Which Category 5 hurricane made landfall in the U.S. in 2018?

Hurricane Michael was the Category 5 hurricane that made landfall in the United States in 2018. It struck near Mexico Beach on Florida’s Panhandle coast on October 10, 2018.

Michael intensified unusually quickly while moving north across the Gulf of Mexico. Just before landfall, it reached maximum sustained winds of about 160 mph and a central pressure of 919 millibars. The storm devastated Mexico Beach, Tyndall Air Force Base, and surrounding communities, becoming the first recorded Category 5 hurricane to strike the Florida Panhandle.

Michael was also the first Category 5 hurricane to make landfall in the contiguous United States since Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Hurricane Florence affected the Carolinas in 2018 but made landfall below Category 5 strength. Hurricane Lane remained mainly a powerful ocean storm near Hawaii, while Hurricane Willa struck Mexico rather than the United States. Michael’s name was later retired from the Atlantic list.