Graphic Truth: 100 Years of Category 5+ Hurricanes in North America

Hurricane Erin intensified quickly over the weekend, becoming a Category 5 storm packing wind speeds of 160 miles per hour. As the week begins, Erin, the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season, has dropped to Category 4 and is threatening the East Coast with high winds, heavy rains, and rough surf. If recent years are a measure of what’s to come, Erin could be the first of several major storms this season. Here’s a look at how the number of Category 5 hurricanes across North America has increased by 56% over the last 50 years.