The Worst Back-to-Back Hurricanes in US History

As climate change intensifies, back-to-back hurricanes like Imelda and Humberto may become more common. In a paper published in the Nature Climate Change journal in February 2023, researchers found that high intensity storms are happening with increasing frequency, and within dangerously close proximity to one another. The paper warned that when two storms arrive in quick succession, the hazards of the second storm are compounded by a high degree, with grave consequences for vulnerable populations in hurricane-prone areas.

Last year, Hurricane Milton made landfall just 13 days after Hurricane Helene, compounding damages for hard-hit communities in the Southeast. While Helene and Milton are together the worst back-to-back hurricanes in recorded history, there have been a handful of major storms that impacted the same areas within 15 days of one another.

To determine the worst back-to-back hurricanes in history, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed data on historical hurricane tracks from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Hurricanes and tropical storms that impacted the same areas within 15 days of one another were ranked based on the average maximum sustained wind speed for each storm. Hurricane tracks from 1842 to 2022 were buffered by 50 miles and intersected with place boundaries from the U.S. Census Bureau. Only named storms were included.

10. Hurricane Hermine, followed by Tropical Storm Julia 12 days later (2016)

9. Hurricane Connie, followed by Hurricane Diane five days later (1955)

8. Hurricane Dennis, followed by Hurricane Floyd 11 days later (1999)

7. Hurricane King, followed by Hurricane Love two days later (1950)

6. Hurricane Cindy, followed by Hurricane Dennis four days later (2005)

5. Hurricane Donna, followed by Tropical Storm Florence 13 days later (1960)

4. Hurricane Cleo, followed by Hurricane Dora 12 days later (1964)

3. Hurricane Ida, followed by Hurricane Nicholas 15 days later (2021)

2. Hurricane Charley, followed by Hurricane Gaston 15 days later (2004)

1. Hurricane Helene, followed by Hurricane Milton 13 days later (2024)

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