List of Atlantic hurricane records

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This is a list of Atlantic hurricane records, subdivided by reason for notability.

Contents

[edit] Earliest/latest formations for each category

Below is a list of the earliest and latest forming hurricanes for each category.

Earliest formation
Category Year Storm Date reached
SS 1978 "January Subtropical" January 18
TS 1952 "Groundhog Day" February 2
1 1908 Storm 1 March 6
2 1908 Storm 1 March 7
3 1951 Hurricane Able May 21
4 1957 Hurricane Audrey June 27
5 2005 Hurricane Emily July 17
Latest formation
Category Year Storm Date reached
SS 1975 Subtropical Storm 2 December 9
TS 1954 Hurricane Alice December 30
1 1954 Hurricane Alice December 31
2 1985 Hurricane Kate November 19
3 1985 Hurricane Kate November 20
4 1999 Hurricane Lenny November 17
5 1961 Hurricane Hattie October 30

[edit] Earliest formation records by storm number

Earliest formation of Atlantic Basin tropical cyclones by storm number
Storm number Earliest Next earliest
Name Date of formation Name Date of formation
1 Unnamed January 18, 1978 Unnamed February 2, 1952
2 Unnamed May 17, 1887 Unnamed May 26, 1908
3 Unnamed June 12, 1887 Unnamed June 18, 1959
4 Dennis July 5, 2005 Cindy July 7, 1959
5 Emily July 11, 2005 Danny July 16, 1997
6 Franklin July 21, 2005 Unnamed August 4, 1936
7 Gert July 24, 2005 Unnamed August 7, 1936
8 Harvey August 3, 2005 Unnamed August 15, 1936
9 Irene August 7, 2005 Unnamed August 20, 1936
10 Jose August 22, 2005 Jerry August 23, 1995
11 Katrina August 24, 2005 TIE Unnamed August 28, 1933
Unnamed August 28, 1936
Karen August 28, 1995
12 Luis August 29, 1995 TIE Unnamed August 31, 1933
Lee August 31, 2005
13 Maria September 2, 2005 Lee September 2, 2011
14 Nate September 5, 2005 Maria September 7, 2011
15 Ophelia September 7, 2005 Nate September 7, 2011
16 Philippe September 17, 2005 Ophelia September 21, 2011
17 Rita September 18, 2005 Philippe September 24, 2011
18 Unnamed October 1, 1933 Stan October 2, 2005
19 Unnamed October 4, 2005 Unnamed October 25, 1933
20 Tammy October 5, 2005 Unnamed October 26, 1933
21 Vince October 9, 2005 Unnamed November 15, 1933
22 Wilma October 17, 2005 N/A N/A
23 Alpha October 22, 2005 N/A N/A
24 Beta October 27, 2005 N/A N/A
25 Gamma November 18, 2005 N/A N/A
26 Delta November 23, 2005 N/A N/A
27 Epsilon November 29, 2005 N/A N/A
28 Zeta December 30, 2005 N/A N/A
Based on data from: U.S. NOAA Coastal Service Center - Historical Hurricane Tracks Tool

[edit] Extreme latitudes and longitudes

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

This list contains tropical cyclones that formed 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 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 - 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.
  • 2008 - Hurricane Bertha formed at 24.7°W, the farthest-east forming Atlantic tropical storm, hurricane and major hurricane in July.
  • 2009 - Tropical Storm Grace formed at 41.2°N latitude by 20.3°W longitude, eclipsing the record set by Hurricane Vince for the farthest northeast forming tropical storm in the Atlantic basin.
  • 2010 - Hurricane Julia reached Category 4 intensity at 31.8°W longitude, the easternmost storm ever to reach such a high intensity. Hurricane Fred in 2009 was the strongest recorded storm east of 35°W longitude until Julia.

[edit] Fastest forward speed

Fastest forward speed ‡
Rank Speed Name Year Day Time
1 70 mph (110 km/h) Great 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
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.

[edit] 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: 90+mb - 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

[edit] Largest in diameter

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

Largest Atlantic hurricanes by gale diameter
Rank Storm Season Diameter
(mi) (km)
1 Igor 2010 920 1,480
2 Olga 2001 863 1,389
3 Lili 1996 806 1,296
4 Karl 2004 777 1,250
5 Helene 2006 748 1,204
6 Irene 1999 719 1,157
7 Gabrielle 1989 690 1,111
Florence 2006 690 1,111
9 Wilma 2005 662 1,065
10 Keith 1988 633 1,018
Grace 1991 633 1,018
Sources:[1], [2], [3]

[edit] Longest duration

Greatest duration †
Sources: NOAA,[2][3][4]
Duration
(days)		 Name Date
28 Hurricane San Ciriaco August 1899
27.25 Hurricane Ginger September 1971
24.75 Hurricane Inga September 1969
22 Hurricane Kyle September 2002
22 Hurricane Joan-Miriam‡ October 1988
20.75 Hurricane Carrie September 1957
Hurricane Inez September 1966
19.75 Hurricane Alberto August 2000
19.5 Storm 4 September 1926
19.25 Storm 9 September 1893
19 Hurricane Irene-Olivia‡ September 1971
Notes
† Only those lasting longer than 18 days. ‡ Lifespan split between two basins: the Atlantic and the East Pacific.

[edit] Farthest Travels

Greatest Travels
Sources: NOAA,[5][6][7]
Distance
(Miles)		 Name Date
7500 Hurricane Faith 1966
6500 Hurricane Alberto 2000
6000 Hurricane Cleo 1964
Hurricane Chloe 1967
5500 Hurricane Carrie 1957
Hurricane Flora 1963
Hurricane Dora 1964

[edit] Most intense

Most intense Atlantic hurricanes
Rank Hurricane Season Pressure
hPa inHg
1 Wilma 2005 882 26.0
2 Gilbert 1988 888 26.2
3 "Labor Day" 1935 892 26.3
4 Rita 2005 895 26.4
5 Allen 1980 899 26.5
6 Katrina 2005 902 26.6
7 Camille 1969 905 26.7
Mitch 1998 905 26.7
Dean 2007 905 26.7
10 "Cuba" 1924 910 26.9
Ivan 2004 910 26.9
Source: HURDAT[8]

[edit] Most intense by month

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

Month Name Year Minimum pressure
January Alice* 1955 987 mbar (hPa)
February unnamed** 1952 1004 mbar (hPa)
March unnamed** 1908 <991 mbar (hPa)
April Ana 2003 994 mbar (hPa)
May Able 1951 <980 mbar (hPa)
June Audrey 1957 946 mbar (hPa)
Alex 2010 946 mbar (hPa)
July Emily 2005 929 mbar (hPa)
August Allen 1980 899 mbar (hPa)
September Gilbert 1988 888 mbar (hPa)
October Wilma 2005 882 mbar (hPa)
November Lenny 1999 933 mbar (hPa)
Michelle 2001 933 mbar (hPa)
December Nicole 1998 979 mbar (hPa)
* Alice formed in December 1954 but continued into January 1955
** These are the strongest systems in these months by virtue of being the only known systems.

[edit] Most intense landfalling Atlantic hurricanes in the United States (HSI)

Most intense landfalling Atlantic hurricanes in the United States
based on size and intensity for total points on the Hurricane Severity Index
Rank Hurricane Year Intensity Size Total
1 Carla 1961 17 25 42
2 Hugo 1989 16 24 40
Betsy 1965 15 25 40
4 Camille 1969 22 14 36
Katrina 2005 13 23 36
Opal 1995 11 25 36
7 Miami 1926 15 19 34
8 Audrey 1957 17 16 33
Fran 1996 11 22 33
Wilma 2005 12 21 33
Source: Hurricane Severity Index

[edit] Most intense by letter

  • This list excludes non-standard names (such as the Greek Alphabet), as well as post-tropical intensities.
Letter Name Year Minimum pressure Category
A Allen 1980 899 mbar (hPa) 5
B Beulah 1967 923 mbar (hPa) 5
C Camille 1969 905 mbar (hPa) 5
D Dean 2007 905 mbar (hPa) 5
E Emily 2005 929 mbar (hPa) 5
F Felix 2007 929 mbar (hPa) 5
G Gilbert 1988 888 mbar (hPa) 5
H Hugo 1989 918 mbar (hPa) 5
I Ivan 2004 910 mbar (hPa) 5
J Janet 1955 914 mbar (hPa) 5
K Katrina 2005 902 mbar (hPa) 5
L Lenny 1999 933 mbar (hPa) 4
M Mitch 1998 905 mbar (hPa) 5
N Nicole 1998 979 mbar (hPa) 1
Nate 2005 979 mbar (hPa) 1
O Opal 1995 916 mbar (hPa) 4
P Paloma 2008 944 mbar (hPa) 4
R Rita 2005 895 mbar (hPa) 5
S Stan 2005 977 mbar (hPa) 1
T Tanya* 1995 972 mbar (hPa) 1
V Vince† 2005 988 mbar (hPa) 1
W Wilma† 2005 882 mbar (hPa) 5

* Tanya was the most intense "T" Hurricane by minimum pressure. Hurricane Tomas in 2010 was more intense in terms of wind speeds and was a category 2 at peak strength

† Indicates only storm of that letter

[edit] Highest number of named storms

Number of named storm occurrences by Month
Month During
Storms Season
June 3 1968
July 5 2005
August 8 2004
September 8 2002, 2007 and 2010
October 7 2005
November 3 2005
Based on data from: U.S. NOAA Coastal Service Center - Historical Hurricane Tracks Tool
  • Hurricanes: 15 - 2005
  • Retired Hurricanes: 5 - 2005
  • Major Hurricanes: 8 - 1950
  • 2 Consecutive Seasons: 43 - 2004 and 2005
  • Category 5: 4 - 2005

[edit] Most tornadoes spawned

Number of tornadoes spawned[9]
Count Name Year
117 Hurricane Ivan 2004
115 Hurricane Beulah 1967
101 Hurricane Frances 2004[10]
86 Hurricane Rita 2005
81 Tropical Storm Fay 2008
62 Hurricane Katrina 2005
39 Hurricane Danny 1985
34 Hurricane David 1979
33 Hurricane Cindy 2005
31 Hurricane Opal 1995
30 Tropical Storm Lee 2011
29 Hurricane Allen 1980
29 Hurricane Gilbert 1988
23 Hurricane Alicia 1983
21 Hurricane Audrey 1957
20 Hurricane Carla 1961

[edit] Naming

  • First season to use the (13th) letter "M": Martha, 1969
  • 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 alphabet: Alpha, 2005
  • Season with most named storms: 28 - 2005

[edit] 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
Tropical
storms		 Year Hurricanes Notes
Total Cat 1-2 Major
28 2005 15 8 7 4 Category 5s, 1 subtropical storm
21 1933 10 5 5
19 1887 11 9 2
1995 11 6 5
2010 12 7 5 4 Category 4s
2011 7 3 4
18 1969 12 7 5 1 subtropical storm, 1 Category 5
16 1936 7 6 1
2003 7 4 3 1 Category 5
2008 8 3 5
15 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 6 2 4
1990 8 7 1
1998 10 7 3 1 Category 5
13 1949 7 4 3
1950 11 3 8 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
Cat 1-2 Major
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

[edit] Number of tropical storms and hurricanes per season

This bar chart shows the number of named storms and hurricanes per year from 1893-2011:

[edit] Worldwide cyclone records set by Atlantic storms

  • Costliest tropical cyclone: Hurricane Katrina - 2005 - $81.2 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))

[edit] See also

Portal icon Tropical cyclones portal

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/Data_Storm.html NHC/HRD "best track"
  2. ^ Faq : Hurricanes, Typhoons, And Tropical Cyclones
  3. ^ Hurricane Ivan - September 2-26, 2004
  4. ^ TPC ATLANTIC ALBERTO 2000 TROPICAL CYCLONE REPORT
  5. ^ Faq : Hurricanes, Typhoons, And Tropical Cyclones
  6. ^ Hurricane Ivan - September 2-26, 2004
  7. ^ TPC ATLANTIC ALBERTO 2000 TROPICAL CYCLONE REPORT
  8. ^ Hurricane Research Division (August 2011). "Atlantic hurricane best track (Hurdat)". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/tracks1851to2010_atl_reanal.html. Retrieved 2011-09-19. 
  9. ^ 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. 
  10. ^ John L. Beven II. Hurricane Frances. Retrieved on 2007-04-08.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Atlantic_hurricane_records&oldid=479547321"
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