Photos: August is notorious for destructive hurricanes in US
ByKathryn.Galimberti
Published Aug 15, 2016 2:09 AM EDT
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Updated Jul 1, 2019 5:20 PM EDT
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August is known for several notable, destructive hurricanes in the United States.
Peak hurricane season in the Atlantic Basin unfolds in mid-August and lasts through October.
With Harvey the latest storm to unleash dangerous impacts, August proves to be a volatile period for system development.
From Camille to Katrina, August hurricanes have caused billions of dollars of damage across the eastern United States.
"August is when you really start to see an uptick in tropical activity," AccuWeather Meteorologist Brian Lada said.
As the season continues into September, systems are more likely to form in the central and eastern Atlantic than the Gulf of Mexico. Ocean temperatures are also climbing toward their peak.
Some August systems were directly responsible for changing the way hurricanes are forecast in the U.S.
Take a look at some of the most infamous storms to hit the U.S. in the month of August:
<section><h2>Destructive August hurricanes in the US</h2></section><section><h3>Hurricane Camille</h3><p><div>Camille made landfall in Mississippi as a Category 5 hurricane on Aug. 16, 1969. </div></p></section><section><p><div>Camille caused more than $1.4 billion in damage throughout the U.S. Up to 10 inches of rain was reported along the Gulf Coast with winds estimated at 200 mph at the coast. The wind-recording instruments near the landfall area were destroyed due to the storm's intensity, resulting in no accurate reports.</div></p></section><section><p><div>More than 140 people were killed in the Gulf Coast as a result of the storm. Downtown Pass Christian, Mississippi, (pictured above) was destroyed after a 24.6-foot storm surge. After slamming the Gulf Coast, the storm moved into Virginia, killing 113 due to flooding.</div></p></section><section><p><div>Potable water was hard to come by in the Gulf Coast after the powerful storm. Many residents also expressed frustration over the lack of meaningful warnings, leading to the development of the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. </div></p></section><section><h3>Hurricane Alicia</h3><p><div>The only major hurricane from the 1983 Atlantic season, Alicia, made landfall on Aug. 18 near Galveston, Texas. </div></p></section><section><p><div>Alicia was rated as Category 3 hurricane at landfall. Though Texas Gov. Mark White called for evacuation of the entire Galveston Island, Mayor E. Gus Manuel only called for those living in low-lying areas to leave ahead of the storm. By the time the storm started to cause damage to the area, the bridges back to the mainland were impassable. </div></p></section><section><p><div>The hurricane killed 21 people and caused $2 billion in damage. Streets in downtown Houston were littered with broken glass after the fierce winds shattered windows from several high-rise buildings. </div></p></section><section><h3>Hurricane Andrew</h3><p><div>Andrew blasted southern Florida as a Category 5 hurricane on Aug. 24, 1992. It caused an estimated $26.5 billion in damage in the U.S. and directly claimed 23 lives. Three additional deaths were reported in Puerto Rico. </div></p></section><section><p><div>Approximately 49,000 homes were destroyed and another 108,000 were damaged. Andrew caused more than $25 million of damage in Dade County, Florida, alone.</div></p></section><section><p><div>Andrew was the most destructive hurricane in the U.S. at the time. The system also damaged oil platforms in Mexico, leading to roughly $500 million in losses for oil companies. </div></p></section><section><h3>Hurricane Charley</h3><p><div>Charley made landfall in southwestern Florida in August of 2004. Originally, the hurricane was predicted to hit Tampa, Florida, but instead curved toward Orlando, catching many off guard.</div><div><br></div></p></section><section><p><div>Charley made landfall in the U.S. as a Category 4 hurricane with winds up to 140 mph. The storm rapidly intensified, strengthening from a Category 1 to a Category 4 in a few hours. </div></p></section><section><p><div>Charley claimed 10 lives in the U.S. and caused roughly $15 billion in damage. </div></p></section><section><p><div>Punta Gorda, Florida, suffered some of the most severe damage. Roughly one million people lost power during the storm. A week later, a reported 90,000 were still without power. </div></p></section><section><h3>Hurricane Katrina</h3><p><div>Hurricane Katrina was one of the worst natural disasters to strike American soil. The system, a Category 3 hurricane at landfall in Louisiana on Aug. 29, 2005, led to devastation in the Gulf Coast. </div></p></section><section><p><div>Katrina killed nearly 2,000 people during and after the storm. An estimated 80 percent of New Orleans was flooded after levee failures in Louisiana. </div></p></section><section><p><div>Beyond initial evacuations, Katrina forced one of the largest and most abrupt relocations of people in U.S. history. More than 400,000 people were displaced, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.</div></p></section><section><p><div>For thousands of people in desperate need of shelter from Katrina's fury, the Louisiana Superdome became ground zero. One of 10 shelters put in place, the arena housed roughly 10,000 people during the storm.</div></p></section><section><p><div>Katrina crashed into Mississippi with destructive winds, drenching rain and overwhelming storm surge on Aug. 29, 2005. In Biloxi, 90 percent of structures along the coastline were destroyed, according to CBS.</div></p></section><section><h3>Hurricane Irene</h3><p><div>Irene made landfall in North Carolina as a Category 1 hurricane in late August 2011. It stands as the seventh-costliest hurricane to hit the U.S., resulting in $16.5 billion in damage. </div></p></section><section><p><div>The system claimed more than 45 lives as it tracked up the East Coast. Mandatory evacuations were ordered for multiple counties in North Carolina. </div></p></section><section><p><div>Though downgraded to tropical storm status, Irene inundated parts of New York and New Jersey. Torrential rainfall, strong winds and tides led to flooding in parts of New York City. </div></p></section><section><p><div>More than four million homes from North Carolina to New Jersey lost power during the hurricane. </div></p></section>
