Worst Storm of the decade

[Extremeweatherguy]

I would have to say Charley for me, because I went right through the eyewall of that one. Katrina is of course the worst overall for the U.S., and Jeanne was a major killer for the caribbean (but so were others like Mitch). Overall, I think Katrina was probably the worst of the last decade. It by no means had the worst winds (at landfall), but it impacted many and struck an area that could not tolerate a hit of that magnitude...because of these factors it was the worst overall. We can not forget Rita though (I also went through the outer parts of that..and I went through Francis too), Rita became the strongest EVER atlantic basin storm at one point...so that deserves respect as well. All the storms of the last decade were horrible in thier own ways. Crazy. Now we will have to hope not to add to the list next year; but the scary thing is that it seems inevitable. Lets just hope the vulnerable places (New Orleans, all of Mississippi, Beaumont, Lake Charles, Mobile, Pensacola, Miami, KEY WEST, the east coast of Florida, Punta Gorda, eastern NC, etc...etc) are all spared this go around. Best of luck during the new year!

[Sean in New Orleans]

The problem with Katrina was the storm decreased in winds just before making landfall, but, the surge remained a category 5 surge and that is why New Orleans and the MS Gulf Coast suffered like they did. And we all know that surge is worse than winds. With that said, I don't think it is likely that we will ever see another hurricane with the storm surge as Katrina. We may see something close, but, good heavens, we don't normally see storm surges at 35 feet, ever, with any hurricane.

[HurricaneBill]

Mitch is the no-brainer choice of the last 50 years... but that poll would be too easy

Actually, I would've picked Hurricane Georges as the worst of the 1990s overall.

Mitch was catastrophic, but made landfall as only a Category 1 and the damage was localized to Central America.

Georges' damage was spread out through the entire Caribbean. The Virgin Islands, the Leewards, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Cuba, and the U.S.

Georges was in fact more destructive in Puerto Rico than Hugo. This was due to their paths. While Hugo impacted the NE part of the island, Georges traveled across the island from east to west while strengthening up to a Category 3.

Georges made 7 landfalls as a hurricane.

Total damages: $6 billion
Deaths: 602

The Windwards and Jamaica were pretty much the only Caribbean islands to escape Georges.

[cycloneye]

Mitch is the no-brainer choice of the last 50 years... but that poll would be too easy

Actually, I would've picked Hurricane Georges as the worst of the 1990s overall.

Mitch was catastrophic, but made landfall as only a Category 1 and the damage was localized to Central America.

Georges' damage was spread out through the entire Caribbean. The Virgin Islands, the Leewards, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Cuba, and the U.S.

Georges was in fact more destructive in Puerto Rico than Hugo. This was due to their paths. While Hugo impacted the NE part of the island, Georges traveled across the island from east to west while strengthening up to a Category 3.

Georges made 7 landfalls as a hurricane.

Total damages: $6 billion
Deaths: 602

The Windwards and Jamaica were pretty much the only Caribbean islands to escape Georges.

I agree with you HurricaneBill about Georges being the worst of the 90's and I know from my experience what Georges did.

[StormScanWx]

1) Katrina
2) Ivan
3) Wilma
4) Charley
5) Stan

Jeanne, IMO, wasn't that bad for the U.S. and even though Haiti had that many deaths, that country always SEEMS to have deaths from tropical cyclones that aren't even near it.

[Extremeweatherguy]

The worst landfalling winds of a hurricane since 2000 was with Charley in 2004. It had winds of 150mph (they raised that from 145mph) at landfall. In terms of Surge...Katrina takes that one. A 25-35 foot surge is extremely rare. In terms of the most people affected though...it would probably have to be Wilma. Wilma traversed the southern part of Florida, and hurricane force conditions were experienced in the HUGE city of Miami and all the other large southern Florida cities such as Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Naples. There were also effects felt in Orlando, Tampa, Cocoa Beach, and hurricane force winds were felt in Key West. With Wilma MILLIONS of people were hit with the worst of the storm. In Katrina, MOST people from the coast and large cities evacuated, leaving probably only a million or less in its primary impact zone. Overall I think all the mentioned storms were bad ones if it was YOU that experienced it. Even a tropical storm can cause billions in damages and lead to many deaths (Allison - Houston 2001). Any storm that takes a life can be considered the worst.

[Derek Ortt]

a quick reminder

this is NOT a United States poll... but an overall poll. From some of the comments, it seems as if some of the decisions have been based upon the USA alone

[AussieMark]

I think if u look at impacts of the storms.

Jeanne was by far the worst if we are talking overall impacts throughout the Atlantic basin

Jeanne was very deadly in Hispaniola and was like the deadliest Hurricane to hit the island since Flora in 1963.

with a death toll of 3,000 that would put Jeanne equal 14th on the deadliest hurricanes ever.

the impacts were felt between Puerto, Hispaniola. Bahamas and Florida, USA

where damages of $6.9 Billion was the 6th costliest even after this years storms that is still about 9th

[Jim Cantore]

i think its obvious, which ever storm killed the most people..nothing is more important than a human life

true in a way

nothing is more important but when talking about the "worst" Hurricane you have to go all around

Deaths, damage, overall impact.

Katrina blows them all away

examples

Storms that cant be considered the worst of all time

Andrew: had the damage and impact but not the loss of life

Hugo: same as Andrew but damage is becoming more and more minor.

Floyd: Had the damage and record setting floods handed major impact to hundreds of miles of coast and over 6 states, also was the deadliest U.S hurricane in 27 years but 60-70 deaths isnt enough.

Storms that can be considered the worst

Great Galveston Hurricane 1900: Had exreme damage and 10,000 deaths and the impacts changed Galveston forever.

Lake Ockchobee 1928: Extreme damage and 3000 deaths and a major impact.

Labor Day 1935: Strongest hurricane to ever hit the U.S, 600 deaths and catestrophic damage and impacts.

Long Island Express 1938: 500 deaths and unbelieveable damage for its strength, impacts where major.

Camille: Obviously putting aside the intensity arguement this was a catestrophic hurricane. 256 dead and damage that today could top 50 billion dollars. Impacts are still in peoples minds.

Katrina 2005: In my opinon the winner. 1383 people dead and hundreds missing. New Orleans flooded, MIssissippis coast leveled. Damage total that equals at least 3 Andrews. Impacts will never dissapear and areas from New Orleans to Dauphin Island will never be the same.