Hurricane Pictures - Hurricanes from 1969-1989
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Hurricane Camille August 16, 1969 Hurricane Camille was the second strongest hurricane to hit the United States. At landfall the barometric pressure was reported at 909 millibars or 26.84 inches of mercury. This was second only to the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935. Top sustained winds were estimated at 190 mph. Storm tides were measured at 32 feet where the eye crossed land just east of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Days later Camille dumped 27 inches of rain over Virginia's Blue Ridge mountains causing extensive flooding.

Hurricane Agnes June 19, 1972 Hurricane Agnes will be remembered for its devastating flooding in the Mid-Atlantic states. Agnes moved northward in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and strengthened into a category 1 hurricane before making landfall near Cape San Blas, Florida. As it moved northeastward, it was captured by a mid latitude low pressure center which caused it to stall over Pennsylvania and New York. Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania had rain totals that measured 10-14"+. North Carolina and New York had rain totals of 6-10".

Hurricane David August 28, 1979 Hurricane David was a powerful hurricane that cut a pathway across the Caribbean, eventually making landfall in the southeast United States. Hurricane David raked the island of Dominica before reaching its maximum strength and making the next landfall on the south coast of the Dominican Republic. Top sustained winds were 175 mph. Hurricane David was greatly weakened over the mountainous terrain of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, but started to restrengthen as it emerged off the coast of Haiti. David was moving directly toward Miami, then made a slight shift northwest only hours before hitting the coast. Hurricane David paralleled the east coast of Florida and finally moved inland on the coast of Georgia near Savannah.

Hurricane Frederick September 12, 1979 Hurricane Frederick followed closely on the heels of Hurricane David. Hurricane Frederick moved through the Leeward Islands as a tropical storm after a very brief stint as a hurricane east of the islands. In a similar manner, Frederick hit the Dominican Republic. Frederick made landfall as a tropical storm very near where Hurricane David came ashore only days before. Frederick continued westward near Cuba in a weakened state then started to strengthen it it turned northward. Frederick intensified before making its last landfall at Dauphin Island Alabama. Top winds were estimated at 135 mph.

Hurricane Allen August 8, 1980 Hurricane Allen at the time, was the second strongest hurricane in the Atlantic basin. At it's strongest, top sustained winds were 190 mph with a central pressure of 899 millibars. This was only the second time that a hurricane pressure was measured this low. Since then, Allen has dropped to the fifth lowest pressure with Hurricane Wilma, the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane, Hurricane Gilbert and Hurricane Rita all surpassing it.

Hurricane Alicia August 17, 1983 Hurricane Alicia was a fairly small but very costly hurricane to affect the state of Texas. The strongest wind gusts measured were 102 mph at Galveston and 99 mph at Hobby airport. The strongest winds were likely over Galveston Bay.

Hurricane Elena September 1, 1985 Hurricane Elena was a case of a hurricane taking a very unusual track. The hurricane moved north from the southern Gulf of Mexico. It took a turn to the northeast toward the west coast of Florida. As a trough of low pressure which was steerng it moved away, it stalled. High pressure built north of Hurricane Elena and moved it west as it strengthened to 125 mph. Elena made landfall near Biloxi, Mississippi. Dauphin Island, Alabama recorded gusts up to 135 mph.

Hurricane Gilbert September 13, 1988 Just eight year earlier, Hurricane Allen had set the record for the 2nd lowest pressure ever measured in the western hemisphere with a barometric pressure of 899 millibars. Allen was 2nd only to the Labor Day hurricane of 1935. As Hurricane Gilbert moved through the Caribbean, it continued to strengthen, even as the eye passed directly over Jamaica. The pressure eventually bottomed out at 888 millibars in the northwest Caribbean Sea to take over 2nd place from Hurricane Allen. Top sustained winds were 185 mph. Grand Cayman recorded a gust to 156 mph. A Hurricane Hunter aircraft at 10,000 feet measured a gust to 199 mph.

Hurricane Hugo September 21, 1989 Hurricane Hugo was the costliest hurricane to hit the U.S. up to 1989. It strengthened into a category 5 hurricane well east of the Lesser Antillies as the pressure dropped to 918 millibars with maxmimum sustained winds of 160 mph. It weakened some before reaching the islands, then restrengthened near Puerto Rico. Near the island of Culebra, a ship reported a gust to 170 mph. Hurricane Hugo stayed east of the Bahamas and made landfall near Sullivan's Island, South Carolina. A Hurricane Hunter aircraft measured a wind of 161 mph at 12,000 feet just before landfall. Charleston, SC had a wind gust to 108 mph and Charlotte, NC a gust to 99 mph.