What Is a Major Hurricane?

A major hurricane is considered any hurricane that is a category 3, 4, or 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale. On average, about 2 major hurricanes make landfall in the mainland United States every 3 years.

References:

• Adapted from NOAA Technical Memorandum NWS TPC-57, The Deadliest, Costliest, and Most Intense United States Tropical Cyclones 1851 to 2006 by Eric S. Blake, Edward N. Rappaport, and Chris W. Landsea, April 2007

Major Hurricane Strikes in the US 1851-2006

Saffir-Simpson Category	Hurricane Strikes
5	3
4	18
3	75
2	73
1	110
__________
Total	279
Major Hurricanes	96