<P> September sees the most Category 5 hurricanes . This coincides with the climatological peak of the Atlantic hurricane season, which occurs in early September . September Category 5s reached their strengths in any of the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and open Atlantic . These places are where September tropical cyclones are likely to form . Many of these hurricanes are either Cape Verde - type storms, which develop their strength by having a great deal of open water; or so - called Bahama busters, which intensify over the warm Loop Current in the Gulf of Mexico . </P> <P> All six Category 5s in October and November reached their intensities in the western Caribbean, a region that Atlantic hurricanes strongly gravitate toward late in the season . This is due to the climatology of the area, which sometimes has a high - altitude anticyclone that promotes rapid intensification late in the season, as well as warm waters . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Name </Th> <Th> Dates as a Category 5 </Th> <Th> Duration (hours) </Th> <Th> Sustained wind speeds </Th> <Th> Pressure </Th> <Th> Areas affected </Th> <Th> Deaths </Th> <Th> Damage (USD) </Th> <Th> Refs </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Cuba! "Cuba" </Td> <Td> 19241019! October 19, 1924 </Td> <Td> 7001120000000000000 ♠ 12 </Td> <Td> 165! 165 mph (270 km / h) </Td> <Td> 7004910000000000000 ♠ 910 hPa (26.87 inHg) </Td> <Td> Central America, Mexico, Cuba Florida, The Bahamas </Td> <Td> 7001900000000000000 ♠ 90 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Okeechobee! "San Felipe II Okeechobee" </Td> <Td> 19280913! September 13--14, 1928 </Td> <Td> 7001120000000000000 ♠ 12 </Td> <Td> 160! 160 mph (260 km / h) </Td> <Td> 7004929000000000000 ♠ 929 hPa (27.43 inHg) </Td> <Td> Lesser Antilles, The Bahamas United States East Coast, Atlantic Canada </Td> <Td> 7003400000000000000 ♠ 4,000 </Td> <Td> 7008100000000000000 ♠ $100 million </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Bahamas! "Bahamas" </Td> <Td> 19320905! September 5--6, 1932 </Td> <Td> 7001240000000000000 ♠ 24 </Td> <Td> 160! 160 mph (260 km / h) </Td> <Td> 7004921000000000000 ♠ 921 hPa (27.20 inHg) </Td> <Td> The Bahamas, Northeastern United States </Td> <Td> 7001160000000000000 ♠ 16 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Cuba! "Cuba" </Td> <Td> 19321105! November 5--8, 1932 </Td> <Td> 7001780000000000000 ♠ 78 </Td> <Td> 175! 175 mph (280 km / h) </Td> <Td> 7004915000000000000 ♠ 915 hPa (27.02 inHg) </Td> <Td> Lesser Antilles, Jamaica, Cayman Islands Cuba, The Bahamas, Bermuda </Td> <Td> 7003310300000000000 ♠ 3,103 </Td> <Td> 7007400000000000000 ♠ $40 million </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Cuba--Brownsville! "Cuba--Brownsville" </Td> <Td> 19330830! August 30, 1933 </Td> <Td> 7001120000000000000 ♠ 12 </Td> <Td> 160! 160 mph (260 km / h) </Td> <Td> 7004930000000000000 ♠ 930 hPa (27.46 inHg) </Td> <Td> The Bahamas, Cuba, Florida Texas, Tamaulipas </Td> <Td> 7002179000000000000 ♠ 179 </Td> <Td> 7007279000000000000 ♠ $27.9 million </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Tampico! "Tampico" </Td> <Td> 19330921! September 21, 1933 </Td> <Td> 7001120000000000000 ♠ 12 </Td> <Td> 160! 160 mph (260 km / h) </Td> <Td> 7004929000000000000 ♠ 929 hPa (27.43 inHg) </Td> <Td> Jamaica, Yucatán Peninsula </Td> <Td> 7002184000000000000 ♠ 184 </Td> <Td> 7006500000000000000 ♠ $5 million </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Labor Day! "Labor Day" </Td> <Td> 19350903! September 3, 1935 </Td> <Td> 7001180000000000000 ♠ 18 </Td> <Td> 185! 185 mph (295 km / h) </Td> <Td> 7004892000000000000 ♠ 892 hPa (26.34 inHg) </Td> <Td> The Bahamas, Florida, Georgia, The Carolinas, Virginia </Td> <Td> 7002408000000000000 ♠ 408 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> New England! "New England" </Td> <Td> 19380919! September 19--20, 1938 </Td> <Td> 7001180000000000000 ♠ 18 </Td> <Td> 160! 160 mph (260 km / h) </Td> <Td> 7004940000000000000 ♠ 940 hPa (27.76 inHg) </Td> <Td> Southeastern United States, Northeastern United States, Southwestern Quebec </Td> <Td> 7002682000000000000 ♠ 682 </Td> <Td> 7008306000000000000 ♠ $306 million </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Carol </Td> <Td> 19530903! September 3, 1953 </Td> <Td> 7001120000000000000 ♠ 12 </Td> <Td> 160! 160 mph (260 km / h) </Td> <Td> 7004929000000000000 ♠ 929 hPa (27.43 inHg) </Td> <Td> Bermuda, New England, Atlantic Canada </Td> <Td> 7000500000000000000 ♠ 5 </Td> <Td> 7006200000000000000 ♠ $2 million </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Janet </Td> <Td> 19550927! September 27--28, 1955 </Td> <Td> 7001180000000000000 ♠ 18 </Td> <Td> 175! 175 mph (280 km / h) </Td> <Td> 7004914000000000000 ♠ 914 hPa (26.99 inHg) </Td> <Td> Lesser Antilles, Central America </Td> <Td> 7003102300000000000 ♠ 1,023 </Td> <Td> 7007658000000000000 ♠ $65.8 million </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Carla </Td> <Td> 19610911! September 11, 1961 </Td> <Td> 7001180000000000000 ♠ 18 </Td> <Td> 175! 175 mph (280 km / h) </Td> <Td> 7004931000000000000 ♠ 931 hPa (27.49 inHg) </Td> <Td> Texas, Louisiana, Midwestern United States </Td> <Td> 7001430000000000000 ♠ 43 </Td> <Td> 7008325740000000000 ♠ $326 million </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Hattie </Td> <Td> 19611030! October 30--31, 1961 </Td> <Td> 7001180000000000000 ♠ 18 </Td> <Td> 160! 160 mph (260 km / h) </Td> <Td> 7004920000000000000 ♠ 920 hPa (27.17 inHg) </Td> <Td> Central America </Td> <Td> 7002319000000000000 ♠ 319 </Td> <Td> 7007603000000000000 ♠ $60.3 million </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Beulah </Td> <Td> 19670920! September 20, 1967 </Td> <Td> 7001180000000000000 ♠ 18 </Td> <Td> 160! 160 mph (260 km / h) </Td> <Td> 7004923000000000000 ♠ 923 hPa (27.26 inHg) </Td> <Td> The Caribbean, Mexico, Texas </Td> <Td> 7002688000000000000 ♠ 688 </Td> <Td> 7008207650000000000 ♠ $208 million </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Camille </Td> <Td> 19690816! August 16--18, 1969 † </Td> <Td> 7001300000000000000 ♠ 30 </Td> <Td> 175! 175 mph (280 km / h) </Td> <Td> 7004900000000000000 ♠ 900 hPa (26.58 inHg) </Td> <Td> Cuba, United States Gulf Coast </Td> <Td> 7002259000000000000 ♠ 259 </Td> <Td> 7009142000000000000 ♠ $1.42 billion </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Edith </Td> <Td> 19710909! September 9, 1971 </Td> <Td> 7000600000000000000 ♠ 6 </Td> <Td> 160! 160 mph (260 km / h) </Td> <Td> 7004943000000000000 ♠ 943 hPa (27.85 inHg) </Td> <Td> The Caribbean, Central America, Mexico, United States Gulf Coast </Td> <Td> 7001370000000000000 ♠ 37 </Td> <Td> 7007254000000000000 ♠ $25.4 million </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Anita </Td> <Td> 19770902! September 2, 1977 </Td> <Td> 7001120000000000000 ♠ 12 </Td> <Td> 175! 175 mph (280 km / h) </Td> <Td> 7004926000000000000 ♠ 926 hPa (27.34 inHg) </Td> <Td> Mexico </Td> <Td> 7001110000000000000 ♠ 11 </Td> <Td> 7000100000000000000 ♠ Extensive </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> David </Td> <Td> 19790830! August 30--31, 1979 </Td> <Td> 7001420000000000000 ♠ 42 </Td> <Td> 175! 175 mph (280 km / h) </Td> <Td> 7004924000000000000 ♠ 924 hPa (27.29 inHg) </Td> <Td> The Caribbean, United States East coast </Td> <Td> 7003206800000000000 ♠ 2,068 </Td> <Td> 7009154000000000000 ♠ $1.54 billion </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Allen </Td> <Td> 19800805! August 5--9, 1980 † </Td> <Td> 7001720000000000000 ♠ 72 </Td> <Td> 190! 190 mph (305 km / h) </Td> <Td> 7004899000000000000 ♠ 899 hPa (26.55 inHg) </Td> <Td> The Caribbean, Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico, South Texas </Td> <Td> 7002269000000000000 ♠ 269 </Td> <Td> 7009123760000000000 ♠ $1.24 billion </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Gilbert </Td> <Td> 19880913! September 13--14, 1988 </Td> <Td> 7001240000000000000 ♠ 24 </Td> <Td> 185! 185 mph (295 km / h) </Td> <Td> 7004888000000000000 ♠ 888 hPa (26.22 inHg) </Td> <Td> Jamaica, Venezuela, Central America, Hispaniola, Mexico </Td> <Td> 7002318000000000000 ♠ 318 </Td> <Td> 7009710000000000000 ♠ $7.1 billion </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Hugo </Td> <Td> 19890915! September 15, 1989 </Td> <Td> 7000600000000000000 ♠ 6 </Td> <Td> 160! 160 mph (260 km / h) </Td> <Td> 7004918000000000000 ♠ 918 hPa (27.11 inHg) </Td> <Td> The Caribbean, United States East Coast </Td> <Td> 7002107000000000000 ♠ 107 </Td> <Td> 7010100000000000000 ♠ $10 billion </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Andrew </Td> <Td> 19920823! August 23--24, 1992 † </Td> <Td> 7001160000000000000 ♠ 16 </Td> <Td> 175! 175 mph (280 km / h) </Td> <Td> 7004922000000000000 ♠ 922 hPa (27.23 inHg) </Td> <Td> The Bahamas, Florida, United States Gulf Coast </Td> <Td> 7001650000000000000 ♠ 65 </Td> <Td> 7010265000000000000 ♠ $26.5 billion </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Mitch </Td> <Td> 19981026! October 26--28, 1998 </Td> <Td> 7001420000000000000 ♠ 42 </Td> <Td> 180! 180 mph (285 km / h) </Td> <Td> 7004905000000000000 ♠ 905 hPa (26.72 inHg) </Td> <Td> Central America, Yucatán Peninsula, South Florida </Td> <Td> 7004193250000000000 ♠ 19,325 </Td> <Td> 7009620000000000000 ♠ $6.2 billion </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Isabel </Td> <Td> 20030911! September 11--14, 2003 † </Td> <Td> 7001420000000000000 ♠ 42 </Td> <Td> 165! 165 mph (270 km / h) </Td> <Td> 7004915000000000000 ♠ 915 hPa (27.02 inHg) </Td> <Td> Greater Antilles, Bahamas, Eastern United States, Ontario </Td> <Td> 7001510000000000000 ♠ 51 </Td> <Td> 7009537000000000000 ♠ $5.37 billion </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ivan </Td> <Td> 20040909! September 9--14, 2004 † </Td> <Td> 7001600000000000000 ♠ 60 </Td> <Td> 165! 165 mph (270 km / h) </Td> <Td> 7004910000000000000 ♠ 910 hPa (26.87 inHg) </Td> <Td> The Caribbean, Venezuela, United States Gulf Coast </Td> <Td> 7002124000000000000 ♠ 124 </Td> <Td> 7010232800000000000 ♠ $23.3 billion </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Emily </Td> <Td> 20050716! July 16, 2005 </Td> <Td> 7000600000000000000 ♠ 6 </Td> <Td> 160! 160 mph (260 km / h) </Td> <Td> 7004929000000000000 ♠ 929 hPa (27.43 inHg) </Td> <Td> Windward Islands, Jamaica, Mexico, Texas </Td> <Td> 7001170000000000000 ♠ 17 </Td> <Td> 7009101400000000000 ♠ $1.01 billion </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Katrina </Td> <Td> 20050828! August 28--29, 2005 </Td> <Td> 7001180000000000000 ♠ 18 </Td> <Td> 175! 175 mph (280 km / h) </Td> <Td> 7004902000000000000 ♠ 902 hPa (26.64 inHg) </Td> <Td> Bahamas, United States Gulf Coast </Td> <Td> 7003183600000000000 ♠ 1,836 </Td> <Td> 7011108000000000000 ♠ $108 billion </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Rita </Td> <Td> 20050921! September 21--22, 2005 </Td> <Td> 7001240000000000000 ♠ 24 </Td> <Td> 180! 180 mph (285 km / h) </Td> <Td> 7004895000000000000 ♠ 895 hPa (26.43 inHg) </Td> <Td> Cuba, United States Gulf Coast </Td> <Td> 7002125000000000000 ♠ 125 </Td> <Td> 7010120370000000000 ♠ $12 billion </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Wilma </Td> <Td> 20071019! October 19, 2005 </Td> <Td> 7001180000000000000 ♠ 18 </Td> <Td> 185! 185 mph (295 km / h) </Td> <Td> 7004882000000000000 ♠ 882 hPa (26.05 inHg) </Td> <Td> Greater Antilles, Central America, Florida </Td> <Td> 7001870000000000000 ♠ 87 </Td> <Td> 7010294000000000000 ♠ $29.4 billion </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Dean </Td> <Td> 20070818! August 18--21, 2007 † </Td> <Td> 7001240000000000000 ♠ 24 </Td> <Td> 175! 175 mph (280 km / h) </Td> <Td> 7004905000000000000 ♠ 905 hPa (26.72 inHg) </Td> <Td> The Caribbean, Central America </Td> <Td> 7001450000000000000 ♠ 45 </Td> <Td> 7009176000000000000 ♠ $1.76 billion </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Felix </Td> <Td> 20070903! September 3--4, 2007 † </Td> <Td> 7001240000000000000 ♠ 24 </Td> <Td> 175! 175 mph (280 km / h) </Td> <Td> 7004929000000000000 ♠ 929 hPa (27.43 inHg) </Td> <Td> Nicaragua, Honduras </Td> <Td> 7002133000000000000 ♠ 133 </Td> <Td> 7008720000000000000 ♠ $720 million </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Matthew </Td> <Td> 20161001! October 1, 2016 </Td> <Td> 7001120000000000000 ♠ 12 </Td> <Td> 165! 165 mph (270 km / h) </Td> <Td> 7004934000000000000 ♠ 934 hPa (27.58 inHg) </Td> <Td> Antilles, Venezuela, Colombia United States East Coast, Atlantic Canada </Td> <Td> 7002603000000000000 ♠ 603 </Td> <Td> 7010150900000000000 ♠ $15.1 billion </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Irma </Td> <Td> 20170905! September 5--9, 2017 † </Td> <Td> 7001750000000000000 ♠ 75 </Td> <Td> 185! 185 mph (295 km / h) </Td> <Td> 7004914000000000000 ♠ 914 hPa (26.99 inHg) </Td> <Td> Cape Verde, The Caribbean, British Virgin Islands U.S. Virgin Islands, Cuba, Florida </Td> <Td> 7002134000000000000 ♠ 134 </Td> <Td>> 7010628700000000000 ♠ $62.9 billion </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Maria </Td> <Td> 20170918! September 18--20, 2017 † </Td> <Td> 7001300000000000000 ♠ 30 </Td> <Td> 175! 175 mph (280 km / h) </Td> <Td> 7004908000000000000 ♠ 908 hPa (26.81 inHg) </Td> <Td> Lesser Antilles, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Turks and Caicos Islands </Td> <Td> ≥ 7001970000000000000 ♠ 97 </Td> <Td>> 7010511200000000000 ♠ $51.1 billion </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th_colspan="9"> Overall reference for Name, dates, duration, winds and pressure: † Discontinuous duration (weakened below Category 5 then restrengthened to that classification at least once) </Th> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Name </Th> <Th> Dates as a Category 5 </Th> <Th> Duration (hours) </Th> <Th> Sustained wind speeds </Th> <Th> Pressure </Th> <Th> Areas affected </Th> <Th> Deaths </Th> <Th> Damage (USD) </Th> <Th> Refs </Th> </Tr>

When was the last time a cat 5 hit the us