List of Category 4 Atlantic hurricanes

The list of Category 4 Atlantic hurricanes is a list of all recorded Atlantic hurricanes to reach Category 4 status as their peak intensity on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. A Category 4 hurricane that later attained Category 5 strength is not included in this analysis. The Atlantic basin includes the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. Category 4 is the second highest hurricane classification category on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, and storms that are of this intensity maintain maximum sustained winds of 114–135 knots (131–155 mph, 210–249 km/h). Based on the Atlantic hurricane database, 95 hurricanes have attained Category 4 hurricane status since 1851, the start of modern meteorological record keeping. Category 4 storms are considered extreme hurricanes.

tatistics

Category 4 hurricanes have maximum sustained winds of 114–135 knots (131–155 mph, 210–249 km/h).cite web|author=National Hurricane Center|title=Saffir-Simpson Scale|publisher=National Weather Service|year=2007|accessdate=2007-11-09|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutsshs.shtml] "Sustained winds" refers to the average wind speed observed over one minute at a height of 10 meters (33 ft) above ground. Gust can be 30% higher than the sustained winds.cite web|author=Chris Landsea|title=FAQ subject D4|year=2006|publisher=HURDAT|accessdate=2007-12-17|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/D4.html] Mobile homes and other buildings without fixed structures can be completely destroyed, and the lower floors of sturdier structures usually sustain major damage. In addition to the winds, the cyclones generally produce a storm surge of 13-18 feet (4-5.5 m) above normal, potentially causing major beach erosion. Heavy, irreparable damage and/or near complete destruction of gas station canopies and other wide span overhang type structures are also very common, and mobile and manufactured homes are often completely destroyed. Low-level terrain may be flooded well inland, as well.cite web | author = National Hurricane Center | title = Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale Information | publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | date = June 22, 2006 | url = http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutsshs.shtml | accessdate = 2007-11-13] In addition, Category 4 hurricanes are very often Cape Verde type hurricanes. Cape Verde hurricanes are usually the strongest, and their track sometimes points them towards the United States, or other land.cite web|author=Chris Landsea|title=FAQ subject A2|year=2006|publisher=HURDAT|accessdate=2007-12-17|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/A2.html]

Studies have shown that due to global warming, major hurricanes, categories 3, 4, and 5, have nearly doubled in occurrence in the past 35 years.cite web|author=NSF|title=severe Hurricanes doubled in the past 35 years|year=2007|publisher=NSF|accessdate=2007-12-29
url=http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=104428] Also, due to growing population in major coastal cities, many areas have become more vulnerable to strong hurricanes, especially categories 4 and 5. [ [http://www.weather.com/newscenter/specialreports/hurricanes/vulnerablecities/index.html weather.com - Vulnerable Cities: Index ] ]

Meteorological measurements

All of the storms listed in this analysis are listed in chronological order, but they also list the minimum central pressure and maximum sustained winds. Each of these meteorological readings are taken using a specific meteorological instrument. For modern storms, the minimum pressure measurements are taken by Reconnaissance Aircraft using dropsondes, or by determining it from satellite imagery using the Dvorak technique. For older storms, pressures are often incomplete, typically being provided by ship-reports or land-observations. None of these methods can provide constant pressure measurements; thus it is possible the only measurement occurred when the cyclone was at a lesser strength.cite web|author=Terry Hock|title=GPS dropsondes|year=2007|publisher=NCAR|accessdate=2007-12-16|url=http://www.eol.ucar.edu/rtf/facilities/dropsonde/] Sustained winds are taken using an Anemometer at 10 meters (33 ft) above the ground.cite web | author=Federal Emergency Management Agency | title = Hurricane Glossary of Terms | year = 2004 | accessdate = 2006-03-24 | url = http://web.archive.org/web/20051214034332/http://www.fema.gov/hazards/hurricanes/hurglos.shtm Accessed through the Wayback Machine.]

Climatology

A total of 95 hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean Basin, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, have reached Category 4 status as their peak intensity. (Note that Category 4 storms that intensified later to Category 5 status are not included in this analysis.) Most Category 4 hurricanes occur during September, with 51 storms occurring in that month. This coincides with the average peak of the Atlantic hurricane season, which occurs on September 10.cite web | author = National Hurricane Center | title = Tropical Cyclone Climatology | url = http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pastprofile.shtml | publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | date = 2007-03-08 | accessdate = 2007-11-13] Most Category 4 hurricanes develop in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. Several Category 4 hurricanes are Cape Verde-type hurricanes. There have been no Category 4 hurricanes to form in either May or December, or in any other month outside the traditional bounds of the Atlantic hurricane season.

List of Category 4 hurricanes

Listed in chronological order

All data listed is provided by the NHC best track, unless otherwise noted. Also, some pressure readings for the older storms may have been taken at a time other than the storm's peak intensity. Thus, some pressure readings might not be the minimum pressure.

Some pressure readings are unavailable due to scarce information.

Hurricane frequency

1901-1950

Between 1901 and 1950, 29 Category 4 hurricanes formed in the Atlantic Basin.

1976-2000

In the years between 1976 and 2000, 24 Category 4 hurricanes formed in the basin:

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Landfalls

The following hurricanes made landfall at some location at any strength; hurricanes that did not make landfall but made a direct hit are also included. Due to inaccuracies in data, tropical depression landfalls are not included.

References

ee also

*List of Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes