
> Minimum pressure millibars: 932
> Max. wind speed at landfall: 115 mph
> Max. wind speed measured: 115 mph
> Affected area: Caribbean islands, southeastern Texas

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

17. 2nd Hurricane of 1880 Season (August, 1880)
> Minimum pressure millibars: 931
> Max. wind speed at landfall: 130 mph
> Max. wind speed measured: 130 mph
> Affected area: Southeastern Texas

Source: DAVE GATLEY / FEMA News Photo / Liaison Agency / Getty Images

16. Hurricane Floyd (September, 1999)
> Minimum pressure millibars: 930
> Max. wind speed at landfall: 105 mph
> Max. wind speed measured: 135 mph
> Affected area: Bahamas, North Carolina, mid-Atlantic states, New England

Source: Keystone / Getty Images

15. Hurricane Donna (September, 1960)
> Minimum pressure millibars: 930
> Max. wind speed at landfall: 125 mph
> Max. wind speed measured: 125 mph
> Affected area: Puerto Rico, Bahamas, Leeward Islands, mid-Atlantic states, New England, Florida

Source: Vintage Images / Getty Images

14. “The Great Miami Hurricane” (September, 1926)
> Minimum pressure millibars: 930
> Max. wind speed at landfall: 125 mph
> Max. wind speed measured: 130 mph
> Affected area: Turks Island, Bahamas, Florida, Louisiana

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

13. “The Great Okeechobee Hurricane” (September, 1928)
> Minimum pressure millibars: 929
> Max. wind speed at landfall: 125 mph
> Max. wind speed measured: 140 mph
> Affected area: Leeward Islands, Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Florida

Source: Richard Patterson / Getty Images

12. Hurricane Wilma (October, 2005)
> Minimum pressure millibars: 927
> Max. wind speed at landfall: 130 mph
> Max. wind speed measured: 160 mph
> Affected area: Jamaica, Grand Cayman Island, eastern Mexico, Florida

Source: Florida Keys—Public Libraries / Wikimedia Commons

11. “The Florida Keys Hurricane” (September, 1919)
> Minimum pressure millibars: 927
> Max. wind speed at landfall: 130 mph
> Max. wind speed measured: 130 mph
> Affected area: Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Florida Keys, southeastern Texas