When it comes to hurricanes, size can be just as dangerous as strength.
And traders on prediction market Kalshi thing one of the newest, Ferdinand, will be at least a Category 1 (41%).
Massive storms churn up wider storm surges, batter more coastlines, and linger longer than their compact cousins.
From Pacific titans to Atlantic superstorms, these are the biggest storms ever measured — monsters defined by sheer reach.
Super Typhoon Tip (1979)
The undisputed giant. At 1,380 miles wide, Tip was nearly half the size of the continental U.S. The storm’s circulation stretched farther than anything recorded before or since.
Hurricane Sandy (2012)
“Superstorm Sandy” wasn’t just destructive — it was enormous. With a diameter of 1,150 miles, Sandy became the largest Atlantic hurricane in history, devastating the Northeast and mid-Atlantic.
Hurricane Martin (2022)
Martin quietly set records for scale, topping 1,040 miles across. Its sheer size made it one of the widest Atlantic storms ever observed, rivaling Sandy in reach.
Hurricane Igor (2010)
Spanning roughly 920 miles, Igor blanketed the Atlantic in storm-force winds. Its broad footprint made the storm’s impacts felt far beyond its core path.
Hurricane Olga (2001)
At 865 miles wide, Olga proved you don’t need Category 5 status to be huge. Its size alone placed it among the all-time Atlantic giants.
Hurricane Teddy (2020)
Teddy stretched nearly 850 miles across the ocean, bringing hurricane-force winds and monster waves to a massive swath of the Atlantic.
Hurricane Irma (2017)
Irma’s size was matched by its ferocity. Nearly 800 miles wide, Irma held Category 5 winds for three days straight — an unprecedented combination of breadth and strength.
Hurricane Ike (2008)
Ike’s hurricane-force winds extended 350 miles from the center, with a total storm footprint approaching 900 miles. Its surge drowned entire coastal towns in Texas.
Hurricane Floyd (1999)
At 580 miles across, Floyd forced one of the largest evacuations in U.S. history. Its size made landfall impacts brutal, even as its winds weakened.
Why Size Matters
The largest hurricanes aren’t always the strongest, but their scale makes them especially dangerous. Wider storms push massive storm surges, dump more rain, and batter bigger regions for longer. They remind us that “big” can be every bit as deadly as “powerful.”
