Hurricane Ian (2022)
September 23 – October 2, 2022
Fast Facts
- Active
- September 23 – October 2, 2022 (10 days)
- Peak category
- Category 5 (by 2024 reanalysis)
- Peak wind
- 160 mph
- Minimum pressure
- 936 mb
- Peak surge
- 15+ ft at Fort Myers Beach
- Deaths
- 156
- Damage
- $113 billion (2022 USD)
- Rank
- 3rd costliest US hurricane (after Katrina, Harvey)
Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center; HURDAT2 best-track database.
Path Map
Hover or tap any point for advisory details16 best-track points from NOAA HURDAT2. Segment color shows Saffir-Simpson intensity at the starting advisory.
Landfalls
| Location | Date | Category | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Coloma, Cuba | 2022-09-27 | Cat 3 | 125 mph |
| Cayo Costa, FL | 2022-09-28 | Cat 5 | 160 mph |
| Georgetown, SC | 2022-09-30 | Cat 1 | 85 mph |
Caribbean origins and rapid intensification
Florida landfall and the southwest coast surge
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Hurricane Ian a Category 5?
Hurricane Ian made its Florida landfall on September 28, 2022 with sustained winds of 155 mph — officially classified at the time as a high-end Category 4, just two mph below the Category 5 threshold. The NHC's 2024 post-season reanalysis revised the peak wind upward to 160 mph and formally upgraded Ian to a Category 5 hurricane at landfall. Ian therefore joined Andrew, Michael, and a small set of other US Category 5 landfall storms.
How much damage did Hurricane Ian cause?
Hurricane Ian caused approximately $113 billion in damage in 2022 dollars (about $122 billion adjusted to 2024), making it the third-costliest US hurricane on record after Katrina and Harvey. The bulk of the damage was concentrated in Lee, Charlotte, and DeSoto Counties in southwest Florida, with substantial additional damage in Orange and Volusia Counties along the storm's inland path.
How many people died in Hurricane Ian?
The NHC official report attributes 156 deaths to Hurricane Ian, including 66 direct deaths in Florida (mostly drowning from storm surge), 5 in North Carolina, 2 in South Carolina, and 1 in Virginia. Indirect deaths in the months after the storm — primarily from medical emergencies during the recovery period — bring the total to 156.
Where did Hurricane Ian hit hardest?
The most catastrophic damage from Hurricane Ian was concentrated on Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel Island, and the barrier-island chain of Lee County, Florida. Fort Myers Beach experienced a 12-to-15-foot storm surge that destroyed essentially all ground-level construction in much of the town. Sanibel Island's connecting causeway to the mainland collapsed in multiple places, isolating the island. Captiva and Pine Island also suffered near-total destruction in their southern halves.