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Writer's pictureCory Smith

Irma Records and Facts


Here are some of the records and facts about Irma (compiled by Colorado State University)

Day/Intensity

- 185 mph lifetime max winds – tied with Florida Keys (1935), Gilbert (1988) and Wilma (2005) for second strongest max winds of all time in Atlantic hurricane. Allen had max winds of 190 mph in 1980.

- 185 mph lifetime max winds – the strongest storm to exist in the Atlantic Ocean outside of the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico on record.

- 185 mph max winds for 37 hours – the longest any cyclone around the globe has maintained that intensity on record. The previous record was Haiyan in the NW Pacific at 24 hours.

- 914 mb lifetime minimum central pressure – lowest pressure by an Atlantic hurricane outside of the western Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico on record.

- 3.25 day lifetime as a Category 5 hurricane – tied with Cuba (1932) for longest lifetime as Category 5.

- 3 consecutive days as a Category 5 hurricane – the longest in the satellite era (since 1966).

- 12.75 named storm days – the most since Nicole (2016) and tied for 23rd most in satellite era.

- 8.50 major hurricane days – the 2 nd most in satellite era (since 1966) – trailing Ivan (2004).

Landfall Records

- Leeward Islands: Strongest storm on record to impact the Leeward Islands defined as 15-19°N, 65-60°W for this calculation, with max winds of 185 mph. Okeechobee Hurricane (1928) and David (1979) were previous strongest at 160 mph.

- The Bahamas: First Category 5 hurricane to make landfall since Andrew (1992).

- First Category 5 hurricane to make landfall since the Cuba Hurricane of 1924.

-First Category 4 hurricane to make landfall in Florida since Charley (2004) and major hurricane to make landfall in Florida since Wilma (2005).

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