List of Atlantic hurricane records

Since the reliable record keeping of tropical cyclone data within the North Atlantic Ocean began in 1851,^[1] there have been 1,505 systems of at least tropical storm intensity and 879 of at least hurricane intensity. Though a majority of these tropical cyclones have fallen within climatological averages, prevailing atmospheric conditions occasionally lead to anomalous tropical systems which at times reach extremes in statistical record-keeping including in duration and intensity.^[2] The scope of this list is limited to tropical cyclone records solely within the Atlantic Ocean and is subdivided by their reason for notability.

Tropical cyclogenesis

Earliest/latest formations for each category

Monochrome radar image of a hurricane. Rain, which the radar detects, is shown as white regions. Concentric circles denote distances from the radar site, located slightly offset from the center of the image. — Hurricane Alice was both the latest and earliest recorded hurricane to exist in any given calendar year.

Climatologically speaking, approximately 97 percent of tropical cyclones that form in the North Atlantic develop between the dates of June 1 and November 30 – dates which delimit the modern-day Atlantic hurricane season. Though the beginning of the annual hurricane season has historically remained the same, the official end of the hurricane season has shifted from its initial date of October 31. Regardless, on average once every few years a tropical cyclone develops outside the limits of the season;^[3] as of June 2015 there have been 65 tropical cyclones in the off-season, with the most recent being Tropical Storm Ana in 2015.^[1] The first tropical cyclone of the 1938 Atlantic hurricane season, which formed on January 3, became the earliest forming tropical storm and hurricane after reanalysis concluded on the storm in December 2012.^[4] Hurricane Able in 1951 was initially thought to be the earliest forming major hurricane – a tropical cyclone with winds exceeding 115 mph (185 km/h)^{[nb 1]} – however following post-storm analysis it was determined that Able only reached Category 1 strength which made Hurricane Alma of 1966 the new record holder; as it became a major hurricane on June 8.^[1] Though it developed within the bounds of the Atlantic hurricane season,^[3]^[1], Hurricane Audrey in 1957 became the earliest developing Category 4 hurricane on record after it reached the intensity on June 27.^[6] The earliest-forming Category 5 hurricane, Emily, reached the highest intensity on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale on July 17, 2005.^[7]

Though the official end of the Atlantic hurricane season occurs on November 30, the dates of October 31 and November 15 have also historically marked the official end date for the hurricane season.^[3] December, the only month of the year after the hurricane season, has featured the cyclogenesis of fourteen tropical cyclones.^[1] Tropical Storm Zeta in 2005 was the latest tropical cyclone to attain tropical storm intensity as it did so on December 30. However, the second Hurricane Alice in 1954 was the latest forming tropical cyclone to attain hurricane intensity. Both Zeta and Alice were the only two storms to exist in two calendar years – the former from 1954 to 1955 and the latter from 2005 to 2006.^[8] No storms have been recorded to exceed Category 1 hurricane intensity in December.^[1] In 1999, Hurricane Lenny reached Category 4 intensity on November 17 as it took an unprecedented west to east track across the Caribbean; its intensity made it the latest developing Category 4 hurricane, though this was well within the bounds of the hurricane season.^[9] Hurricane Hattie (October 27-November 1, 1961) was initially thought to have been the latest forming Category 5 hurricane ever documented,^[10] though reanalysis indicated that a devastating hurricane in 1932 reached such an intensity at a later date.^[4]^[1] Consequently, this made the hurricane the latest developing tropical cyclone to reach all four Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale classifications past Category 1 intensity.^[1]

	Earliest Formation				Latest Formation
Category	Year	Storm	Date Reached	Notes	Year	Storm	Date Reached	Notes
Subtropical storm	1978	Subtropical Storm One	January 18	^[1]	1975	Subtropical Storm Two	December 9	^[1]
Tropical storm	1938	Storm One	January 3	^[1]^{[nb 2]}	2005–06	Tropical Storm Zeta	December 30	^[1]
Category 1	1938	Storm One	January 4	^[1]	1954–55	Hurricane Alice	December 30	^[1]
Category 2	1908	Storm One	March 7	^[1]	1985	Hurricane Kate	November 19	^[1]
Category 3	1966	Hurricane Alma	June 8	^[1]	1985	Hurricane Kate	November 20	^[1]
Category 4	1957	Hurricane Audrey	June 27	^[1]^[6]	1999	Hurricane Lenny	November 17	^[1]
Category 5	2005	Hurricane Emily	July 17	^[7]^[11]	1932	1932 Cuba hurricane	November 5	^[1]

Earliest formation records by storm number

Since the reliable record keeping of tropical cyclone data within the North Atlantic Ocean began in 1851,^[1] there have been 1,505 systems of at least tropical storm intensity and 879 of at least hurricane intensity. Though a majority of these tropical cyclones have fallen within climatological averages, prevailing atmospheric conditions occasionally lead to anomalous tropical systems which at times reach extremes in statistical record-keeping including in duration and intensity.^[2] The scope of this list is limited to tropical cyclone records solely within the Atlantic Ocean and is subdivided by their reason for notability.

Tropical cyclogenesis

Earliest/latest formations for each category

Climatologically speaking, approximately 97 percent of tropical cyclones that form in the North Atlantic develop between the dates of June 1 and November 30 – dates which delimit the modern-day Atlantic hurricane season. Though the beginning of the annual hurricane season has historically remained the same, the official end of the hurricane season has shifted from its initial date of October 31. Regardless, on average once every few years a tropical cyclone develops outside the limits of the season;^[3] as of June 2015 there have been 65 tropical cyclones in the off-season, with the most recent being Tropical Storm Ana in 2015.^[1] The first tropical cyclone of the 1938 Atlantic hurricane season, which formed on January 3, became the earliest forming tropical storm and hurricane after reanalysis concluded on the storm in December 2012.^[4] Hurricane Able in 1951 was initially thought to be the earliest forming major hurricane – a tropical cyclone with winds exceeding 115 mph (185 km/h)^{[nb 3]} – however following post-storm analysis it was determined that Able only reached Category 1 strength which made Hurricane Alma of 1966 the new record holder; as it became a major hurricane on June 8.^[1] Though it developed within the bounds of the Atlantic hurricane season,^[3]^[1], Hurricane Audrey in 1957 became the earliest developing Category 4 hurricane on record after it reached the intensity on June 27.^[6] The earliest-forming Category 5 hurricane, Emily, reached the highest intensity on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale on July 17, 2005.^[7]

Though the official end of the Atlantic hurricane season occurs on November 30, the dates of October 31 and November 15 have also historically marked the official end date for the hurricane season.^[3] December, the only month of the year after the hurricane season, has featured the cyclogenesis of fourteen tropical cyclones.^[1] Tropical Storm Zeta in 2005 was the latest tropical cyclone to attain tropical storm intensity as it did so on December 30. However, the second Hurricane Alice in 1954 was the latest forming tropical cyclone to attain hurricane intensity. Both Zeta and Alice were the only two storms to exist in two calendar years – the former from 1954 to 1955 and the latter from 2005 to 2006.^[8] No storms have been recorded to exceed Category 1 hurricane intensity in December.^[1] In 1999, Hurricane Lenny reached Category 4 intensity on November 17 as it took an unprecedented west to east track across the Caribbean; its intensity made it the latest developing Category 4 hurricane, though this was well within the bounds of the hurricane season.^[9] Hurricane Hattie (October 27-November 1, 1961) was initially thought to have been the latest forming Category 5 hurricane ever documented,^[10] though reanalysis indicated that a devastating hurricane in 1932 reached such an intensity at a later date.^[4]^[1] Consequently, this made the hurricane the latest developing tropical cyclone to reach all four Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale classifications past Category 1 intensity.^[1]

	Earliest Formation				Latest Formation
Category	Year	Storm	Date Reached	Notes	Year	Storm	Date Reached	Notes
Subtropical storm	1978	Subtropical Storm One	January 18	^[1]	1975	Subtropical Storm Two	December 9	^[1]
Tropical storm	1938	Storm One	January 3	^[1]^{[nb 4]}	2005–06	Tropical Storm Zeta	December 30	^[1]
Category 1	1938	Storm One	January 4	^[1]	1954–55	Hurricane Alice	December 30	^[1]
Category 2	1908	Storm One	March 7	^[1]	1985	Hurricane Kate	November 19	^[1]
Category 3	1966	Hurricane Alma	June 8	^[1]	1985	Hurricane Kate	November 20	^[1]
Category 4	1957	Hurricane Audrey	June 27	^[1]^[6]	1999	Hurricane Lenny	November 17	^[1]
Category 5	2005	Hurricane Emily	July 17	^[7]^[11]	1932	1932 Cuba hurricane	November 5	^[1]

Earliest formation records by storm number

Template loop detected: Template:Earliest Atlantic hurricanes

Note: Storms that originally form as tropical depression will not be posted unless they reach tropical storm status (for example, Hurricane Michael in 2012 formed on September 3 as tropical depression, but was not named until it reached tropical storm status, on September 4, thus putting Hurricane Michael on the list with the date September 4).

Location

Extreme latitudes and longitudes

Black and white image of a hurricane. Rainbands to the top of the hurricane are extended out to the upper-right, and the center of the hurricane itself is located at center-left. Clouds appear as shades of white and the sea as shades of black. However, sunglint is visible at center-right. — Hurricane Faith traversed a greater distance and retained tropical cyclone status further north than any other Atlantic hurricane.

This list contains tropical cyclones that formed at or moved to an extraordinary latitude or longitude. This list may include storms that reach extreme north latitude, or very equatorial cyclones. It should be noted that before the satellite era, analysis of distant tropical cyclones was extremely difficult.

1958 - Hurricane Cleo was the easternmost forming Category 5 hurricane, at around 49.2°W.
1960 - Hurricane Ethel reached Category 5 intensity at 28.1° N, farther north than any other storm in the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea or Atlantic Ocean. Ethel's intensity is debatable and Hurricane Carla in 1961 may hold the record, becoming a Category 5 at 27°N.
1966 - Hurricane Faith retained tropical cyclone status further north than any other storm, being classified as extratropical at about 62°N. It also retained Category 2 intensity through this period.
1971 - Hurricane #2 became a hurricane at 46°N, the highest latitude a tropical storm has been upgraded in the Atlantic.
1973 - Tropical Storm Christine developed as a tropical depression at 14°W over western Africa, the eastern-most tropical depression formation in the Atlantic basin.
1973 - Hurricane Ellen became a major hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale at 42.1°N, further north than any other storm.
1978 - Tropical Storm Amelia developed into a tropical depression at 96.7°W while located 30 miles (48 km) south of Brownsville, Texas, the western-most forming tropical cyclone in the Atlantic basin.
1978 - Hurricane Ella retained Category 4 intensity further north than any other Atlantic hurricane, reaching about 45°N before weakening.
1980 - Hurricane Frances intensified into a Category 3 hurricane further south and east than any other storm on record, doing so at 29.8°W.
1982 - Hurricane Debby reached Category 4 strength at 38.8°N, eclipsing the previous record set by Hurricane Ella in 1978.
1988 - Tropical Storm Alberto was classified a tropical storm off the coast of Massachusetts, which is further north than any other tropical storm on record.
1990 - Hurricane Isidore formed at a lower latitude than any other tropical cyclone on record for the North Atlantic, 7.2°N.
2004 - Hurricane Ivan became a Category 3 at 9.6°N latitude, the lowest latitude ever recorded for a major hurricane. It also set the record for southernmost Category 4 and 5 hurricanes, reaching these intensities at 10.6°N and 13.7°N respectively.
2005 - Hurricane Vince formed at a record northeast point in the Atlantic, however, this record was later broken by Grace in 2009. Vince also became a hurricane further east than any storm in Atlantic history at 18.9°W.
July 3, 2008 – Hurricane Bertha reached tropical storm intensity at 24.0°W, becoming the easternmost developing tropical storm in the month of July. Bertha would later reach hurricane and major hurricane intensity at 49.4°W and 51.6°W, respectively, also attaining monthly easternmost records for those categories.^[12]
October 4, 2009 – Tropical Storm Grace developed into a tropical storm near the Azores at 38.5°N latitude by 29.5°W longitude, making it the furthest northeast that a storm has ever intensified into a tropical storm in the Atlantic. Grace would persist as a tropical storm for roughly two days before transitioning into an extratropical storm just southwest of Ireland at 12.7°W longitude by 48.8°N latitude.^[13]
September 15, 2010 – Hurricane Julia reached Category 4 intensity at 31.4°W longitude, making it the easternmost tropical cyclone to reach such an intensity. This also makes it the strongest known tropical cyclone in the Atlantic east of the 40th meridian west.^[14]
June 21, 2012 – Hurricane Chris was upgraded to hurricane intensity at 39.5°N latitude, attaining the record for the farthest-north for an Atlantic June hurricane to reach such an intensity; Chris would maintain hurricane intensity as far north as 41.9°N before weakening back to tropical storm strength.^[15]
August 30, 2015 – Hurricane Fred was upgraded to hurricane intensity at 22.5°W longitude, southeast of Cape Verde, the farthest east that a hurricane developed in the tropical Atlantic south of 25°N latitude.

Distance traveled

Greatest Travels
Sources: NOAA^[16]^[17]
Distance (Miles)	Name	Date
6,850	Hurricane Faith	1966
6,000	Hurricane Carrie	1957
5,760	Hurricane Alberto	2000
5,210	Hurricane Cleo	1964
5,210	Hurricane Chloe	1967
4,990	Hurricane Flora	1963

Unusual landfall locations

Azores

September 11, 1889- A tropical storm makes landfall on Terceira.^[18]
September 27, 1926- A hurricane makes landfall on São Miguel.^[19]
September 25, 1940- A hurricane makes landfall on Terceira.^[20]
October 7, 1959- Hurricane Hannah makes landfall on São Miguel.^[21]
November 6, 1969- A tropical storm makes landfall on Terceira.^[18]
August 16, 1985- Tropical Storm Claudette makes landfall on Flores.^[22]
September 12, 1991- Tropical Storm Erika makes landfall on São Miguel.^[23]
October 4, 2009- Tropical Storm Grace makes landfall on Pico.^[24]
August 20, 2012- Hurricane Gordon makes landfall on Santa Maria.^[25]

Cape Verde Islands

August 16, 1893- The 1893 Sea Islands hurricane makes landfall on Sal as a tropical storm.^[26]
August 25, 1901- A tropical storm makes landfall on Boa Vista before becoming a hurricane.^[18]
September 21, 1924- A tropical storm makes landfall on São Nicolau and Santo Antão.^[27]
September 3, 1927- A tropical storm makes landfall on Boa Vista before becoming a hurricane.^[19]
September 18, 1934- A tropical storm makes makes landfall on Santiago as a tropical depression.^[28]
September 11, 1971- A tropical depression makes makes landfall on Boa Vista.^[29]
August 17, 1972- A tropical depression makes makes landfall on Santiago and Fogo.^[30]
September 4, 1979- Hurricane Gloria makes landfall on Sal as a tropical depression.^[31]
August 18, 1987- Tropical Storm Bret makes landfall on Santiago and Fogo as a tropical depression.^[32]
August 13, 1989- A tropical depression makes makes landfall on Boa Vista.^[33]
August 18, 1989- Tropical Storm Erin makes landfall on Santiago as a tropical depression.^[34]
August 24, 1991- A tropical depression makes landfall on Fogo.^[35]

South America

September 24, 1877- A hurricane makes landfall in northern Venezuela and Colombia.^[36]
October 8, 1892- A hurricane makes landfall in northern Venezuela and Colombia.^[20]
June 28, 1933- The 1933 Trinidad hurricane makes landfall in Venezuela.^[37]
August 14, 1974- Tropical Storm Alma makes landfall in Venezuela.^[38]
October 17, 1988- Tropical Storm Joan makes landfall in northern Venezuela and Colombia.^[39]
August 8, 1993- Tropical Storm Bret makes landfall in Venezuela.^[32]
July 26, 1996- Tropical Storm Cesar makes landfall in northern Venezuela.^[40]
September 15, 2002- Tropical Depression Isidore makes landfall in Venezuela.^[41]
March 28, 2004- Cyclone Catarina makes landfall in southern Brazil.^[42]

Panama

November 24, 1969- Tropical Storm Martha makes landfall.^[43]

Portugal

October 10th 2015- Hurricane Joaquin makes landfall. ^[44]

Spain

October 11, 2005- Tropical Depression Vince makes landfall.^[45]

Ireland

September 16, 1961- Hurricane Debbie makes landfall.^[46]

Intensity

Most intense

By pressure

Most intense Atlantic hurricanes
Rank	Hurricane	Season	Pressure
Rank	Hurricane	Season	hPa	inHg
1	Wilma	2005	882	26.05
2	Gilbert	1988	888	26.23
3	"Labor Day"	1935	892	26.34
4	Rita	2005	895	26.43
5	Allen	1980	899	26.55
6	Camille	1969	900	26.58
7	Katrina	2005	902	26.64
8	Mitch	1998	905	26.73
8	Dean	2007	905	26.73
10	Maria	2017	908	26.81
Source: HURDAT^[1]

Generally speaking, the intensity of a tropical cyclone is determined by either the storm's maximum sustained winds or lowest barometric pressure. The following table lists the most intense Atlantic hurricanes in terms of their lowest barometric pressure. In terms of wind speed, hurricanes Allen and Camille (in 1980 and 1969, respectively) were the strongest Atlantic tropical cyclones on record, with maximum sustained winds of 190 mph (310 km/h). However, these measurements are suspect since instrumentation used to document wind speeds at the time would likely succumb to winds of such intensity.^[47] Nonetheless, their central pressures are low enough to rank them among the strongest recorded Atlantic hurricanes.^[1]

Owing to their intensity, the strongest Atlantic hurricanes have all attained Category 5 classification. Hurricane Opal, the strongest Category 4 hurricane recorded, intensified to reach a minimum pressure of 916 mbar (hPa; 27.05 inHg),^[48] a pressure typical of Category 5 hurricanes.^[49] Nonetheless, the pressure remains too high to list Opal as one of the ten strongest Atlantic tropical cyclones.^[1] Presently, Hurricane Wilma is the strongest Atlantic hurricane ever recorded, after reaching an intensity of 882 mbar (hPa; 26.05 inHg) in October 2005;^[47] this also makes Wilma the strongest tropical cyclone worldwide outside of the West Pacific,^[50]^[51]^[52]^[53]^[54] where seven tropical cyclones have been recorded to intensify to lower pressures.^[55] Preceding Wilma is Hurricane Gilbert, which had also held the record for most intense Atlantic hurricane for 17 years.^[56] The 1935 Labor Day hurricane, with a pressure of 892 mbar (hPa; 26.34 inHg), is the third strongest Atlantic hurricane and the strongest documented tropical cyclone prior to 1950.^[1] Since the measurements taken during Wilma and Gilbert were documented using dropsonde, this pressure remains the lowest measured over land.^[57]

Hurricane Rita is the fourth strongest Atlantic hurricane in terms of barometric pressure and one of three tropical cyclones from 2005 on the list, with the others being Wilma and Katrina at first and sixth, respectively.^[1] However, with a barometric pressure of 895 mbar (hPa; 26.43 inHg), Rita is the strongest tropical cyclone ever recorded in the Gulf of Mexico.^[58] Hurricanes Camille, Mitch, and Dean share intensities for the seventh strongest Atlantic hurricane at 905 mbar (hPa; 26.73 inHg).^[57] Sharing tenth place for most intense Atlantic tropical cyclone are Hurricane Ivan and an unnamed hurricane from 1932, which both are listed to have deepened to a pressure as low as 910 mbar (hPa; 26.88 inHg).^[1]

Many of the strongest recorded tropical cyclones weakened prior to their eventual landfall or demise. However, three of the storms remained intense enough at landfall to be considered some of the strongest landfalling hurricanes – three of the eleven hurricanes on the list constitute the three most intense Atlantic landfalls in recorded history. The 1935 Labor Day hurricane made landfall at peak intensity, making it the most intense Atlantic landfall. Though it weakened slightly before its eventual landfall on the Yucatán Peninsula, Hurricane Gilbert maintained a pressure of 900 mbar (hPa; 26.58 inHg) at landfall, making its landfall the second strongest. Similarly, Hurricane Dean made landfall on the peninsula, though it did so at peak intensity and with a higher barometric pressure; its landfall marked the third strongest in Atlantic hurricane history.^[57]

By highest sustained winds

Highest 1 minute sustained winds (175 mph or greater)
Hurricane	Season	Winds
Hurricane	Season	mph	km/h
Allen	1980	190	305
Gilbert	1988	185	295
Wilma	2005	185	295
Mitch	1998	180	285
Rita	2005	180	285
Janet	1955	175	280
Carla	1961	175	280
Camille	1969	175	280
Anita	1977	175	280
David	1979	175	280
Andrew	1992	175	280
Katrina	2005	175	280
Dean	2007	175	280
Felix	2007	175	280

Most intense by month

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. Intensity is measured solely by central pressure.

Most intense Atlantic tropical cyclones by month
Month	Storm	Year	Minimum pressure	Classification	Notes
January	Alice	1955	~980 mbar (hPa; 28.94 inHg)	Category 1	^{[nb 5]}
February	Unnamed	1952	990 mbar (hPa; 29.23 inHg)	Tropical storm	^{[nb 6]}
March	Unnamed	1908	<991 mbar (hPa; 29.27 inHg)	Category 2	^{[nb 6]}
April	Ana	2003	994 mbar (hPa; 29.36 inHg)	Tropical storm
May	Able	1951	973 mbar (hPa; 28.74 inHg)	Category 1
June	Audrey	1957	946 mbar (hPa; 27.94 inHg)	Category 4	^{[nb 7]}
June	Alex	2010	946 mbar (hPa; 27.94 inHg)	Category 2	^{[nb 7]}
July	Emily	2005	929 mbar (hPa; 27.44 inHg)	Category 5
August	Allen	1980	899 mbar (hPa; 26.55 inHg)	Category 5
September	Gilbert	1988	888 mbar (hPa; 26.23 inHg)	Category 5
October	Wilma	2005	882 mbar (hPa; 26.05 inHg)	Category 5
November	Unnamed	1932	918 mbar (hPa; 27.11 inHg)	Category 5
December	Nicole	1998	979 mbar (hPa; 28.91 inHg)	Category 1

Hurricane Severity Index

Most severe landfalling Atlantic hurricanes in the United States Based on size and intensity for total points on the Hurricane Severity Index^[59]
Rank	Hurricane	Year	Intensity	Size	Total
1	4 Carla	1961	17	25	42
2	4 Betsy	1965	15	25	40
3	5 Camille	1969	22	14	36
	4 Opal	1995	11	25	36
	5 Katrina	2005	13	23	36
6	3 Audrey	1957	17	16	33
6	5 Wilma	2005	12	21	33
8	5 Ivan	2004	12	20	32
9	4 Ike	2008	10	20	30
10	5 Andrew	1992	16	11	27

Fastest intensification

Fastest Intensification from a Tropical Storm to a Category 5 Hurricane: 16 hours - 70 mph to 155 mph - Hurricane Wilma 2005
Maximum pressure drop in 12 hours: 87mb - Wilma 2005
Maximum pressure drop in 24 hours: 98mb - Wilma 2005 - 1200 UTC October 18 to October 19
Fastest Intensification from a Tropical Depression to a Hurricane: 12 hours - Lorenzo 2007
Fastest Intensification from a Depression to a Category Five Hurricane: 51 Hours - Felix 2007

Largest in diameter

Below are the five largest hurricanes (by gale diameter) ever observed in the Atlantic basin.

Largest Atlantic hurricanes By diameter of gale-force winds
Rank	System	Season	Diameter
Rank	System	Season	mi	km
1	Sandy	2012	1,150	1,850
2	Martin	2022	1,040	1,670
3	Igor	2010	920	1,480
4	Olga	2001	865	1,390
5	Teddy	2020	850	1,370
Sources: [1][2][3][4] [5]

Seasonal records

Highest number of named storms

Number of named storm occurrences by month
Month
Month	Storms	Season
January	1	1938, 1951 and 1978
February	1	1952†
March	1	1908†
April	1	1992 and 2003
May	2	1887 and 2012
June	3	1886, 1936 and 1968
July	5	2005
August	8	2004 and 2012
September	8	2002 and 2010
October	8	1950
November	3	2005
December	2	1887 and 2003
Based on data from: U.S. NOAA Coastal Service Center - Historical Hurricane Tracks Tool
† – Highest number for month by virtue of being only known season to see a storm form

Naming

First season to use the (14th) letter "N": Nana, 1990
First season to use the (15th) letter "O": Opal, 1995
First season to use the (16th) letter "P": Pablo, 1995
First season to use the (17th) letter "R": Roxanne, 1995
First season to use the (18th) letter "S": Sebastien, 1995
First season to use the (19th) letter "T": Tanya, 1995
First season to use the (20th) letter "V": Vince, 2005
First season to use the (21st) letter "W": Wilma, 2005
First season to use the Greek letter "alpha": Alpha, 2005
First season to use the Greek letter "beta": Beta, 2005
First season to use the Greek letter "gamma": Gamma, 2005
First season to use the Greek letter "delta": Delta, 2005
First season to use the Greek letter "epsilon": Epsilon, 2005
First season to use the Greek letter "zeta": Zeta, 2005
Season with most named storms: 27* - 2005

Seasonal activity

A hurricane with a peak intensity of Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is classified as major. The table on the right excludes seasons prior to 1965 due to lack of accurate data for the period.

Most storms
Total storms	Year	Hurricanes			Notes
Total storms	Year	Total	Cat 1-2	Major	Notes
28	2005	15	8	7	4 Category 5s, 1 subtropical storm
20	1933	10	4	6	2 Category 5s
19	1887	11	9	2
	1995	11	6	5
	2010	12	7	5
	2011	7	3	4	1 unnamed storm
	2012	10	8	2
18	1969	12	7	5	1 subtropical storm, 1 Category 5
17	1936	7	6	1
16	1949	9	7	2
	1950	11	5	6
	1954	7	4	3
	2003	7	4	3	1 Category 5
	2008	8	3	5
15	1932	6	2	4	2 Category 5s
	2000	8	5	3	1 subtropical storm
	2001	9	5	4
	2004	9	3	6	1 subtropical storm, 1 Category 5
	2007	6	4	2	2 Category 5s, 1 subtropical storm
14	1953	7	4	3	1 Category 5
	1990	8	7	1
	1998	10	7	3	1 Category 5
	2013	2	2	0	1 subtropical storm
13	1931	3	2	1
	1934	7	6	1
	1955	10	6	4	1 Category 5
	1971	6	5	1
	1984	5	4	1	1 subtropical storm
	1996	9	3	6

Fewest storms
Total storms	Year	Tropical storms	Hurricanes		Notes
Total storms	Year	Tropical storms	Cat 1-2	Major	Notes
4	1983	1	2	1
6	1965	2	3	1
	1977	1	4	1	1 Category 5
	1982	3	1	1	1 subtropical storm
	1986	2	4	0
7	1972	1	3	0	3 subtropical storms
	1987	4	2	1
	1992	2	3	1	1 subtropical storm, 1 Category 5
	1994	4	3	0

Number of tropical storms and hurricanes per season

This bar chart shows the number of named storms and hurricanes per year from 1851-2014:

Effects

Costliest Atlantic hurricanes

Costliest U.S. Atlantic hurricanes^[60]^[61]^{[nb 8]}
Rank	Hurricane	Season	Damage
1	3 Katrina	2005	$125 billion
1	4 Harvey	2017	$125 billion
3	4 Ian	2022	$113 billion
4	4 Maria	2017	$90 billion
5	4 Ida	2021	$75 billion
6	ET Sandy	2012	$65 billion
7	4 Irma	2017	$52.1 billion
8	2 Ike	2008	$30 billion
9	5 Andrew	1992	$27 billion
10	5 Michael	2018	$25 billion

Most tornadoes spawned

Number of tornadoes spawned^[62]
Count	Name	Year
117	Hurricane Ivan	2004
115	Hurricane Beulah	1967
101	Hurricane Frances	2004^[63]
86	Hurricane Rita	2005
81	Tropical Storm Fay	2008
62	Hurricane Katrina	2005
39	Hurricane Danny	1985
34	Hurricane David	1979
34	Hurricane Isaac	2012
33	Hurricane Cindy	2005
31	Hurricane Opal	1995
29	Hurricane Allen	1980
29	Hurricane Gilbert	1988
29	Tropical Storm Lee	2011
25	Tropical Storm Debby	2012
23	Hurricane Alicia	1983
21	Hurricane Audrey	1957
20	Hurricane Carla	1961

Miscellaneous records

Fastest forward speed

Fastest forward speed ^‡
Rank	Speed	Name	Year	Day	Time
1	70 mph (110 km/h)	1938 New England hurricane	1938	September 15	0600 UTC
2	66 mph (102 km/h)	Tropical Storm Four	1970	August 18	1800 UTC
3	65 mph (100 km/h)	Hurricane Luis	1995	September 11	1200 UTC
3	65 mph (100 km/h)	Hurricane Emily	1987	September 26	1200 UTC
5	63 mph (98 km/h)	Hurricane Lisa	1998	October 9	1800 UTC
8	62 mph (97 km/h)	Hurricane Fox	1951	September 10	0600 UTC
		Tropical Storm Helene	2000	September 25	1200 UTC
		Hurricane Irene	1999	October 19	0000 UTC
^[1]

Notes: ^‡ These are the fastest estimated recorded speeds of any tropical system (including tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes) between 1851 and 2005. It does not include extratropical systems which routinely reach very high forward speeds.

Longest duration

Greatest duration
Sources: NOAA HRD,^[64] NHC^[65]
Duration (days)	Name	Date
27.75	Hurricane San Ciriaco^¶	August 1899
27.25	Hurricane Ginger	September 1971
24.75	Hurricane Inga	September 1969
22.25	Hurricane Nadine^¶	September 2012
22	Hurricane Kyle	September 2002
21	Storm 4	September 1926
20.75	Hurricane Carrie	September 1957
20.75	Storm 9	September 1893
20.25	Hurricane Inez	September 1966
19.75	Hurricane Alberto	August 2000

Notes: ^¶ Fluctuated between tropical and post-tropical at some point in its existence, so the number of days are non-consecutive.

Worldwide cyclone records set by Atlantic storms

Costliest tropical cyclone: Hurricane Katrina - 2005 - $108 billion in damages.
Smallest tropical cyclone on record: Marco - 2008 - gale force winds extended 10 mi (20 km) from storm center (previous record: Cyclone Tracy 1974 - 30 mi (50 km))

Notes

^ A major hurricane is a storm that ranks as Category 3 or higher on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale.^[5]
^ The first storm of 1938 was the earliest instance of a tropical cyclone reaching tropical storm intensity during the year. However, the 1952 Groundhog Day tropical storm was the earliest instance of a tropical cyclone to have peaked at tropical storm intensity; it did so on February 2.^[1]
^ A major hurricane is a storm that ranks as Category 3 or higher on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale.^[5]
^ The first storm of 1938 was the earliest instance of a tropical cyclone reaching tropical storm intensity during the year. However, the 1952 Groundhog Day tropical storm was the earliest instance of a tropical cyclone to have peaked at tropical storm intensity; it did so on February 2.^[1]
^ Alice formed in December 1954 but persisted into January 1955.
^ ^a ^b These are the strongest systems in their respective months by virtue of being the only known systems.
^ ^a ^b Hurricanes Audrey (1957) and Alex (2010) had the same minimum pressure, though Audrey was a Category 4 hurricane at peak strength while Alex peaked as a high-end Category 2.
^ The storm category color indicates the intensity of the hurricane when landfalling in the U.S.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u ^v ^w ^x ^y ^z ^aa ^ab ^ac ^ad ^ae ^af ^ag ^ah ^ai ^aj ^ak ^al ^am ^an ^ao ^ap ^aq ^ar ^as ^at ^au ^av ^aw ^ax ^ay Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. "NOAA Revisits Historic Hurricanes". United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Hurricane Research Division. Retrieved 14 August 2013. Cite error: The named reference "HURDAT" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
^ ^a ^b National Hurricane Center. "Tropical Cyclone Climatology". Miami, Florida: United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Dorst, Neal (January 21, 2010). "G1) When is hurricane season?". Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). 4.6. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. Retrieved 14 August 2013. {{cite book}}: External link in |chapterurl= (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help)
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Landsea, Chris; et al. (June 2013). "Documentation of Atlantic Tropical Cyclones Changes in HURDAT" (TXT). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Hurricane Research Division. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
^ ^a ^b Goldenburg, Stan (June 1, 2012). "A3) What is a super-typhoon? What is a major hurricane? What is an intense hurricane?". Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). 4.5. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. Retrieved 3 September 2013. {{cite book}}: External link in |chapterurl= (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help)
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Hurricanes: Science and Society. "1957 – Hurricane Audrey". Storms in the 1950s. University of Rhode Island. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Franklin, James L.; Brown, Daniel P. (March 10, 2006). Hurricane Emily (PDF). National Hurricane Center Tropical Cyclone Report (Report). Miami, Florida: United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
^ ^a ^b Hurricane.com. "Atlantic Hurricane and Tropical Storm Records". Hurricane.com. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
^ ^a ^b Chambers, Gillan (December 1999). "Late Hurricanes: a Message for the Regio". Environment and development in coastal regions and in small islands. Coast and Beach Stability in the Lesser Antilles. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
^ ^a ^b Paolino, JJ; Myrie, Donovan (2011). "Category Five Notables". Stormfacts.net. Retrieved 22 September 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ ^a ^b Beven, John L. (March 2008). "Atlantic Hurricane Season of 2005" (PDF). Monthly Weather Review. Monthly Weather Review Atlantic Hurricane Season Summary. 136 (3). Miami, Florida: American Meteorological Society: 1109–1173. doi:10.1175/2007MWR2074.1. Retrieved 14 August 2013. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
^ Lindsey, Rebecca. "Hurricane Bertha". United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
^ Berg, Robbie (November 28, 2009). Tropical Storm Grace (PDF). National Hurricane Center Tropical Cyclone Report (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
^ Beven II, John L.; Landsea, Christopher W. (December 9, 2010). Hurricane Julia (PDF). National Hurricane Center Tropical Cyclone Report (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
^ Stewart, Stacy R. (January 22, 2013). Hurricane Chris (PDF). National Hurricane Center Tropical Cyclone Report (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
^ Neal Dorst; Sandy Delgado (May 20, 2011). "Subject: E7) What is the farthest a tropical cyclone has traveled ?". Hurricane Research Division. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
^ Moore, Paul L. (December 1, 1957). "The Hurricane Season of 1957" (PDF). Monthly Weather Review. 85 (12). Miami, Florida: American Meteorological Society: 401–408. Bibcode:1957MWRv...85..401M. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1957)085<0401:THSO>2.0.CO;2. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Hurricane One". Unisys. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 1 September 2015. Cite error: The named reference "Hurricane 1" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
^ ^a ^b "Hurricane Two". Unisys. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 1 September 2015. Cite error: The named reference "Hurricane 2" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
^ ^a ^b "Hurricane Seven". Unisys. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 1 September 2015. Cite error: The named reference "Hurricane 7" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
^ "Hurricane Hannah". Unisys. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
^ "Hurricane Claudette". Unisys. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
^ "Tropical Storm Erika". Unisys. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
^ "Tropical Storm Grace". Unisys. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
^ "Hurricane Gordon". Unisys. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
^ "Hurricane Six". Unisys. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
^ "Tropical Storm Six". Unisys. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
^ "Tropical Storm 9". Unisys. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
^ "Tropical Depression 16". Unisys. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
^ "Tropical Depression 9". Unisys. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
^ "Hurricane Gloria". Unisys. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
^ ^a ^b "Tropical Storm Bret". Unisys. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 1 September 2015. Cite error: The named reference "Bret" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
^ "Tropical Depression 6". Unisys. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
^ "Tropical Storm Erin". Unisys. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
^ "Tropical Depression Four". Unisys. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
^ "Hurricane Four". Unisys. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
^ "Hurricane Two". Unisys. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
^ "Tropical Storm Alma". Unisys. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
^ "Hurricane Joan". Unisys. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
^ "Hurricane Cesar". Unisys. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
^ "Hurricane Isidore". Unisys. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
^ "Hurricane Catarina Strikes Brazil in March of 2004". TRIPOD. TRIPOD. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
^ "Hurricane Martha". Unisys. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
^ "Weekend weather: Hurricane Joaquin brings bad weather to Portugal". portugal resident. Open Media SA. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
^ "Hurricane Vince". Unisys. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
^ "Hurricane Debbie". Unisys. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
^ ^a ^b Landsea, Chris (April 21, 2010). "E1) Which is the most intense tropical cyclone on record?". Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). 4.6. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. Retrieved 22 September 2013. {{cite book}}: External link in |chapterurl= (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help)
^ Mayfield, Max (November 29, 1995). Hurricane Opal Preliminary Report (Preliminary Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
^ Louisiana Geographic Information Center. "The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale". Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Louisiana State University. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
^ National Hurricane Center; Hurricane Research Division; Central Pacific Hurricane Center (April 26, 2024). "The Northeast and North Central Pacific hurricane database 1949–2023". United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Archived from the original on May 29, 2024. A guide on how to read the database is available here. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^ "Tropical Cyclone Best Track Information for the North Indian Ocean 1990-2008" (XLS). India Meteorological Department. 2009. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
^ Royer, Stephane (7 February 2003). "Very Intense Tropical Cyclone Gafilo". Météo France. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
^ "Tropical Cyclone Information for the Australian Region". Bureau of Meteorology. 2008. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
^ MetService (May 22, 2009). "TCWC Wellington Best Track Data 1967–2006". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ "Western North Pacific Typhoon best track file 1951-2024". Japan Meteorological Agency. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
^ Willoughby, H,E, (December 1, 1989). "A Record Minimum Sea Level Pressure Observed in Hurricane Gilbert". Monthly Weather Review. 117 (12). Miami, Florida: American Meteorological Society: 2824–2828. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1989)117<2824:ARMSLP>2.0.CO;2. Retrieved 23 September 2013. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ ^a ^b ^c Franklin, James L. (January 31, 2008). "Hurricane Dean" (PDF). National Hurricane Center Tropical Cyclone Reports. Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
^ National Weather Service (November 14, 2005). "Post Storm Data Acquisition – Hurricane Rita Peak Gust Analysis and Storm Surge Data" (PDF). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
^ "Hurricane Severity Index" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-08-28. Retrieved 2019-09-11.
^ Costliest U.S. tropical cyclones tables update (PDF) (Report). United States National Hurricane Center. January 12, 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 27, 2018. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
^ "Assessing the U.S. Climate in 2018". National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). 2019-02-06. Retrieved 2019-02-09.
^ Grazulis, Thomas P. (1993). "11". Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991, A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, VT: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films. pp. 124–127. ISBN 1-879362-03-1.
^ John L. Beven II. Hurricane Frances. Retrieved on 2007-04-08.
^ Neal Dorst (January 26, 2010). "Subject: E6) Which tropical cyclone lasted the longest?". Hurricane Research Division. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
^ Lixion Avila and Robbie Berg (October 4, 2012). "Remnants of Nadine Discussion Eighty-Eight (Final)". National Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved October 4, 2012.

Note: Storms that originally form as tropical depression will not be posted unless they reach tropical storm status (for example, Hurricane Michael in 2012 formed on September 3 as tropical depression, but was not named until it reached tropical storm status, on September 4, thus putting Hurricane Michael on the list with the date September 4).