TAMPA, Fla. — Hurricane Ian reached the shores of southwest Florida on Wednesday and made landfall as one of the strongest storms on record to hit the state.
According to the National Hurricane Center, the storm made its official landfall just after 3 p.m. near Cayo Costa, bringing with it devastating storm surge flooding and maximum sustained winds of 150 mph.
That made it a Category 4 hurricane — one of just a few of that strength to reach Florida in modern times, with Ian's 150 mph winds stronger than all but a few storms in the state's recorded history.
All but three more, to be exact — Ian arrived tied for the fourth strongest hurricane to make landfall in Florida, with 2004's Hurricane Charley and the 1919 Florida Keys hurricane.
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Here's exactly how Hurricane Ian stacks up.
Florida hurricanes ranked by max wind speed
There are only six recorded hurricanes in Florida's history with max wind speeds that reached 150 mph, including:
1. 1935 Labor Day hurricane - 185 mph, Sept. 3, 1935
2. Hurricane Andrew - 165 mph, Aug. 24, 1992
3. Hurricane Michael - 160 mph, Oct. 10, 2018
4. 1919 Florida Keys hurricane - 150 mph, Sept. 10, 1919
4. Hurricane Charley - 150 mph, Aug. 13, 2004
4. Hurricane Ian - 150 mph, Sept. 28, 2022
