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Subject: E20) When are the major hurricanes likely to strike different states?

Contributed by Chris Landsea (NHC)


This table shows the incidence of major hurricanes by months for the U.S. mainland and individual states. September has as many major hurricane landfalls as October and August combined. Texas and Louisiana are the prime targets for pre-August major hurricanes. The threat of major hurricanes increases from west to east during August with major hurricanes favoring the U.S. East Coast by late September. Most major October hurricanes occur in southern Florida (from Blake et al. 2005).

Major hurricane direct hits on the U.S. mainland and individual states
1851-2018
AREAJUNEJULYAUG.SEPT.OCT.ALL
U.S. Coastline
(Texas to Maine)
2527471792
Texas12119019
North113407
Central023004
South063008
Louisiana2079320
Mississippi014409
Alabama011406
Florida026201037
Northwest0217414
Northeast000101
Southwest0026613
Southeast0048315
Georgia001113
South Carolina002226
North Carolina0047112
Virginia000101
Maryland000000
Delaware000000
New Jersey000000
Pennsylvania000000
New York001405
Connecticut001203
Rhode Island001304
Massachusetts000303
New Hampshire000000
Maine000000

Note: State totals do not equal U.S. totals.
Texas and Florida totals do not necessarily equal the sum of sectional entries.
Florida and Texas regional definitions are found in Appendix A.

Reference

Blake, E.S., E.N. Rappaport, J.D. Jarell, and C.W. Landsea, 2005: "The Deadliest, Costliest, and Most Intense United States Hurricanes from 1851 to 2004 (and Other Frequently Requested Hurricane Facts.) NOAA Technical Memorandum NWS-TPC-4, 48 pp.

Last Revised : June 19, 2019

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