As the map above, but here we show the three separate times Hurricane Ivan attained Category 5 intensity in early-mid September 2004. Only four hurricanes on record have made landfall in the mainland U.S. at Category 5 intensity: T?he most recent of these was Hurricane Michael in the Florida Panhandle in October 2018.

As of early 2026, the last Category 5 hurricane to officially make landfall in Florida was Hurricane Michael in October 2018. While Michael initially struck the Florida Panhandle as a high-end Category 4, a post-storm analysis by the National Hurricane Center later upgraded it to Category 5 status, with sustained winds of 160 mph. Before Michael, the previous Category 5 to hit the state was Hurricane Andrew in 1992, which devastated South Florida. It is important to distinguish between "hitting" Florida and "passing near" it; for instance, Hurricane Ian in 2022 was a Category 5 over the ocean but weakened to a Category 4 just before landfall. Residents and travelers in 2026 should remain vigilant, as climate trends have shown an increase in "rapid intensification" events where storms jump multiple categories in under 24 hours. Always check the latest National Hurricane Center (NHC) updates during the Atlantic season, which runs from June 1st to November 30th.