Atlantic hurricane season
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2019) |
The Atlantic hurricane season is the period in a year from June through November when hurricanes usually form in the Atlantic Ocean. Tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic are called hurricanes, tropical storms, or tropical depressions. In addition, there have been several storms over the years that have not been fully tropical and are categorized as subtropical depressions and subtropical storms. Even though subtropical storms and subtropical depressions are not technically as strong as tropical cyclones, the damages can still be devastating.
Worldwide, tropical cyclone activity peaks in late summer, when the difference between temperatures aloft and sea surface temperatures is the greatest. However, each tropical cyclone basin has its own seasonal patterns. On a worldwide scale, May is the least active month, while September is the most active.[2] In the Northern Atlantic Ocean, a distinct hurricane season occurs from June 1 to November 30, sharply peaking from late August through September;[2] the season's climatological peak of activity occurs around September 10 each season.[3] This is the norm, but in 1938, the Atlantic hurricane season started as early as January 3.
Tropical disturbances that reach tropical storm intensity are named from a pre-determined list. On average, 10.1 named storms occur each season, with an average of 5.9 becoming hurricanes and 2.5 becoming major hurricanes (Category 3 or greater). The most active season on record was 2020, during which 30 named tropical cyclones formed. Despite this, the 2005 season had more hurricanes, developing a record of 15 such storms. The least active season was 1914, with only one known tropical cyclone developing during that year.[4] The Atlantic hurricane season is a time when most tropical cyclones are expected to develop across the northern Atlantic Ocean. It is currently defined as the time frame from June 1 through November 30, though in the past the season was defined as a shorter time frame. During the season, regular tropical weather outlooks are issued by the National Hurricane Center, and coordination between the Weather Prediction Center and National Hurricane Center occurs for systems which have not yet formed but may develop during the next three to seven days. There is also a season within a season. The strongest time for hurricane activity seems to be between mid-August through mid-October. Wind factors and temperature and moisture are perfect during this time to encourage cyclonic activity.[5]
Concept[edit]
The basic concept of a hurricane season began during 1935,[6] when dedicated wire circuits known as hurricane circuits began to be set up along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts,[7] a process completed by 1955.[8] It was originally the time frame when the tropics were monitored routinely for tropical cyclone activity, and was originally defined as from June 15 through October 31.[9] Over the years, the beginning date was shifted back to June 1, while the end date was shifted to November 15,[7] before settling at November 30 by 1965.[10][11] This was when hurricane reconnaissance planes were sent out to fly across the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico on a routine basis to look for potential tropical cyclones, in the years before the continuous weather satellite era.[9] Since regular satellite surveillance began, hurricane hunter aircraft fly only into storm areas which are first spotted by satellite imagery.[12]
Operations[edit]
During the hurricane season, the National Hurricane Center routinely issues their Tropical Weather Outlook product, which identifies areas of concern within the tropics which could develop into tropical cyclones. If systems occur outside the defined hurricane season, special Tropical Weather Outlooks will be issued.[13] Routine coordination occurs at 1700 UTC each day between the Weather Prediction Center and National Hurricane Center to identify systems for the pressure maps three to seven days into the future within the tropics, and points for existing tropical cyclones six to seven days into the future.[14] Possible tropical cyclones are depicted with a closed isobar, while systems with less certainty to develop are depicted as "spot lows" with no isobar surrounding them.
HURDAT[edit]
The North Atlantic hurricane database, or HURDAT, is the database for all tropical storms and hurricanes for the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, including those that have made landfall in the United States. The original database of six-hourly positions and intensities were put together in the 1960s in support of the Apollo space program to help provide statistical track forecast guidance. In the intervening years, this database — which is now freely and easily accessible on the Internet from the National Hurricane Center's (NHC) webpage — has been utilized for a wide variety of uses: climatic change studies, seasonal forecasting, risk assessment for county emergency managers, analysis of potential losses for insurance and business interests, intensity forecasting techniques and verification of official and various model predictions of track and intensity.
HURDAT was not designed with all of these uses in mind when it was first put together and not all of them may be appropriate given its original motivation. HURDAT contains numerous systematic as well as some random errors in the database. Additionally, analysis techniques have changed over the years at NHC as their understanding of tropical cyclones has developed, leading to biases in the historical database. Another difficulty in applying the hurricane database to studies concerned with landfalling events is the lack of exact location, time and intensity at hurricane landfall.
Re-analysis project[edit]
HURDAT is regularly updated annually to reflect the previous season's activity. The older portion of the database has been regularly revised since 2001. The first time in 2001 led to the addition of tropical cyclone tracks for the years 1851 to 1885. The second time was in October 2002 when Hurricane Andrew (August 1992) was upgraded to a Category 5. Recent efforts into uncovering undocumented historical hurricanes in the late 19th and 20th centuries by various researchers have greatly increased our knowledge of these past events. Tropical storms from 1851 to 1965 have already been reanalyzed with most recently, re-analysis of tropical storms from 1961 to 1965 being completed and integrated into HURDAT database in November 2019.[15] Possible changes for the years 1966 onward are not yet incorporated into the HURDAT database. Due to these issues, a re-analysis of the Atlantic hurricane database is being attempted that will be completed in three years.
In addition to the groundbreaking work by Partagas[needs context], additional analyses, digitization and quality control of the data was carried out by researchers at the NOAA Hurricane Research Division funded by the NOAA Office of Global Programs.[16]
The National Hurricane Center's Best Track Change Committee has approved changes for a few recent cyclones, such as Hurricane Andrew. Official changes to the Atlantic hurricane database are approved by the National Hurricane Center Best Track Change Committee.
1494–1850 (pre-HURDAT era)[edit]
| Period | Seasons | Individual years |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-19th century | Pre-17th century (pre 1600), 17th century (1600s), 18th century (1700s) | 1780 |
| 1800–1849 | 1800–1809, 1810–1819, 1820–1829, 1830–1839, 1840–1849 | 1842 |
1850–1899 (1851–present HURDAT era)[edit]
1850s[edit]
| Year | Tropical storms |
Hurricanes | Major hurricanes |
ACE | Deaths | Strongest storm |
Major landfalling storms | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | ? Unknown | ? Hurricane One | ||
| 1851 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 36.24 | 24 | 3 "San Agapito" | 3 "San Agapito" | First Atlantic hurricane season to be included in the HURDAT. |
| 1852 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 73.28 | 100+ | 3 "Great Mobile" | 3 "Great Mobile" | One of only three seasons in which all known tropical cyclones became hurricanes. |
| 1853 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 76.49 | 40 | 4 Three | Features the earliest known Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. | |
| 1854 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 31.00 | 30+ | 3 "South Carolina" | 3 "South Carolina" | |
| 1855 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 18.12 | Unknown | 3 "Middle Gulf Shore" | 3 "Middle Gulf Shore" | |
| 1856 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 48.94 | 200+ | 4 "Last Island" | 4 "Last Island" | |
| 1857 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 46.84 | 424 | 2 SS Central America Disaster 2 Four |
2 SS Central America Disaster | |
| 1858 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 44.79 | None | 2 Three 2 Six |
2 Hurricane Three | |
| 1859 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 55.73 | Numerous | 3 Six | 1 Hurricane Five 3 Hurricane Six 1 Hurricane Eight |
1860s[edit]
| Year | Tropical storms |
Hurricanes | Major hurricanes |
ACE | Deaths | Strongest storm |
Major landfalling storms | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 62.06 | 60+ | 4 One | 4 Hurricane One | |
| 1861 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 49.71 | 22+ | 2 One 2 Three |
1 "Key West" 1 "Expedition" |
|
| 1862 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 46.03 | 3 | 2 Two 2 Three |
||
| 1863 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 50.35 | 90 | 2 "Amanda" | 2 "Amanda" | |
| 1864 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 26.55 | None | 1 One 1 Three 1 Five |
||
| 1865 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 49.13 | 326 | 2 Four 2 Seven |
2 Hurricane Four | |
| 1866 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 83.65 | 383 | 4 "Nassau" | 4 "Nassau" | |
| 1867 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 59.97 | 811 | 3 "San Narciso" | 3 "San Narciso" | |
| 1868 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 34.65 | 2 | 2 One 2 Two 2 Four |
||
| 1869 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 51.02 | 38 | 3 New England Gale | 3 New England Gale 2 Saxby Gale |
1870s[edit]
| Year | Tropical storms |
Hurricanes | Major hurricanes |
ACE | Deaths | Strongest storm |
Major landfalling storms | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 11 | 10 | 2 | 87.80 | 2,052 | 3 Four | 3 "First Key West" 2 "Second Key West" |
|
| 1871 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 88.39 | 30 | 3 Three 3 "Santa Juana" |
3 Hurricane Three 3 "Santa Juana" |
|
| 1872 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 65.38 | Unknown | 2 Two | ||
| 1873 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 69.47 | 626 | 3 "Central Florida" | 3 "Central Florida" | |
| 1874 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 47.05 | Unknown | 2 Seven | ||
| 1875 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 72.48 | 800 | 3 "Indianola" | 3 "Indianola" | |
| 1876 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 56.05 | 19 | 3 "San Felipe" | 3 "San Felipe" 3 "Cuba-South Florida" |
|
| 1877 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 73.36 | 34 | 3 "Florida Panhandle" | 3 "Florida Panhandle" | |
| 1878 | 12 | 10 | 1 | 180.85 | 108 | 4 Seven | 2 Gale of 1878 | |
| 1879 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 63.63 | 47 | 3 "Louisiana" | 3 "Great Beaufort" 3 "Louisiana" |
1880s[edit]
| Year | Tropical storms |
Hurricanes | Major hurricanes |
ACE | Deaths | Strongest storm |
Major landfalling storms | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 131.08 | 133 | 4 Eight | 4 Hurricane Two | |
| 1881 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 59.25 | 700 | 2 "Georgia" | 2 "Georgia" | |
| 1882 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 59.47 | 6 | 4 "Cuba" | 3 "Pensacola" 4 "Cuba" |
|
| 1883 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 66.70 | 236 | 3 Two | 3 "Bahamas-North Carolina" | |
| 1884 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 72.06 | 8 | 3 Two | ||
| 1885 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 58.30 | 25 | 2 Two | ||
| 1886 | 12 | 10 | 4 | 166.17 | 200+ | 4 "Indianola" | 4 "Indianola" 3 "Cuba" 3 "Texas-Louisiana" |
Seven hurricanes struck the United States, the most during a single year.[17] Record-tying 3 tropical storms formed in June (tied with 1909, 1936, 1968, and 2021). |
| 1887 | 19 | 11 | 2 | 181.26 | 2 | 3 Seven | Tied for fifth most active season on record with 1995, 2010, 2011, and 2012. Record five off-season storms, including both pre-season and post-season storms. | |
| 1888 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 84.95 | 924 | 3 "San Gil" | 3 "Louisiana" 3 "San Gil" |
|
| 1889 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 104.04 | 40 | 2 Six |
1890s[edit]
| Year | Tropical storms |
Hurricanes | Major hurricanes |
ACE | Deaths | Strongest storm |
Major landfalling storms | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 33.35 | 9 | 3 Three | ||
| 1891 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 116.11 | 700+ | 3 "Martinique" | 3 "Martinique" | |
| 1892 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 115.84 | 16 | 2 Three 2 Five 2 Seven |
||
| 1893 | 12 | 10 | 5 | 231.15 | 4,028 | 4 "Cheniere Caminada" | 3 "San Roque" 3 "New York" 3 "Sea Islands" 3 "Charleston" 4 "Cheniere Caminada" |
Two hurricanes caused more than 2,000 deaths in the United States. Four simultaneous hurricanes on August 22, one of two times on record. |
| 1894 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 135.42 | 200+ | 4 Six | 3 "Florida Panhandle" | |
| 1895 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 68.77 | 56 | 2 Two | ||
| 1896 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 136.08 | 130 | 3 "Cedar Keys" | 3 "San Ramón" 3 "Cedar Keys" |
|
| 1897 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 54.54 | None | 2 One | ||
| 1898 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 113.24 | 562 | 4 "Georgia" | 4 "Georgia" | |
| 1899 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 151.03 | 3,439 | 4 "San Ciríaco" | 4 "San Ciríaco" | The San Ciríaco hurricane was the longest-lasting Atlantic hurricane on record |
1900s[edit]
NOTE: In the following tables, all estimates of damage costs are expressed in contemporaneous US dollars (USD).
1900s[edit]
| Year | Tropical storms |
Hurricanes | Major hurricanes |
ACE | Deaths | Damage (USD) |
Strongest storm |
Major landfalling storms | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 83.35 | 8,000+ | $60 million | 4 "Galveston" | 4 "Galveston" | The Galveston hurricane was the deadliest disaster in the United States. |
| 1901 | 13 | 6 | 0 | 98.98 | 35-40 | $1 million | 2 Seven | 1 "Louisiana" | |
| 1902 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 32.65 | None | Unknown | 2 Four | ||
| 1903 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 102.07 | 228 | $1.15 million | 3 "Jamaica" | 3 "Jamaica" 2 "New Jersey" |
|
| 1904 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 30.35 | 87 | $1 million | 1 Two | ||
| 1905 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 28.38 | 1 | Unknown | 3 Four | ||
| 1906 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 162.88 | 367 | $2.48 million | 4 Four | 3 "Mississippi" 3 "Florida Keys" |
|
| 1907 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 13.06 | None | Unknown | TS One | One of two seasons with no recorded hurricanes, with the other being 1914. | |
| 1908 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 95.11 | None | Unknown | 3 Six | Includes the only known March tropical cyclone in the basin. | |
| 1909 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 93.34 | 4,614 | $75 million | 3 "Grand Isle" | 3 "Velasco" 3 "Monterrey" 3 "Grand Isle" 3 "Florida Keys" 2 "Greater Antilles" |
Record-tying 3 tropical storms formed in June (tied with 1886, 1936, 1968, and 2021) |
1910s[edit]
| Year | Tropical storms |
Hurricanes | Major hurricanes |
ACE | Deaths | Damage (USD) |
Strongest storm |
Major landfalling storms | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 63.90 | 100 | $1.25 million | 4 "Cuba" | 4 "Cuba" | |
| 1911 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 34.29 | 27 | $3 million | 2 Three | ||
| 1912 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 57.26 | 116 | $67,000 | 3 "Jamaica" | 3 "Jamaica" | |
| 1913 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 35.60 | 5 | $4 million | 1 Four | ||
| 1914 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2.53 | 0 | Unknown | TS One | Least active season on record. One of two seasons with no recorded hurricanes, with the other being 1907. | |
| 1915 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 130.10 | 675 | $63 million | 4 "New Orleans" | 4 "Galveston" 4 "New Orleans" |
Two Category 4 hurricanes made landfall in the United States. |
| 1916 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 144.01 | 31 | $5.9 million | 4 "Texas" | 3 "Gulf Coast" 3 "Charleston" 4 "Texas" |
|
| 1917 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 60.67 | 5 | $170,000 | 4 "Nueva Gerona" | 4 "Nueva Gerona" | |
| 1918 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 39.87 | 34 | $5+ million | 3 "Louisiana" | 3 "Louisiana" | |
| 1919 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 55.04 | ~900 | $22 million | 4 "Florida Keys" | 4 "Florida Keys" |
1920s[edit]
| Year | Tropical storms |
Hurricanes | Major hurricanes |
ACE | Deaths | Damage (USD) |
Strongest storm |
Major landfalling storms | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 29.81 | 2 | $15.75 million | 2 One | ||
| 1921 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 86.53 | 6 | $36.5 million | 4 "Tampa Bay" | 3 "San Pedro" 4 "Tampa Bay" |
|
| 1922 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 54.52 | Unknown | Unknown | 3 Two | ||
| 1923 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 49.31 | 0 | Unknown | 3 Five | ||
| 1924 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 100.19 | 150+ | Unknown | 5 "Cuba" | 5 "Cuba" | The first officially-classified Category 5 Atlantic hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson scale. |
| 1925 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 7.25 | 59+ | $19.9 million | 1 One | TS "Florida" | |
| 1926 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 229.56 | 1,315+ | $1.4+ billion | 4 "Miami" | 4 "Nassau" 3 "Nova Scotia" 3 "Louisiana" 4 "Miami" 4 "Havana–Bermuda" |
|
| 1927 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 56.48 | 184 | Unknown | 3 "Nova Scotia" | 3 "Nova Scotia" | |
| 1928 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 83.48 | 4,000+ | $952.5+ million | 5 "Okeechobee" | 5 "Okeechobee" | |
| 1929 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 48.07 | 51 | $9.0 million | 4 "Bahamas" | 4 "Bahamas" |
1930s[edit]
| Year | Tropical storms |
Hurricanes | Major hurricanes |
ACE | Deaths | Damage (USD) |
Strongest storm |
Major landfalling storms | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 49.77 | 8,000 | $50 million | 4 "San Zenón" | 4 "San Zenón" | The San Zenón hurricane was the fifth deadliest on record. |
| 1931 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 47.84 | 2,502 | $7.5 million | 4 "British Honduras" | 4 "British Honduras" | |
| 1932 | 15 | 6 | 4 | 169.66 | 3,315 | $37 million | 5 "Cuba" | 4 "Freeport" 5 "Bahamas" 4 "San Ciprián" 5 "Cuba" |
Two Category 5 hurricanes; four major hurricanes made landfall. Only season to feature a Category 5 hurricane in November. |
| 1933 | 20 | 11 | 6 | 258.57 | 651 | $86.6 million | 5 "Tampico" | 4 "Chesapeake–Potomac" 5 "Cuba–Brownsville" 4 "Treasure Coast" 4 "Outer Banks" 5 "Tampico" |
Fourth most active season on record. Two Category 5 hurricanes and five major hurricanes made landfall. |
| 1934 | 13 | 7 | 1 | 79.07 | 2,017 | $4.26 million | 3 Thirteen | ||
| 1935 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 106.21 | 2,604 | $12.5 million | 5 "Labor Day" | 5 "Labor Day" 4 "Cuba" |
The Labor Day hurricane was the most intense landfalling Atlantic hurricane known to date. |
| 1936 | 17 | 7 | 1 | 99.78 | 5 | $1.23 million | 3 "Mid-Atlantic" | Record-tying 3 tropical storms formed in June (tied with 1886, 1909, 1968, and 2021). | |
| 1937 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 65.85 | 0 | Unknown | 3 Six | ||
| 1938 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 77.58 | ~700 | $290.3 million | 3 "New England" | 3 "New England" | Earliest starting season on record (January 3). |
| 1939 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 43.68 | 5 | Unknown | 4 Five |
1940s[edit]
| Year | Tropical storms |
Hurricanes | Major hurricanes |
ACE | Deaths | Damage (USD) |
Strongest storm |
Major landfalling storms | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 67.79 | 101 | $4.7 million | 2 "New England" | 2 "South Carolina" | |
| 1941 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 51.77 | 63 | $10 million | 3 "Florida" | 3 "Texas" 4 "Nicaragua" 3 "Florida" |
|
| 1942 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 62.49 | 17 | $30.6 million | 3 "Matagorda" | 3 "Matagorda" | |
| 1943 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 94.01 | 19 | $17.2 million | 4 Three | 2 "Surprise" | First year of hurricane hunters. |
| 1944 | 14 | 8 | 3 | 104.45 | 1,153 | $202 million | 4 "Great Atlantic" | 4 "Great Atlantic" 4 "Cuba–Florida" |
|
| 1945 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 63.42 | 80 | $80 million | 4 "Homestead" | 3 "Texas" 4 "Homestead" |
|
| 1946 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 19.61 | 5 | $5.2 million | 2 Four | 2 "Florida" | |
| 1947 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 88.49 | 94 | $145.3 million | 4 "Fort Lauderdale" | 4 "Fort Lauderdale" (George) 2 "Cape Sable" (King) |
First year of internal Atlantic tropical cyclone naming.[18] |
| 1948 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 94.98 | 94 | $30.9 million | 4 "Florida" | 4 "Florida" (Easy) 3 "Miami" (Fox) |
|
| 1949 | 16 | 7 | 3 | 96.45 | 3 | $58.2 million | 4 "Florida" | 4 "Florida" 2 "Texas" |
1950s[edit]
| Year | Tropical storms |
Hurricanes | Major hurricanes |
ACE | Deaths | Damage (USD) |
Strongest storm |
Retired names |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 16 | 11 | 6 | 211.28 | 20 | $37 million | 4 Dog | None | Record-breaking 8 tropical storms in October. |
| 1951 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 126.33 | 257 | $80 million | 4 Easy | None | |
| 1952 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 69.08 | 607 | $3.75 million | 4 Fox | None | Includes the only known February tropical cyclone in the basin. |
| 1953 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 98.51 | 1 | $6 million | 5 Carol | None | First year of female names for storms.[19] One of only 4 seasons to have both a preseason and postseason storm. |
| 1954 | 16 | 7 | 3 | 110.88 | 1,069 | $752 million | 4 Hazel | 3 Carol 3 Edna 4 Hazel |
Includes Alice, one of only two storms in the basin to span two calendar years, tying for the latest storm in a season.[20] |
| 1955 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 158.17 | 1,518 | $1.2 billion | 5 Janet | 4 Connie 2 Diane 4 Ione 5 Janet |
|
| 1956 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 56.67 | 76 | $67.8 million | 3 Betsy | None | |
| 1957 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 78.66 | 513 | $152.5 million | 4 Carrie | 3 Audrey | One of only two seasons to feature a major hurricane in June. |
| 1958 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 109.69 | 41 | $12 million | 4 Helene | None | |
| 1959 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 77.11 | 59 | $23.3 million | 4 Gracie | 4 Gracie |
1960s[edit]
| Year | Tropical storms |
Hurricanes | Major hurricanes |
ACE | Deaths | Damage (USD) |
Strongest storm |
Retired names |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 72.90 | 455 | $442.34 million | 4 Donna | 4 Donna | |
| 1961 | 12 | 8 | 5 | 188.89 | 345 | $392 million | 5 Hattie | 4 Carla 5 Hattie |
Two Category 5 hurricanes. Lowest number of named storms for an extremely active season. |
| 1962 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 50.45 | 39 | >$4.88 million | 2 Ella | None | |
| 1963 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 112.09 | 7,225 | $589 million | 4 Flora | 4 Flora | Flora was the sixth-deadliest hurricane on record. |
| 1964 | 13 | 7 | 5 | 153.04 | 261 | $605 million | 4 Cleo | 4 Cleo 4 Dora 4 Hilda |
|
| 1965 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 86.74 | 76 | $1.45 billion | 4 Betsy | 4 Betsy | |
| 1966 | 15 | 7 | 3 | 138.68 | 1,094 | $410 million | 5 Inez | 5 Inez | One of only two seasons to feature a major hurricane in June. |
| 1967 | 15 | 6 | 1 | 125.61 | 64 | $217 million | 5 Beulah | 5 Beulah | First hurricane season in the modern satellite era. Features the highest number of tropical depressions in a season at the time. |
| 1968 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 46.60 | 10 | $10 million | 2 Gladys | None | There was one subtropical storm with Category 1 hurricane strength. Record-tying 3 tropical storms formed in June (tied with 1886, 1909, 1936, and 2021) |
| 1969 | 18 | 12 | 3 | 149.25 | 364 | $1.7 billion | 5 Camille | 5 Camille | Tied for the second most hurricanes in a season on record. |
| Total | 105 | 63 | 25 | 1124.27 | 9,933 | $5.82 billion | 11 names |
1970s[edit]
| Year | Tropical storms |
Hurricanes | Major hurricanes |
ACE | Deaths | Damage (USD) |
Strongest storm |
Retired names |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 66.72 | 71 | $454 million | 4 Celia | 4 Celia | First season of a 24-year period of decreased activity in the Atlantic (-AMO), Current extent of the reanalysis project as of January 2022[update] |
| 1971 | 13 | 6 | 1 | 96.53 | 45 | $213 million | 5 Edith | None | Includes first documented Hurricane to cross Central America, Irene. |
| 1972 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 35.61 | 122 | $2.1 billion | 2 Betty | 1 Agnes | Includes three subtropical storms. |
| 1973 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 47.85 | 15 | $18 million | 3 Ellen | None | |
| 1974 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 68.13 | 8,260+ | $1.97 billion | 4 Carmen | 4 Carmen 2 Fifi |
Includes four subtropical storms. Fifi was the fourth-deadliest hurricane on record. |
| 1975 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 76.06 | 80 | $100 million | 4 Gladys | 3 Eloise | |
| 1976 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 84.17 | 72 | $100 million | 3 Belle | None | Includes two subtropical storms. |
| 1977 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 25.32 | 10 | $10 million | 5 Anita | 5 Anita | Features the strongest Atlantic hurricane to strike Mexico. |
| 1978 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 63.22 | 37 | $45 million | 4 Greta | 4 Greta | Includes the January subtropical storm in the Atlantic. |
| 1979 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 92.92 | 2,118 | $4.3 billion | 5 David | 5 David 4 Frederic |
First year for alternating male/female names. Includes one subtropical storm of Category 1 strength. |
| Total | 96 | 49 | 16 | 657 | 10,830+ | $9.31 billion | 9 names |
1980s[edit]
| Year | Tropical cyclones |
Tropical storms |
Hurricanes | Major hurricanes |
ACE | Deaths | Damage (USD) |
Strongest storm |
Retired names |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 15 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 148.94 | 256 | $1 billion | 5 Allen | 5 Allen | Includes the storm with the highest sustained winds attained so far in the Atlantic. |
| 1981 | 18 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 100.38 | 10 | $45 million | 4 Harvey | None | |
| 1982 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 31.50 | 141 | $100 million | 4 Debby | None | |
| 1983 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 17.40 | 22 | $2.6 billion | 3 Alicia | 3 Alicia | Least active hurricane season in the satellite era. |
| 1984 | 17 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 84.30 | 35 | $66 million | 4 Diana | None | |
| 1985 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 87.98 | 241 | $4.5 billion | 4 Gloria | 3 Elena 4 Gloria |
Hurricane Kate struck Florida on November 21, the latest United States hurricane landfall. |
| 1986 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 35.79 | 70 | $57 million | 2 Earl | None | |
| 1987 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 34.36 | 10 | $90 million | 3 Emily | None | |
| 1988 | 19 | 12 | 5 | 3 | 102.99 | 550 | $7 billion | 5 Gilbert | 5 Gilbert 4 Joan |
Included the strongest hurricane on record until 2005; first hurricane since 1978 to cross Central America |
| 1989 | 15 | 11 | 7 | 2 | 135.13 | 112 | $10.7 billion | 5 Hugo | 5 Hugo | |
| Total | 137 | 93 | 52 | 17 | 778.71 | 1,447 | $26.2 billion | Gilbert | 7 names |
1990s[edit]
| Year | Tropical cyclones |
Tropical storms |
Hurricanes | Major hurricanes |
ACE | Deaths | Damage (USD) |
Strongest storm |
Retired names |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 16 | 14 | 8 | 1 | 96.80 | 116 | $150 million | 3 Gustav | 2 Diana 1 Klaus |
No tropical storms or hurricanes made landfall in the United States. |
| 1991 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 35.54 | 30 | $2.5 billion | 4 Claudette | 3 Bob | |
| 1992 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 76.22 | 66 | $27 billion | 5 Andrew | 5 Andrew | Hurricane Andrew was the costliest U.S. hurricane until 2005. |
| 1993 | 10 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 38.67 | 274 | $271 million | 3 Emily | None | |
| 1994 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 32.02 | 1,184 | $1.56 billion | 2 Florence | None | Last season of a 24-year period of decreased activity in the Atlantic (-AMO). |
| 1995 | 21 | 19 | 11 | 5 | 227.10 | 115 | $9.3 billion | 4 Opal | 4 Luis 3 Marilyn 4 Opal 3 Roxanne |
Tied for fifth most active season on record (with 1887, 2010, 2011 and 2012). First season of an ongoing period of increased activity in the Atlantic (+AMO). |
| 1996 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 6 | 166.18 | 179 | $3.8 billion | 4 Edouard | 1 Cesar 3 Fran 4 Hortense |
Highest number of major hurricanes at the time. |
| 1997 | 9 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 40.93 | 11 | $110 million | 3 Erika | None | |
| 1998 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 3 | 181.77 | 12,000+ | $12.2 billion | 5 Mitch | 4 Georges 5 Mitch |
Four simultaneous hurricanes on September 26, the first time since 1893. Mitch was the deadliest hurricane in over 200 years. |
| 1999 | 16 | 12 | 8 | 5 | 176.53 | 465 | $5.9 billion | 4 Floyd | 4 Floyd 4 Lenny |
Most Category 4 hurricanes on record, later tied by 2005 and 2020. |
| Total | 132 | 110 | 64 | 25 | 1071.75 | 14,440 | $62.7 billion | Mitch | 15 names |
2000s[edit]
NOTE: In the following tables, all estimates of damage costs are expressed in contemporaneous US dollars (USD).
2000s[edit]
| Year | Tropical cyclones |
Tropical storms |
Hurricanes | Major hurricanes |
ACE | Deaths | Damage (USD) |
Strongest storm |
Retired names | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 19 | 15 | 8 | 3 | 119.14 | 105 | $1.296 billion | 4 Keith | 4 Keith | |
| 2001 | 17 | 15 | 9 | 4 | 110.32 | 153 | $11.44 billion | 4 Michelle | TS Allison 4 Iris 4 Michelle |
Allison was the first Atlantic tropical storm to have its name retired. |
| 2002 | 14 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 67.99 | 50 | $2.47 billion | 3 Isidore | 3 Isidore 4 Lili |
Record-tying 8 named storms formed in September. |
| 2003 | 21 | 16 | 7 | 3 | 176.84 | 93 | $6.33 billion | 5 Isabel | 4 Fabian 5 Isabel 2 Juan |
Includes 3 off-season storms. |
| 2004 | 17 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 226.88 | 3,260 | $61.17 billion | 5 Ivan | 4 Charley 4 Frances 5 Ivan 3 Jeanne |
Record-tying 8 named storms forming in August. |
| 2005 | 31 | 28 | 15 | 7 | 250.13 | 3,912 | $171.755 billion | 5 Wilma | 4 Dennis 5 Katrina 5 Rita 1 Stan 5 Wilma |
Second-costliest hurricane season on record. Season holds the records for most hurricanes, major hurricanes, and category 5 hurricanes (4). Tied for most tropical depressions with 2020. Most retired names. The first year to use the Greek alphabet, later also used in 2020 Atlantic hurricane season. Includes 1 subtropical storm and 1 subtropical depression. |
| 2006 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 78.54 | 14 | $504.42 million | 3 Gordon 3 Helene |
None | |
| 2007 | 17 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 73.89 | 478 | $3.42 billion | 5 Dean | 5 Dean 5 Felix 1 Noel |
Two hurricanes that landfall as category 5 strength. |
| 2008 | 17 | 16 | 8 | 5 | 145.72 | 1,073 | $49.42 billion | 4 Ike | 4 Gustav 4 Ike 4 Paloma |
Only year on record in which a major hurricane existed in every month from July through November. |
| 2009 | 11 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 52.58 | 9 | $58 million | 4 Bill | None | |
| Total | 174 | 151 | 74 | 36 | 1302.02 | 9,146 | $307.87 billion | Wilma | 24 names |
2010s[edit]
| Year | Tropical cyclones |
Tropical storms |
Hurricanes | Major hurricanes |
ACE | Deaths | Damage (USD) |
Strongest storm |
Retired names | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 21 | 19 | 12 | 5 | 165.48 | 392 | $7.39 billion | 4 Igor | 4 Igor 2 Tomas |
Tied for fifth most active season on record (with 1887, 1995, 2011 and 2012). Tied for second most hurricanes in a season with twelve. |
| 2011 | 20 | 19 | 7 | 4 | 126.30 | 112 | $17.39 billion | 4 Ophelia | 3 Irene | Tied for fifth most active season on record (with 1887, 1995, 2010 and 2012). |
| 2012 | 19 | 19 | 10 | 2 | 132.63 | 355 | $72.34 billion | 3 Sandy | 3 Sandy | Tied for fifth most active season on record (with 1887, 1995, 2010 and 2011). |
| 2013 | 15 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 36.12 | 54 | $1.512 billion | 1 Humberto | 1 Ingrid | Includes one unnamed subtropical storm in December. |
| 2014 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 66.73 | 21 | $371.6 million | 4 Gonzalo | None | |
| 2015 | 12 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 62.69 | 89 | $813.9 million | 4 Joaquin | TS Erika 4 Joaquin |
First season of a 7-year period of early season activity in the Atlantic. |
| 2016 | 16 | 15 | 7 | 4 | 141.25 | 736 | ≥ $17.485 billion | 5 Matthew | 5 Matthew 3 Otto |
Record for earliest formation of 4th named storm (Danielle). |
| 2017 | 18 | 17 | 10 | 6 | 224.87 | 3,364 | ≥ $294.703 billion | 5 Maria | 4 Harvey 5 Irma 5 Maria 1 Nate |
Costliest hurricane season on record ($294.67 Billion USD). Earliest Main Development Region named storm on record (Bret). Only season on record with three hurricanes with an ACE value over 40 (Irma, Jose, and Maria). |
| 2018 | 16 | 15 | 8 | 2 | 132.58 | 172 | ≥ $50.526 billion | 5 Michael | 4 Florence 5 Michael |
Includes a record seven storms that were subtropical at one point. Fourth consecutive season for a storm to develop before the official start. First season on record to have a Category 5 hurricane present in the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean. |
| 2019 | 20 | 18 | 6 | 3 | 132.20 | 118 | $11.6 billion | 5 Dorian | 5 Dorian | Record fifth consecutive season for a storm to develop before the official start. Includes two subtropical storms. Record fourth consecutive season with a Category 5 hurricane. |
| Total | 166 | 155 | 72 | 30 | 1220.86 | 5,413 | $474.13 billion | Maria | 15 names |
2020s[edit]
| Year | Tropical cyclones |
Tropical storms |
Hurricanes | Major hurricanes |
ACE | Deaths | Damage (USD) |
Strongest storm |
Retired names | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 31 | 30 | 14 | 7 | 180.37 | ≥417 | >$51.114 billion | 4 Iota | 4 Laura 4 Eta 4 Iota |
Most active season in terms of tropical depressions and named storms. Holds the record for the earliest formation date for the third, sixth, and every storm after. Second and final season after 2005 to use the Greek alphabet. Tied with 2005 for a record 7 tropical cyclones that became major hurricanes. Record-breaking fifth consecutive above-normal season. Record-breaking 6th straight season with at least one pre-season storm. |
| 2021 | 21 | 21 | 7 | 4 | >145 | 159 | $80.543 billion | 4 Sam | TBD Spring 2022 | Record seventh consecutive season for a storm to develop before the official start (Ana). Third most active season on record. Record for the earliest formation date for the fifth storm (Elsa). |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | TBD | |||||
| Total | 52 | 51 | 21 | 11 | >325.37 | ≥576 | >$131.657 billion | Iota | 3 Names |
Number of tropical storms and hurricanes per season[edit]
This bar chart shows the number of named storms and hurricanes per year from 1851–2021.
A 2011 study analyzing one of the main sources of hurricanes - the African easterly wave (AEW) - found that the change in AEWs is closely linked to increased activity of intense hurricanes in the North Atlantic. The synoptic concurrence of AEWs in driving the dynamics of the Sahel greening also appears to increase tropical cyclogenesis over the North Atlantic.[21]
See also[edit]
Parent topics[edit]
Atlantic hurricane topics[edit]
Other tropical cyclone basins[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Landsea, Chris (contributor from the NHC). "Total and Average Number of Tropical Cylones by Month (1851-2017)". aoml.noaa.gov. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. Archived from the original on September 1, 2018.
{{cite web}}:|first1=has generic name (help) - ^ a b Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, Hurricane Research Division. "Frequently Asked Questions: When is hurricane season?". NOAA. Archived from the original on July 18, 2006. Retrieved July 25, 2006.
- ^ McAdie, Colin (May 10, 2007). "Tropical Cyclone Climatology". National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on May 28, 2007. Retrieved June 9, 2007.
- ^ "Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)" (Database). National Hurricane Center. February 9, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
- ^ "The peak of the hurricane season – why now? | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration". www.noaa.gov. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
- ^ "Hurricane Bureau Begins Season's Vigil Tonight". St. Petersburg Times. Associated Press. June 15, 1941. Retrieved July 9, 2011.
- ^ a b "1959 Hurricane Season Opens Officially Today". Meridian Record. Associated Press. June 15, 1959. Retrieved July 9, 2011.
- ^ "Hurricane Season Opens; New England Joins Circuit". The Robesonian. Associated Press. June 15, 1955. Retrieved July 9, 2011.
- ^ a b "1960 Hurricane Season Open As Planes Prowl". The Evening Independent. Associated Press. June 15, 1960. Retrieved July 9, 2011.
- ^ Neal Dorst (January 21, 2010). "Subject: G1) When is hurricane season ?". National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on June 28, 2011. Retrieved July 9, 2011.
- ^ Brownsville Herald (June 1, 1965). Hurricane Season Officially Opened.
- ^ United Press International (May 30, 1966). "Hurricane Season Opens This Week". The News and Courier. Retrieved July 9, 2011.
- ^ National Hurricane Center (2011). "Atlantic Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on June 23, 2011. Retrieved July 9, 2011.
- ^ United States Department of Commerce (2006). Assessment: Hurricane Katrina, August 23–31, 2005. Retrieved on 2008-09-03.
- ^ "@@@@".
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) [1] - ^ Hurricane Research Division (2008). "Chronological List of All Hurricanes which Affected the Continental United States: 1851-2007". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved March 21, 2008.
- ^ Dorst, Neal (October 23, 2012). "They Called the Wind Mahina: The History of Naming Cyclones" (PPTX). Hurricane Research Division, Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. p. Slides 49–51.
- ^ "Tropical Cyclone Naming History and Retired Names". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
- ^ Knabb, Richard D; Brown, Daniel P (March 17, 2006). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Storm Zeta" (PDF). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
- ^ Wang and Gillies (2011). "Observed Change in Sahel Rainfall, Circulations, African Easterly Waves, and Atlantic Hurricanes Since 1979". International Journal of Geophysics. 2011: 1–14. doi:10.1155/2011/259529.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)