how do major hurricanes affect gold prices ? The last major hurricane to hit the USA was Hurricane Katrina, on August 26 2005. Gold closed that month at $435.10 and rose to $469 by the end of September, a 7.8% rise. The gold price closed 2005 at $518.90, a 19.2% rise post Katrina. Everything you wanted to know about gold but were too afraid or disinterested to ask.