ORLANDO, Fla. – The 2025 hurricane season has been about average in terms of the number of named storms, but in intensity, it has been anything but.
With Melissa reaching Category 5 status on Monday, the 2025 hurricane season becomes only the second in recorded history to have three Category 5 storms in one year.
Erin and Humberto also achieved Category 5 status.
Records go back to the late 1800s. While records are reliable to that point, it is possible storms that missed shipping lanes or land were not recorded.
With satellites bursting on the scene in 1960, all storms are now identifiable.
Still, the only other season where three or more Category 5s developed in one season was 2005.
Emily, Katrina, Rita, and Wilma all attained Category 5 status. The 2005 season was one of the busiest and most intense on record.
The 2025 hurricane season just recently entered the history books by becoming the first season on record in which the first three hurricanes all achieved major hurricane status, Category 3 or above.