what was the most powerful hurricane ever to hit america
1 Hurricane Fran--The most powerful hurricane to make landfall in the United States during the 1996 Hurricane Season. 2  Made landfall over North Carolina with 115 mph winds in September of that year, and caused some $3.2 billion dollars in damage at the time. 3  Damage estimates are even higher today. Colonial Hurricane of 1635--Was a powerful New England hurricane that struck the Massachussetts Bay Colony in 1635 some fifteen years after the Mayflower struck land at Plymouth Rock. 2  This storm had reminded many of the pilgrims and settlers of past hurricanes that struck in the West Indies or Caribbean.