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Will 2025 Bring Hurricanes With Record-Shattering Wind Gusts?

Will 2025 Bring Hurricanes With Record-Shattering Wind Gusts?

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Fastest Hurricane Wind Speeds Ever Recorded

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50. Hurricane Frederic (1979)

Public Domain via the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration / Wikimedia Commons

49. Hurricane Carmen (1974)

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48. Hurricane Easy (1950)

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

47. Unnamed hurricane of 1938

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46. Unnamed hurricane of 1918

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45. Unnamed hurricane of 1916

Unidentified photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

44. Unnamed hurricane of 1906

State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

41. Hurricane Katrina (2005)

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39. Hurricane Bret (1999)

FEMA, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

38. Hurricane Eloise (1975)

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

37. Hurricane Beulah (1967)

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

36. Hurricane Audrey (1957)

NOAA, Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

35. Unnamed hurricane of 1933

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32. Unnamed hurricane of 1896

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31. Unnamed hurricane of 1888

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30. Unnamed hurricane of 1882

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

29. Unnamed hurricane of 1879

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28. Unnamed hurricane of 1900

Public Domain via Wikimedia

27. Hurricane Irma (2017)

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26. Hurricane Harvey (2017)

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25. Hurricane Betsy (1965)

Hulton Archive / Getty Images

24. Hurricane Gracie (1959)

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

23. Hurricane Hazel (1954)

Hurricane Hazel -- Albion bridge by Martin Taylor / BY-SA 3.0

22. Hurricane King (1950)

Supportstorm, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

20. Unnamed hurricane of 1947

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

19. Unnamed hurricane of 1945

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18. Unnamed hurricane of 1916

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17. Unnamed hurricane of 1898

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16. Hurricane Hugo (1989)

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13. Hurricane Ian (2022)

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11. Unnamed hurricane of 1880

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10. Hurricane Carla (1961)

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

9. Hurricane Donna (1960)

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7. Hurricane Ida (2021)

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5. Unnamed hurricane of 1886

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4. Hurricane Michael (2018)

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3. Hurricane Andrew (1992)

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

2. Hurricane Camille (1969)

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Fastest Hurricane Wind Speeds Ever Recorded
50. Hurricane Frederic (1979)
49. Hurricane Carmen (1974)
48. Hurricane Easy (1950)
47. Unnamed hurricane of 1938
46. Unnamed hurricane of 1918
45. Unnamed hurricane of 1916
44. Unnamed hurricane of 1906
43. Unnamed hurricane of 1894
42. Unnamed hurricane of 1886
41. Hurricane Katrina (2005)
40. Hurricane Dennis (2005)
39. Hurricane Bret (1999)
38. Hurricane Eloise (1975)
37. Hurricane Beulah (1967)
36. Hurricane Audrey (1957)
35. Unnamed hurricane of 1933
34. Unnamed hurricane of 1933
33. Unnamed hurricane of 1915
32. Unnamed hurricane of 1896
31. Unnamed hurricane of 1888
30. Unnamed hurricane of 1882
29. Unnamed hurricane of 1879
28. Unnamed hurricane of 1900
27. Hurricane Irma (2017)
26. Hurricane Harvey (2017)
25. Hurricane Betsy (1965)
24. Hurricane Gracie (1959)
23. Hurricane Hazel (1954)
22. Hurricane King (1950)
21. Unnamed hurricane of 1948
20. Unnamed hurricane of 1947
19. Unnamed hurricane of 1945
18. Unnamed hurricane of 1916
17. Unnamed hurricane of 1898
16. Hurricane Hugo (1989)
15. Hurricane Celia (1970)
14. Unnamed hurricane of 1856
13. Hurricane Ian (2022)
12. Hurricane Charley (2004)
11. Unnamed hurricane of 1880
10. Hurricane Carla (1961)
9. Hurricane Donna (1960)
8. Unnammed hurricane of 1926
7. Hurricane Ida (2021)
6. Hurricane Laura (2020)
5. Unnamed hurricane of 1886
4. Hurricane Michael (2018)
3. Hurricane Andrew (1992)
2. Hurricane Camille (1969)
1. Unnamed hurricane of 1935

Fastest Hurricane Wind Speeds Ever Recorded

Hurricane season is coming to the U.S. Will this year's wind speeds shatter previous records?

For a hurricane to form, water temperatures must exceed 80 degrees, leading to increased evaporation and humidity. Additionally, wind speeds are one of the primary factors separating a tropical storm from a hurricane. Although many recent hurricanes have been deadly, the wind speeds of major hurricanes have consistently reached alarming levels throughout history.

To identify the fastest hurricane wind speeds ever recorded in the United States, 24/7 Tempo analyzed data on historical hurricane tracks from 1842 to 2022, provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Storm track segments were ranked based on the highest recorded maximum sustained wind speeds. Only segments that intersected with the contiguous United States were included.

This post was updated May 21, 2025 to reflect additional information.

Here are the highest hurricane wind speeds ever recorded:

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