One of the Most Powerful Storms Ever Recorded Produced a 15-Foot Storm Surge

When it comes to storms, most people fall into one of two camps: storm lovers and storm haters. Storm lovers enjoy watching storms from the coziness of their homes while sipping tea and watching the violent winds and heavy rain tear through the streets. Then there are storm haters who find the heavy house-shaking winds and pounding rain to be unsettling and stressful. Whichever camp you fall into, you’ll probably deal with storms of some kind regardless of where you live.

There is no question that storms can be dangerous, from heavy rainfall to high winds to erratic lightning. Heavy rainfall can cause flooding. In some cases, flash flooding can happen, stranding folks who are in their cars or outside. High winds can cause extensive property damage and power outages. And lightning can start fires and, on rare occasions, strike people.

Storms are not a new phenomenon and have been happening long before people had the technology to record them or the language to talk about them. We are lucky to have historical evidence of storms from as early as 1281. In that year, a typhoon off of Japan sunk Mongolian ships that were waiting to conquer the Japanese islands. Later, controversial explorer Christopher Columbus even wrote about his first hurricane experience in 1502, when he sheltered off the island of Hispaniola.

You don’t have to be a meteorologist to be interested in the power of Mother Nature. Learning about the danger of storms is one way we can stay safe if we ever experience one. For those fascinated by storms, we have compiled a list of some fun facts and interesting tidbits about the most powerful storms that have made an impact all over the planet. (After this article, read about Extreme Weather Phenomena You’ve Never Heard of Before .)

How Are Storms Measured?

In the past, the most powerful storms were measured by how many lives were lost and how many ships were sunk, but these days, storms are measured by wind speed, rainfall, water surge, lives lost, and economic damage. Hurricanes are measured by the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, which was designed to measure wind speed and is a way to categorize storms from one to five, with five being the worst.

Types of Storms

Before we look at some staggering facts about the most powerful storms ever recorded, let’s take a look at some of the different types of storms. Without getting too scientific, we have separated the main types of storms to help understand the qualities of different types.

Thunderstorms

Sometimes called electrical storms or lightning storms, these storms are created when warm, humid air collides with cold air. Most thunderstorms have strong winds, rain, hail, lightning, and thunder. These storms are considered weather disturbances and usually pass through an area within a few hours or less. In the winter, thunderstorms can become snow storms or ice storms and cause excessive damage.

These storms are dangerous because of the high winds, heavy rainfall, and lightning. The American Red Cross recommends that if you are outside when a thunderstorm happens, you find shelter immediately. Stay away from trees, which can either be blown over by high winds or struck by lightning. If the power goes out, which is common during thunderstorms, you should stay put and avoid going outside if power lines and trees are down.

Tornados

These funnel-shaped storms are usually part of thunderstorms and are extremely dangerous. The high winds form a long spinning funnel that can rotate in different directions, and as they grow, the funnel gets longer. Tornados are sometimes called twisters and are common in the U.S., especially in an area aptly called Tornado Alley, which stretches roughly from Texas to Ohio. These storms cause tremendous damage and are so powerful they can lift up cars, bridges, and even trains.

Luckily, there are excellent warning systems for tornadoes, so people usually have enough time to seek shelter. The best place in the home to stay safe is in a storm cellar or basement. In the U.S., tornados cause around 80 deaths each year and billions of dollars in damage.

Sand/Dust Storms

These storms are common in the desert or where there aren’t a lot of trees or vegetation. The sand or dust is swept up by the heavy wind, which can make it incredibly difficult to see anything.

If you are ever in a sandstorm, close all of your doors and windows. If you have air conditioning, set it to recirculate indoor air and cover your mouth and nose with a damp cloth.

Tropical Cyclones

These storms happen over warm water and are a low-pressure type of storm. The term tropical cyclone is more scientific. These storms are also called hurricanes and, in other parts of the world, typhoons. This weather system can be extremely dangerous, with strong winds and heavy rainfall.

Facts About Some of the Most Powerful Storms Ever Recorded

The information about the most powerful storms is taken from a mix of sites, including the National Hurricane Center, the National Weather Service , CBS News, Hurricane Science, and other reputable sources. We have arranged them in chronological timeline and not in order of intensity.

Great Galveston Hurricane Gulf Coast Texas Sept 8, 1900

Over one hundred years ago, one of the worst hurricanes to ever hit the U.S. destroyed a coastal town in Texas. At the time, Galveston, Texas, was a thriving business port perfectly situated on the Gulf of Mexico. The population had been steadily increasing since 1880, and business was booming. But on September 8th, 1900, everything changed when the hurricane hit.

The entire island of Galveston was overtaken by the water surge that was close to 15 feet high and caused roughly 8,000 deaths. The island and much of the coastal areas nearby were completely destroyed. As if the high death toll was not enough, the property damage was estimated to be close to 30 million. Galveston was never able to fully recover as businessmen and investors decided the coastal areas were too risky and started pouring money into Houston instead, forever altering the economy of Texas.

Okeechobee Hurricane Puerto Rico Sept. 13, 1928

For twelve hours on September 13, 1928, this hurricane pummeled Puerto Rico, Florida, and the Bahamas. Puerto Rico reported 144 mph winds and the destruction of large paths of the island before the hurricane moved into Florida. Surprisingly, some of the worst damage in Florida was not even on the coast but came from the inland Lake Okeechobee, which saw nine-foot surges that engulfed the nearby homes. When it was finally over, the estimated damage came in at 100,000 million, and the loss of life tally was a devastatingly high number at 4,000.

Camaguey Hurricane Cayman Islands Nov. 5, 1932

In early November of 1932, Cuba and the Cayman Islands and surrounding areas were hit for a whopping three days and six hours by the Camaguey Hurricane. The Category 5 hurricane is best known for having the longest intensity of any hurricane and is considered one of the worst natural disasters of the twentieth century. The estimated loss of life was 3,103, and the property damage was 40 million. The water surge in Cuba was well over 21 feet and obliterated buildings and homes.

Labor Day Hurricane Florida Sept. 1935

For eighteen hours in early September of 1935, the Labor Day Hurricane hit the southeastern part of the United States hard. Wind speed reached 180 mph when it hit Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. The loss of life was estimated at 423, and the property damage was close to 100 million. The Florida Key Islands were especially hit with water urges of over 20 feet, wiping out everything in their path.

One interesting thing about this hurricane is that at the time, there were several veteran camps in southern Florida designed to give veterans who were having trouble adjusting to society a steady paycheck and place to live as they worked on the highway connecting the Florida Keys to the mainland. By many accounts, the veterans were done dirty by the politicians as many saw them as bums and hoboes who were a nuisance, and sending them to work in Florida seemed like a good idea. Unfortunately, many of these camps were completely wiped out, and the veterans were killed.

There was some controversy at the time, with some journalists stating that there wasn’t enough warning for the hurricane or attempts to save human life, and the vulnerable veterans weren’t given enough notice to evacuate. During the cleanup and aftermath, local resident Ernest Hemingway helped in the efforts and even wrote an article called “Who Killed the Vets” to bring attention to the issue.

Bhola Cyclone Pakistan and India Nov. 3, 1970

In the 1970s, India and Pakistan were political and religious opposites, and there was a tremendous amount of friction between the two countries, which is why, in November of 1970, the two countries were not communicating well when the Bhola Cyclone hit. The tropical storm warnings were not properly communicated to each country and the surrounding areas. So when the Bhola Cyclone hit, the loss of life was devastating at 300,000 deaths. Some estimates even clock it in at 500,000 deaths. People had no idea the storm was coming, and they were completely taken off guard by the storm. The winds reached 185 mph, and the storm surge took out everything in its path.

The international response to the tragedy was enormous, and despite initial criticism of how the disaster was handled, the world came together to help. As a result of this disaster, the countries are now better prepared with warning systems and shelters. One interesting result of this hurricane was that musicians George Harrison and Ravi Shankar organized a benefit concert to raise money and it may be the very first time famous musicians came together for a cause.

Hurricane Fifi Honduras Sept. 14, 1974

This 1974 hurricane with the cute name was not cute at all. Hurricane Fifi was a Category 2 tropical storm when it hit Belize and parts of Honduras. The storm then met up with Hurricane Orlene and strengthened before it hit Mexico. The hurricane caused flash flooding in Honduras, Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico and caused 8,210 fatalities.

Once the storm subsided, the rescue efforts were stalled due to poor road conditions, and rescue efforts took days to reach those in need. During those early days, post-storm bodies were everywhere, and the risk of disease was growing. International rescue teams began burning bodies and treating survivors. The storm was so awful that the National Weather Service retired the name Fifi, and it will never be reused to name a storm out of respect for the tremendous loss of life.

Hurricane Andrew Aug. 23, 1992

During Hurricane Andrew, Florida and the Gulf Coast were hit with high winds of 185 mph and heavy rain for eighteen solid hours. The storm surge on the Louisiana coast reached 8 feet, and on the Florida coast, the surge hit 17 feet. The property damage was extensive and was estimated to be $26.5 billion. The storm caused 65 deaths, which could have been so much worse had the authorities not evacuated the area. As a result of the high winds, a tornado formed in Louisiana, and two deaths were caused by the tornado.

Hurricane Mitch Central America/Florida October 1998

For one day and eighteen hours, Hurricane Mitch aggressively hit Central America and the Florida coast. The eye of the hurricane went across Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula and caused flash flooding and days of rainfall. There were mudslides and extreme flooding throughout Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Belize. It is difficult to know exact numbers because there were many people missing that were never found, but the estimate of loss of life sits at 11,000. The hurricane sustained wind of over 185 mph for fifteen long hours, making it the second deadliest hurricane since the Great Hurricane of 1780. Unfortunately, many of the areas that were hit by Hurricane Fifi twenty-four years prior were affected by Hurricane Mitch.

Hurricane Katrina Gulf Coast Aug. 2005

We know a lot about Hurricane Katrina because when it hit in 2005, the internet connected us in a way that television never could, and the public was bombarded with images of the tremendous devastation. Film crews with celebrities were playing commando and trying to come to the rescue were everywhere, while Kanye was accusing President Bush of “hating black people” on national television.

Hurricane Katrina was one of the worst hurricanes to hit the United States and resulted in economic damage that has been estimated at $193 billion. Despite calls for evacuation, many people stayed in their homes because they feared looting, felt safer in their homes, and thought they could just weather the storm and that it would pass. Unfortunately, this led to many deaths, estimated to be 1,392. The rebuilding efforts took years, and many people never returned to their homes.

Tropical Storm Sandy Oct. 29, 2012

This surprise hurricane was a slow-moving storm that devastated Haiti, and then it hit the New Jersey and New York coastline. The rainfall and flooding caused significant damage. Luckily, the death toll was low, with only 189 lives lost, which is surprising because Sandy hit well-populated areas. The destructive force totaled many homes, but the warnings were early enough for residents to evacuate. According to the National Weather Service, the storm surge caused the most damage. Due to this, they have changed how they measure storms and will issue surge warnings alongside but separate from hurricane warnings.

Typhoon Haiyan Philippines Nov. 3, 2013

This typhoon has two names, Typhoon Haiyan and Typhoon Super Yolanda, which hit Southeast Asia hard. The Philippines received the brunt of the hit with winds of 195mph and 20-foot storm surges. The rescue and clean-up was difficult, and it took international aid crews some time to reach the survivors. The hurricane damaged affected 16 million people, and the list of dead or missing reached 8,000. Following the hurricane, there was utter chaos with rampant looting, and martial law was declared. Police were crushed and killed guarding food supplies, and there was no order as everyone was doing what they could to survive. It was a terrible time in the history of the Philippines. Homes were destroyed, people were displaced, and the recovery was heartbreaking.

Hurricane Harvey Aug.17, 2017

The 2017 hurricane season was terrible, and it started with Hurricane Harvey, which hit the Gulf Coast of Texas. Along with the wind, the storm brought some of the heaviest rainfall to the region. Southeast Texas reported 40 inches of rainfall in a little less than 48 hours, and Houston received 51 inches of rainfall, causing flash flooding and blocked roads. Harvey caused 107 fatalities and caused damage to Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, and the Cayman Islands. Thousands of people lost their homes and were left with nothing. The overall damages exceeded $155 billion, according to some outlets. The leftover effects of Harvey created 57 tornadoes that caused even further damage.

Hurricane Irma Caribbean Sept. 5, 2017

In the Caribbean islands, Category 5 Hurricane Irma swept through Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands with winds of 178 mph and 10-foot storm surges in many areas, including Cuba and southwestern Florida. The storm lasted a full three days before losing steam and heading north and hitting Georgia, Tennessee, and South Carolina. The overall damages were $64 billion, with 138 fatalities. Puerto Rico was forced to declare a state of emergency, and FEMA was in full force, with boots on the ground to aid in the cleanup. Although much of the damage was to property and business, agriculture also took a hit from Irma too. Coffee, banana, papaya, and plantain fields were destroyed, further affecting the island’s economy.

Hurricane Maria Puerto Rico Sept. 20. 2017

The Caribbean just couldn’t catch a break in 2017. Just two weeks after Hurricane Irma and one month after Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Maria formed off the coast and headed straight for Puerto Rico. Experts predicted it would make landfall on the U.S. territory, and it did, causing further damage and loss of life. It is estimated that when Maria hit, 80,000 people were still without power, and the little rebuilding and cleanup that was taking place had to stop as the storm hit. Everyone was forced to shelter in the remnants of buildings that were still standing after Irma had all but destroyed the island. The death toll from Hurricane Maria reached 2,982. The storm lasted one full day and four hours, with winds reaching 155 mph.

The consequences of these three back-to-back hurricanes in the region are nearly impossible to completely convey. Survivors faced stress and panic, seeking food and water. Many deaths occurred due to disease. Suicide rates rose, and domestic violence numbers increased following the storms. The U.S. government was criticized for its slow response, and there was controversy following a small Montana company receiving a huge amount of money to restore the power grid in Puerto Rico. By most accounts, the government failed Puerto Rico and the island, and the survivors will be dealing with direct and indirect traumas from the storms for years to come. (Next, check out 23 Incredible Photos of Before, During, and After the Strongest Storms in History .)

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