Eight Major Hurricanes Make Landfall in the United States Since 2017, with Tampa Hit Hardest by Hurricane Idalia

Today, Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Florida as a Category 3 hurricane, becoming the 8th major hurricane to hit the United States since 2017. According to the National Hurricane Center, the storm brought “catastrophic storm surge and damaging winds” to the Gulf Coast.

Prior to 2017, the last major hurricane to make landfall on the mainland was Hurricane Wilma in 2005. This six-year period saw no major hurricane landfalls, making the past six years an extraordinary stretch of damaging hurricanes.

The maximum sustained winds of the hurricane were about 125 miles per hour. When Category 1 and 2 hurricanes are included, the total landfalls since 2017 skyrockets to 19 in six years.

The city of Tampa was hit particularly hard by the storm, with the fire department sharing a video of water rushing through dark streets as more rain poured down.

The National Hurricane Center is warning residents to remain vigilant and to take all necessary precautions to protect themselves and their property. They are also urging people to stay informed of the latest forecasts and warnings.