Question was brought up in the 2005 News Talkback forum... don't remember which post but figured this was a better place to park this info - don't want to litter the current post!

From http://weather.unisys.com/hurricane/atlantic/index.html:

Hurricanes that became Cat 3+ in July of years past..

BERTHA 5-17 JUL 1996 3
ANNA 20-24 JUL 1961 3
Hurricane #1 22 JUL- 2 AUG 1926 4
Hurricane #1 29 JUN-10 JUL 1916 3
Hurricane #2 10-22 JUL 1916 3
Hurricane #4 13-22 JUL 1909 3

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Only one Cat4 in July before Dennis 2005 and no Cat 5. Allen (31 JUL-11 AUG 1980) was a Cat 5, but didn't become a hurricane till Aug.

Hope that answers some of those pesky questions!

'shana