2024’s hurricane season has been difficult at best. After Hurricane Helene unexpectedly hit western North Carolina hard, all but wiping out areas like Chimney Rock and Pigeon Ford, Hurricane Milton walloped Florida and the southern states. Typically, hurricane season runs through November — but many people are concerned that the effects of climate change will lead to much more intense and longer-lasting storms. Many Americans are beginning to invest in building hurricane-resistant or hurricane-proof homes, particularly in areas where hurricanes are most likely to hit. These homes are specially built to handle extreme weather, using elements like heavier wall materials and a sturdier foundation. (This is how much this brutal hurricane season has cost us so far.)
There are areas of the United States that are less hurricane prone (although these areas may face other natural disasters, such as mudslides, flooding, or tornadoes). But some areas of the country tend to experience not just more hurricanes, but more powerful ones. Category 3 hurricanes have a maximum weed speed of 111 mph or greater, with higher ranked storms being more destructive. So where are Category 3 hurricanes (and above) most likely to affect? Here, 24/7 Wall St. set out to answer that question by reviewing historical hurricane tracks from 1842 to 2022 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, ranking census places by the number of such hurricanes within their boundaries. Hurricane tracks and census place boundaries were overlapped spatially using QGIS. Census place boundaries are from the U.S. Census Bureau and are for 2023.
Why We’re Talking Hurricanes
Hurricanes are the most damaging natural disasters in the United States, responsible for trillions of dollars in damages and thousands of lives. While destruction is the worst when hurricanes land, they can go far inland or cause considerable damage in their aftermath, such as tropical storms. Knowing an area’s propensity to be in the path of such destructive forces is good. This not only lets you know how expensive it might be to live in one of these areas (hurricane insurance, anybody?) but also prepares you if times get tough — make sure to have a hurricane go-bag ready. (Here’s every $5 billion-plus weather event since 2020.)
Here are the 50 places across the U.S. most affected by hurricanes:
50. Starks, LA
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Unnamed hurricane 1918 (120.8 mph max wind speed)
49. Marco Shores-Hammock Bay, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Wilma 2005 (120.8 mph max wind speed)
48. Big Point, MS
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Frederic 1979 (120.8 mph max wind speed)
47. Hurley, MS
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Frederic 1979 (120.8 mph max wind speed)
46. Fort Myers Beach, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Donna 1960 (120.8 mph max wind speed)
45. Iona, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Donna 1960 (120.8 mph max wind speed)
44. Cape Coral, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Donna 1960 (120.8 mph max wind speed)
43. Goodland, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Donna 1960 (123.1 mph max wind speed)
42. Bayview, TX
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Beulah 1967 (126.6 mph max wind speed)
41. Vinton, LA
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Audrey 1957 (126.6 mph max wind speed)
40. Laguna Vista, TX
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Beulah 1967 (126.6 mph max wind speed)
39. Port Isabel, TX
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Beulah 1967 (126.6 mph max wind speed)
38. Gulf Breeze, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Dennis 2005 (126.6 mph max wind speed)
37. Medley, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane King 1950 (132.3 mph max wind speed)
36. Port Sulphur, LA
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Unnamed hurricane 1893 (132.3 mph max wind speed)
35. El Portal, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane King 1950 (132.3 mph max wind speed)
34. Cut Off, LA
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Betsy 1965 (132.3 mph max wind speed)
33. Galliano, LA
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Betsy 1965 (132.3 mph max wind speed)
32. Southwest Ranches, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane King 1950 (132.3 mph max wind speed)
31. Weston, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane King 1950 (132.3 mph max wind speed)
30. Miami Beach, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane King 1950 (132.3 mph max wind speed)
29. Davie, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane King 1950 (132.3 mph max wind speed)
28. Miami Gardens, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane King 1950 (132.3 mph max wind speed)
27. Miramar, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane King 1950 (132.3 mph max wind speed)
26. Pembroke Pines, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane King 1950 (132.3 mph max wind speed)
25. Hialeah, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane King 1950 (132.3 mph max wind speed)
24. Miami, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane King 1950 (132.3 mph max wind speed)
23. Empire, LA
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Katrina 2005 (133.5 mph max wind speed)
22. Liverpool, TX
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Unnamed hurricane 1900 (138.1 mph max wind speed)
21. Galveston, TX
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Unnamed hurricane 1900 (138.1 mph max wind speed)
20. Los Fresnos, TX
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Unnamed hurricane 1880 (139.2 mph max wind speed)
19. Marathon, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Donna 1960 (143.8 mph max wind speed)
18. Coral Gables, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Unnamed hurricane 1926 (143.8 mph max wind speed)
17. Cameron, LA
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Laura 2020 (149.6 mph max wind speed)
16. Hackberry, LA
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Laura 2020 (149.6 mph max wind speed)
15. Brazoria, TX
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Unnamed hurricane 1932 (149.6 mph max wind speed)
14. Leisure City, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Andrew 1992 (166.9 mph max wind speed)
13. South Miami Heights, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Andrew 1992 (166.9 mph max wind speed)
12. Cutler Bay, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Andrew 1992 (166.9 mph max wind speed)
11. Homestead, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Andrew 1992 (166.9 mph max wind speed)
10. Diamondhead, MS
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Camille 1969 (172.6 mph max wind speed)
9. Picayune, MS
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Camille 1969 (172.6 mph max wind speed)
8. Duck Key, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 3 storms
- Most powerful storm: Unnamed hurricane 1935 (184.1 mph max wind speed)
7. Key Largo, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 4 storms
- Most powerful storm: Unnamed hurricane 1926 (126.6 mph max wind speed)
6. Brownsville, TX
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 4 storms
- Most powerful storm: Unnamed hurricane 1880 (139.2 mph max wind speed)
5. Alvin, TX
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 4 storms
- Most powerful storm: Unnamed hurricane 1932 (149.6 mph max wind speed)
4. Sanibel, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 4 storms
- Most powerful storm: Unnamed hurricane 1935 (157.7 mph max wind speed)
3. Marco Island, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 4 storms
- Most powerful storm: Unnamed hurricane 1935 (166.9 mph max wind speed)
2. Princeton, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 4 storms
- Most powerful storm: Hurricane Andrew 1992 (166.9 mph max wind speed)
1. Islamorada, Village of Islands, FL
- Category 3 and above hurricanes since 1842: 5 storms
- Most powerful storm: Unnamed hurricane 1935 (184.1 mph max wind speed)
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