Possible Category 5 Hurricanes?

[Anonymous]

1886-
The Great Indianola Hurricane is now classified as 155 mph/925 mb. There is always a chance this was a Category 5 storm, which might follow the pattern::
1886-1935-1969-1992
However, it appears likely that this storm was not a Category 5, but it was darn close.

1900-
While I highly, highly doubt this was anything near a Category 5, however the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 was about 145 mph or so. If it was a Category 5, it would make sense to have:::
1900-1935-1969-1992 about every 30 years.
However, a strong Category 4, that was probably on it's way to Category 5 as it came in.

1995-
Of all storms I feel may have been a Category 5, Hurricane Opal is the one. 916 mb is extremely low, even though the pressures were lower than normal.
I feel that Opal may have briefly reached 155-160 mph in the Gulf of Mexico, prior to weakening towards landfall.

1996-
Hurricane Edouard was an extremely impressive Category 4 hurricane in the Atlantic in August 1996. It officially reached an intensity of 145 mph, however it may have been stronger IMO.
But, I do not think Edouard was a Category 5.

1999-
Hurricane Floyd was a strong Category 4 of 155 mph/921 mb approaching the Bahamas. I think, give the impressive satellite, and low pressure, that Floyd may have been 160 mph.

[Brent]

I think Floyd was... if it did not become one, it was the closest one will ever come without being one.

The others I don't think so. Opal could have been(based on pressure), but the satellite looked horrible even at that stage(not even really looking like a 4, much less a borderline 5).

[Anonymous]

The others I don't think so. Opal could have been(based on pressure), but the satellite looked horrible even at that stage(not even really looking like a 4, much less a borderline 5).

She did to me:::

[Brent]

The eye is ill-defined and it's not that circular. It looks like a formidable large hurricane but not an almost Cat 5.

[Swimdude]

There was speculation about Andrew a few years back... Not sure exactly what the conclusion was there.

[Anonymous]

Andrew was upgraded to a Category 5 of 165 mph/922 mb at landfall in Florida.

[Steve]

O.G.

/Gilbert

Steve

[Radar]

Floyd,

Are you just looking for storms that made landfall as a Cat 5? There are some storms that made Cat 5 over open water but then diminished before reaching land... Just curious as to what you are looking for as I may have additional info for you.

[Anonymous]

Was there anymore hurricane that reached 190mph like Camille did. I have often wondered about that.

[Brent]

The only known Cat 5's at landfall were the 1935 Keys Hurricane, Camille, and Andrew. This thread is about storms that reached Cat 5 at some point in that life like Isabel etc. but weakened before landfall.

[Matt-hurricanewatcher]

Before 1960, there was only 2 ways to find out there was a storm going on.

1# A unlucky ship went into one.
2# It made landfall

Before 1940 something there was no radar.

Many of the stronger storms before then could of been stronger then reported.


A storm an 1886 most likely did not have much data to work by. Into give you a idea back in those times many a storm went uncounted for or one or two reports from a unlucky ship.

I say that there could of been many a cat5 durning the 1800s. I also believe that that some of those seasons could of been only of a hurricane watchers dream.

If there is data supporting that high of wind then most likely it had cat5 winds. Of course we will never know.


The 1900 hurricane. When it pasted just south of Florida they found that it was a tropcial storm. Then hurricane by the time it made the central Gulf. But around that time you had no recon or Satellite or even radar. So who knows. I'm thinking that there could of never been that many reports with an or around that area. Because almost every one that was near it died.

It could of been a cat5.

1995 Opal. When you get 916 millibars you got a good chance of having a cat5. But remember unlike the other storms you posted we had recon,satellite,radar. So much less chance of messing up.

Hurricane Floyd. 155 mph 921 millibars. When I was watching it an 1999 I was screaming cat5. But we will see.

Don't take anything before 1960 to seriously.

[Opal storm]

I think Floyd was... if it did not become one, it was the closest one will ever come without being one.

The others I don't think so. Opal could have been(based on pressure), but the satellite looked horrible even at that stage(not even really looking like a 4, much less a borderline 5).

You can't judge a storm's strength by the way it looks.Charley a good example,looked more like a weak hurricane but was actually a very strong cat 4.

[weatherluvr]

Was there anymore hurricane that reached 190mph like Camille did. I have often wondered about that.

Allen in 1980.

[Matt-hurricanewatcher]

Also 1935 hurricane.

[Brent]

I think Floyd was... if it did not become one, it was the closest one will ever come without being one.

The others I don't think so. Opal could have been(based on pressure), but the satellite looked horrible even at that stage(not even really looking like a 4, much less a borderline 5).

You can't judge a storm's strength by the way it looks.Charley a good example,looked more like a weak hurricane but was actually a very strong cat 4.

I know that... I never said Opal wasn't a Strong 4(because we know it was from Recon) I just said it didn't LOOK it.

[Anonymous]

I think Floyd was... if it did not become one, it was the closest one will ever come without being one.

The others I don't think so. Opal could have been(based on pressure), but the satellite looked horrible even at that stage(not even really looking like a 4, much less a borderline 5).

You can't judge a storm's strength by the way it looks.Charley a good example,looked more like a weak hurricane but was actually a very strong cat 4.

Charley looked weak??

[Derek Ortt]

uh, yeah, Charley did not look like a T 6.5/6.5

maybe a 5.0/5.0 or a 5.5/5.5 but that sat signature is in no way representative of a borderline 4/5

[Anonymous]

Well, Derek, you don't have to be rude.

[otowntiger]

uh, yeah, Charley did not look like a T 6.5/6.5

maybe a 5.0/5.0 or a 5.5/5.5 but that sat signature is in no way representative of a borderline 4/5

The bottom line is he wasn't weak, neither was Opal. Looks can be deceiving.

[Matt-hurricanewatcher]

Also look at Ivan southwest of Jamaica. It looks like its eye is clouded. In while south of the Caymens it formed a double eyewall. (As I can remember)...