2019 Atlantic hurricane season

2019 Atlantic hurricane season
Season summary map
Seasonal boundaries
First system formed	May 20, 2019
Last system dissipated	Season ongoing
Strongest storm
Name	Dorian
• Maximum winds	185 mph (295 km/h) (1-minute sustained)
• Lowest pressure	910 mbar (hPa; 26.87 inHg)
Seasonal statistics
Total depressions	13
Total storms	12
Hurricanes	5
Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+)	3
Total fatalities	≥ 70 total
Total damage	> $8.49 billion (2019 USD)
Related articles
Timeline of the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season 2019 Pacific hurricane season 2019 Pacific typhoon season 2019 North Indian Ocean cyclone season

The 2019 Atlantic hurricane season is an ongoing event in the annual formation of tropical cyclones in the Northern Hemisphere. The season officially began on June 1, 2019, and will end on November 30, 2019. These dates historically describe the period each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin and are adopted by convention. However, tropical cyclogenesis is possible at any time of the year, as demonstrated by the formation of Subtropical Storm Andrea on May 20, marking the record fifth year in a row where a tropical or subtropical cyclone developed before the official start of the season, breaking the previous record of four years set in 1951–1954. This was also the second year in a row in which no storms formed during the month of June. The season's first hurricane, Barry, formed in mid July in the northern Gulf of Mexico and struck Louisiana. After 5 weeks without tropical cyclones, activity began to ramp up in late August with a few storms developing, including Hurricane Dorian, the second hurricane and first major hurricane of the season. Dorian struck the Windward Islands as a tropical storm, then made landfall in the United States Virgin Islands as a Category 1 hurricane, causing one indirect death. Dorian then rapidly strengthened into a Category 5 hurricane as it approached and devastated the Bahamas, where it caused at least 53 deaths. With Dorian, 2019 became the fourth consecutive season to feature at least one Category 5 hurricane (Matthew in 2016; Irma and Maria in 2017 and Michael in 2018). Activity increased further in September when Hurricane Humberto formed and later brought hurricane-force winds to Bermuda, followed by Tropical Storm Imelda, which quickly formed over the Gulf of Mexico before it made landfall in Texas, causing catastrophic flooding while Karen caused extreme flooding in Tobago and Puerto Rico.

Seasonal forecasts

Predictions of tropical activity in the 2019 season

Source	Date	Named storms	Hurricanes	Major hurricanes
Average (1981–2010)		12.1	6.4	2.7
Record high activity		28	15	7
Record low activity		4	2†	0†
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
TSR	December 11, 2018	12	5	2
CSU	April 4, 2019	13	5	2
TSR	April 5, 2019	12	5	2
NCSU	April 16, 2019	13–16	5–7	2–3
TWC	May 6, 2019	14	7	3
UKMO	May 21, 2019	13*	7*	3*
NOAA	May 23, 2019	9–15	4–8	2–4
TSR	May 30, 2019	12	6	2
CSU	June 4, 2019	14	6	2
UA	June 11, 2019	16	8	3
TSR	July 4, 2019	12	6	2
CSU	July 9, 2019	14	6	2
CSU	August 5, 2019	14	7	2
TSR	August 6, 2019	13	6	2
NOAA	August 8, 2019	10–17	5–9	2–4
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
	Actual activity	12	5	3
* June–November only. † Most recent of several such occurrences. (See all)

Ahead of and during the season, several national meteorological services and scientific agencies forecast how many named storms, hurricanes, and major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher on the Saffir–Simpson scale) will form during a season and/or how many tropical cyclones will affect a particular country. These agencies include the Tropical Storm Risk (TSR) Consortium of University College London, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Colorado State University (CSU). The forecasts include weekly and monthly changes in significant factors that help determine the number of tropical storms, hurricanes, and major hurricanes within a particular year. Some of these forecasts also take into consideration what happened in previous seasons and the state of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO). On average, an Atlantic hurricane season between 1981 and 2010 contained twelve tropical storms, six hurricanes, and three major hurricanes, with an accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) index of between 66 and 103 units.

Pre-season outlooks

The first forecast for the year was released by TSR on December 11, 2018, which predicted a slightly below-average season in 2019, with a total of 12 named storms, 5 hurricanes, and 2 major hurricanes, due to the anticipated presence of El Niño conditions during the season. On April 4, 2019, CSU released its forecast, predicting a near-average season of 13 named storms, 5 hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes. On April 5, TSR released an updated forecast that reiterated its earlier predictions. North Carolina State University released their forecast on April 16, predicting slightly-above average activity with 13–16 named storms, 5–7 hurricanes and 2–3 major hurricanes. On May 6, the Weather Company predicted a slightly-above average season, with 14 named storms, 7 hurricanes, and 3 major hurricanes. The UK Met Office released their forecast May 21, predicting 13 named storms, 7 hurricanes, 3 major hurricanes and an accumulated cyclone energy of 109 units. On May 23, NOAA released their first prediction, calling for a near-normal season with 9–15 named systems, 4–8 hurricanes, and 2–4 major hurricanes. On May 30, TSR released an updated forecast which increased the number of forecast hurricanes from 5 to 6.

Mid-season outlooks

On June 4, CSU updated their forecast to include a total of 14 named storms, 6 hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes, including Subtropical Storm Andrea. On June 11, University of Arizona (UA) predicted above-average activities: 16 named storms, 8 hurricanes, 3 major hurricanes, and accumulated cyclone energy index of 150 units. On July 4, the TSR released their first mid-season outlook, still retaining their numbers from the previous forecast. On July 9, CSU released their second mid-season outlook with the same remaining numbers from their previous forecast. On August 5, the CSU released their third mid-season outlook, still retaining the same numbers from their previous forecast except the slight increase of the number of hurricanes. On August 6, the TSR released their second and final mid-season outlook, with the only changes of increasing the number of named storms from 12 to 13. On August 8, NOAA released their second prediction with increasing the chances for 10–17 named storms, 5–9 hurricanes, and 2–4 major hurricanes, suggesting above-average activity.

Seasonal summary

Main article: Timeline of the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season

For a record fifth consecutive year, activity began before the official start of the season when Subtropical Storm Andrea formed on May 20. No storms formed in the month of June, but activity resumed in July when Hurricane Barry formed. Tropical Depression Three formed soon afterwards. After the dissipation of Three less than 24 hours later, activity again suppressed. However, nearly a month later, on August 21, Tropical Storm Chantal formed, making the 2019 hurricane season the second latest starting season of the 21st century. Early on August 24, Chantal dissipated. Later that day, Hurricane Dorian formed. On August 26, a tropical depression formed off the coast of North Carolina. It would intensify into Tropical Storm Erin late next night. On September 3, Tropical Storm Fernand and Tropical Storm Gabrielle formed. Gabrielle would go on to become extratropical temporarily, then regenerate into a tropical storm, before becoming extratropical again and dissipating. Soon after Gabrielle became extratropical for the second and final time, and a potential tropical cyclone formed which would later become Hurricane Humberto. On September 17, two tropical depressions formed: the one in the Gulf of Mexico rapidly developed into Tropical Storm Imelda shortly before making landfall in Texas, and the other one was named Jerry on September 18. Another duo of tropical cyclones formed on September 22. One was Tropical Storm Karen in the Caribbean Sea. The other one was Tropical Depression Thirteen which eventually became Tropical Storm Lorenzo on the next day.

The accumulated cyclone energy index for the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season, as of 15:00 UTC September 26, is 91.1375 units.

Systems

Subtropical Storm Andrea

Subtropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	May 20 – May 21
Peak intensity	40 mph (65 km/h) (1-min); 1006 mbar (hPa)

See also: List of off-season Atlantic hurricanes

An upper-level trough originating in the mid-latitudes cut off into a broad upper-level low over Florida on May 17. The low moved eastward over the western Atlantic during the next day as a large area of cloudiness and showers developed to its east, and on May 19, it began to interact with low-level vorticity along the western edge of a dissipating cold front. The two systems had coalesced into a broad area of low pressure by 12:00 UTC on May 20., and convection associated with the low became better organized throughout that day as the system moved northward. By 22:00 UTC, an Air Force reconnaissance flight found that the system had acquired a well-defined center of circulation, and was producing gale-force winds well away from the center. Based on the aircraft data and the structure of the system, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) estimated that the system became Subtropical Storm Andrea at 18:00 UTC on May 20. However, the cyclone soon began to entrain dry air into its circulation while southwesterly wind shear increased, resulting in a rapid waning of the convection. By 12:00 UTC on May 21, Andrea's convection had dissipated, and the cyclone degenerated into a remnant low. The remnant low moved east-northeastward through the following day until at was absorbed by a cold front at 12:00 UTC on May 22.

Hurricane Barry

Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS)
Duration	July 11 – July 15
Peak intensity	75 mph (120 km/h) (1-min); 991 mbar (hPa)

Main article: Hurricane Barry (2019)

A trough of low pressure in the Midwest began moving south, towards the Gulf of Mexico. On July 6, the NHC began monitoring it over the Tennessee Valley and forecast it to move southwards, emerge into the northeastern Gulf of Mexico, and potentially develop into a tropical cyclone within several days. Over the next few days, the trough drifted southward, due to the steering influence of a ridge of high pressure, and the trough developed a broad area of low pressure on July 9, shortly before the system entered the Gulf of Mexico from the Florida big bend. The low-pressure system, while still lacking a well-defined center of circulation, became a little better defined on the following day. As the system had a high potential of producing tropical storm conditions and storm surge along the coast of Louisiana within the next couple of days, the NHC initiated advisories on Potential Tropical Cyclone Two at 15:00 UTC on July 10. The system subsequently organized into a tropical storm at 15:00 UTC on July 11. The system slowly moved westward, affecting the U.S. Gulf Coast. The system finally strengthened into a hurricane at 15:00 UTC on July 13 making it the first of the season. However, three hours later, at 18:00 UTC, wind shear began to increase, causing the system to begin weakening. Around that time, Barry made landfall on Intracoastal City, Louisiana, as a Category 1 hurricane, before weakening to tropical storm status afterward, causing extensive damage to Lafayette, Lake Charles, and Baton Rouge. Barry gradually weakened while slowly moving inland, weakening into a tropical depression at 21:00 UTC on July 14. At 21:00 UTC on July 15, Barry weakened into a remnant low over northern Arkansas. During the next several days, Barry's remnant moved eastward while gradually weakening, before being absorbed into another frontal system off the coast of New Jersey on July 19.

Barry caused one fatality, with a man killed by a rip current off the coast of the Florida Panhandle on July 15. Damage from the storm is currently at >$600 million (2019 USD).

Tropical Depression Three

Tropical depression (SSHWS)
Duration	July 22 – July 23
Peak intensity	35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min); 1013 mbar (hPa)

Early on July 21, the NHC began monitoring a tropical wave located about 300 miles east of the Bahamas for potential tropical cyclone development. Despite the disturbance having a low chance of tropical cyclone formation, rapid organization ensued on the following day, with a closed low-level circulation developing, as deep convection increased in association with the small low-pressure system. Subsequently, at 21:00 UTC on July 22, the NHC classified the system as Tropical Depression Three. However, deep convection associated with the tropical depression soon dissipated, and although convection redeveloped early on July 23, the cyclone remained disorganized. An Air Force reconnaissance aircraft investigating the system that morning found no evidence of a surface circulation, and at 15:00 UTC that day, the tropical depression degenerated into a trough of low pressure while located off the east coast of Florida. The storm's remnants continued to move northward, before being absorbed by a frontal system several hours later, early on the next day. The impacts were very minimal, with only 1–3 inches (25–76 mm) of rainfall in South Florida and the Bahamas.

Tropical Storm Chantal

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	August 21 – August 24
Peak intensity	40 mph (65 km/h) (1-min); 1009 mbar (hPa)

Late on August 16, the NHC began monitoring a surface trough located over Jacksonville, Florida for tropical cyclone development. A small low pressure system developed in association with the trough as it moved northeastward along the East Coast of the United States, although the system's proximity to the coast prevented significant development at that time. Although environmental conditions were not forecast to favor significant development, thunderstorm activity associated with the system became better organized on August 20, and the circulation became better defined. By 03:00 UTC on August 21, the system had developed a well-defined surface circulation and was producing tropical storm-force winds to the south of its center, resulting in the classification of Tropical Storm Chantal over the far northern Atlantic. Chantal lasted 24 hours as a tropical storm before weakening into a tropical depression. Soon afterword, Chantal degenerated into a post-tropical cyclone over the northern Atlantic.

Hurricane Dorian

Category 5 hurricane (SSHWS)
Duration	August 24 – September 7
Peak intensity	185 mph (295 km/h) (1-min); 910 mbar (hPa)

Main article: Hurricane Dorian

On August 23, a low-pressure area developed in association with a tropical wave over the open Atlantic Ocean, between the Cape Verde Islands and the Lesser Antilles. The system quickly organized overnight and on August 24, it was classified as a tropical depression several hundred miles east-southeast of Barbados. That same day, it achieved tropical storm status and was given the name Dorian. At first, the system remained small and weak; however, on August 25, it began to strengthen and expand in size. At 1800 UTC on August 28, Dorian reached hurricane status at landfall on the US Virgin Islands. A weather station reported winds of 82 mph (132 km/h) and a gust of 111 mph (179 km/h). There was some dry air still in the system after moving to the north. Eventually, the dry air was expelled from the system, which promoted rapid intensification; Dorian reached Category 3 major hurricane strength on August 30. Rapid intensification continued thereafter, and Dorian reached Category 4 intensity that night, having intensified from a Category 2 hurricane to a Category 4 hurricane in just over 9 hours. Dorian strengthened into a Category 5 hurricane on September 1. This made 2019 the record fourth consecutive year to feature a Category 5 hurricane, surpassing the three-year period from 2003–2005. The system continued to strengthen rapidly throughout the day, becoming the strongest hurricane to impact the northwestern Bahamas since modern records began. Dorian made landfall on Elbow Cay at 16:40 UTC that day with 1-minute sustained winds of 185 mph (295 km/h); the storm continued strengthening during landfall, with its minimum central pressure bottoming out at 910 millibars (26.87 inHg) a few hours later, reaching peak intensity. At 02:00 UTC on the next day, Dorian made landfall on Grand Bahama near the same intensity, with the same sustained wind speed. A few hours later, Dorian stalled just north of Grand Bahama island, as the Bermuda High situated to the northeast of the storm collapsed. Around the same time, the combination of an eyewall replacement cycle and upwelling of cold water caused Dorian to begin weakening. Hurricane Dorian weakened to a Category 2 storm on September 3, before beginning to move northwestward at 15:00 UTC, parallel to the east coast of Florida; Dorian's wind field expanded during this time. At 06:00 UTC on September 5, Dorian moved over the warm waters of the Gulf Stream and completed its eyewall replacement cycle, reintensifying into a Category 3 hurricane. However, several hours later, Dorian moved into a more hostile environment, encountering more wind shear and dry air, which caused the storm to weaken to a Category 2 hurricane, and later to Category 1 intensity, early on September 6. At 12:35 UTC that day, Dorian made landfall on Cape Hatteras, North Carolina as a Category 1 hurricane. On September 7, Dorian transitioned into an extratropical cyclone. At 18:00 UTC that day, Dorian intensified into a Category 2-equivalent extratropical storm, due to baroclinic forcing. Several hours later, at 7:05 p.m. AST on September 7, Dorian made landfall in Sambro Creek, Nova Scotia as a Category 2-equivalent extratropical storm, before making another landfall on the northern part of Newfoundland several hours later. Early on September 9, Dorian weakened and moved away from Atlantic Canada, and the NHC issued their final advisory on the storm.

Hurricane Dorian killed more than 62 people and caused at least $7.5 billion (2019 USD) in damages, with the vast majority of the deaths and damage occurring in the Bahamas, which was the hardest-hit area by the storm.

Tropical Storm Erin

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	August 26 – August 29
Peak intensity	40 mph (65 km/h) (1-min); 1005 mbar (hPa)

Early on August 21, the NHC started to monitor a disturbance over the Bahamas for potential development. The disturbance continued northwestward, and briefly moved over Florida. This weakened the system, and then it re-emerged over the Atlantic. A few days later, after having moved northeastward away from Florida, the system was still poorly organized, but a closed circulation prompted the NHC to initiate advisories on Tropical Depression Six at 2100 UTC August 26. Due to northwesterly wind shear, convection was displaced to the south-east quadrant of the center, and so the system struggled to strengthen for a while. However, the center soon moved closer to the convection, which then began to envelop it. This prompted the National Hurricane Center to upgrade the depression to Tropical Storm Erin. Wind shear displaced convection from the storm's center of circulation a few hours later, weakening the system back to a tropical depression. A day later, Erin transitioned into an extratropical cyclone, and the NHC discontinued advisories on the system.

In Nova Scotia, precipitation from the remnants of Erin was higher than for all of July and August combined before the storm. According to the Meteorological Service of Canada, the Annapolis Valley and the Bay of Fundy region received the most precipitation with a maximum of 162 mm at Parrsboro and 127 mm at Greenwood. Elsewhere, 53 mm fell in Halifax, 79 mm in Yarmouth, and at the peak of precipitation, several stations reported rates greater than 30 mm per hour, resulting in increased runoff, causing flash floods and the wash out of roads.

On the New Brunswick side, rain affected the southern part of the province with maximums of 56 mm in Fredericton, 50 mm in Moncton and 44 mm in Saint John. In Prince Edward Island, accumulations ranged from 30 to 60 mm with a maximum of 66 mm in Summerside. However, volunteers' weather stations reported up to 111 mm at Jolicure/Sackville in New Brunswick and up to 95 mm at Borden-Carleton on Prince Edward Island, along the same axis as the Nova Scotia maximums. In Quebec, the regions near the Gulf of St. Lawrence also received about 50 mm of rain.

Tropical Storm Fernand

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	September 3 – September 5
Peak intensity	50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min); 1000 mbar (hPa)

Main article: Tropical Storm Fernand (2019)

A broad area of low pressure began to be monitored over the southeast Gulf of Mexico on August 31 for potential tropical cyclone development. The system gradually developed while moving slowly westward. On September 2, the satellite imagery showed that the surface circulation became better defined, and that the system was more concentrated. On September 3, the disturbance was designated as Potential Tropical Cyclone Seven, with a virtually certain chance of tropical cyclone development. Six hours later, the system organized into the seventh tropical depression of the season and rapidly developed into Tropical Storm Fernand. Fernand made landfall just north of La Pesca in Tamaulipas, Mexico, on September 4, bringing heavy rainfall and storm surge. The storm weakened rapidly and dissipated within 12 hours of landfall.

Fernand brought torrential rainfall to the Mexican states of Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, and San Luis Potosí. Fernand also dumped heavy rainfall over South Texas. In preparation for the storm, the Mexican government activated Plan DN-III-E, sending 4,000 troops to the northeastern states to assist in disaster relief. In Nuevo León, schools and public transport lines were closed on September 5 but resumed operations the next day. Of the states, Nuevo León was the hardest hit, suffering at least MX$4.2 billion (US$213 million) in damage. In some places, six months of rain fell in six hours. Landslides were reported near the state's capital, Monterrey. Homes, roads, bridges, and at least 400 schools were damaged. In García, a Venezuelan man died after he was swept away by floodwaters while attempting to clear a drain; the two people he was working with managed to escape. On September 7, governor of Nuevo León, Jaime Rodríguez Calderón, declared a state of emergency to request for state funds to address the damage. Elsewhere, in Tamaulipas, 12 in (300 mm) of rain fell in 48 hours, leading to some coastal flooding.

Tropical Storm Gabrielle

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	September 3 – September 10
Peak intensity	65 mph (100 km/h) (1-min); 995 mbar (hPa)

On August 30, the NHC began monitoring a tropical wave emerging from the west coast of Africa. Over the next few days, the disturbance slowly organized while moving westward, and the system strengthened into the eighth tropical depression of the season late on September 3, before intensifying further into Tropical Storm Gabrielle overnight. The system remained poorly organized, and Gabrielle encountered high wind shear and dry air soon afterward, causing the storm to degenerate into a remnant low at 03:00 UTC on September 6. However, convection began to appear on the northern part of the center within six hours, marking Gabrielle's regeneration into a tropical storm. Soon afterward, Gabrielle began tracking westward, before turning northeastward and leaving the northern part of the warm waters of the Gulf Stream, on September 9. On the next day, Gabrielle degenerated into an extratropical cyclone. Gabrielle's remnants later struck the British Isles on September 12.

Hurricane Humberto

Category 3 hurricane (SSHWS)
Duration	September 13 – September 20
Peak intensity	125 mph (205 km/h) (1-min); 951 mbar (hPa)

Main article: Hurricane Humberto (2019)

Early on September 8, at 03:00 UTC, the NHC began monitoring a disturbance to the northeast of the Lesser Antilles for potential tropical cyclone development. During the few days, the disturbance moved westward while remaining disorganized. On September 12, the disturbance rapidly organized over the southeastern Bahamas, and as the system posed an imminent threat to land areas, the NHC initiated advisories on Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine at 21:00 UTC that day. 24 hours later, the system developed into a tropical depression, while moving northwestward. before strengthening further into Tropical Storm Humberto later that day. On September 14, Humberto passed to the east of the Abaco Islands staying just off the eastern coastline. On September 16, at 03:00 UTC, Humberto intensified into a Category 1 hurricane, while turning to the northeast. Humberto further intensified into a Category 3 major hurricane at 00:00 UTC on the next day. It passed just north of Bermuda and brought hurricane-force winds on the island. After passing Bermuda, Humberto slightly strengthened, then weakened, and finally became an extratropical cyclone at 03:00 UTC on September 20.

Tropical Storm Imelda

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	September 17 – September 19
Peak intensity	40 mph (65 km/h) (1-min); 1005 mbar (hPa)

Main article: Tropical Storm Imelda

On September 14, the NHC began monitoring an upper-level low off the west coast of Florida for possible tropical development. During the next several days, the system moved westward across the Gulf of Mexico, though the NHC gave the disturbance only a low chance of development. By September 17, the system had reached the east coast of Texas. Soon afterward, organization in the system rapidly increased, and at 17:00 UTC that day, the system organized into Tropical Depression 11, just off the coast of Texas. The storm continued strengthening while approaching land, becoming Tropical Storm Imelda at 17:45 UTC. Shortly thereafter, at 18:30 UTC, Imelda made landfall near Freeport, Texas at peak intensity, with maximum 1-minute sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 1,005 millibars (29.7 inHg). Imelda weakened after landfall, becoming a tropical depression at 03:00 UTC on the next day. At that time, the NHC passed on the responsibility for issuing advisories to the Weather Prediction Center (WPC).

Imelda brought catastrophic flooding to Southeast Texas, with more than 40 inches of rain in some areas. It is the fifth-wettest tropical cyclone to strike the continental United States.

Hurricane Jerry

Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS)
Duration	September 17 – September 25
Peak intensity	105 mph (165 km/h) (1-min); 976 mbar (hPa)

On September 9, a tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa and emerged into the Atlantic, and the NHC began to monitor the system for potential tropical development. Tracking slowly westward across the Atlantic, the tropical wave remained disorganized until September 16, when the system's organization significantly increased. On September 17, the disturbance organized into Tropical Depression Ten. Early on September 18, the tropical depression strengthened into a tropical storm and received the name Jerry. The next day, Jerry intensified into a Category 1 hurricane, and 12 hours later, it further intensified to a Category 2 hurricane with sustained winds of 90 kn (105 mph; 165 km/h). A slight increase in upper-level winds caused the storm to weaken back to a tropical storm about 24 hours later. Jerry very slowly weakened as it approached the island of Bermuda, and early on September 25, Jerry finally transitioned into a post-tropical cyclone.

Tropical Storm Karen

Tropical Storm Karen
Current storm status Tropical storm (1-min mean)
Satellite image Forecast map
As of:	11:00 a.m. AST (15:00 UTC) September 26
Location:	26.6°N 63.3°W / 26.6; -63.3 (Tropical Storm Karen) ± 40 nm About 405 mi (650 km) SSE of Bermuda
Sustained winds:	40 kn (45 mph; 75 km/h) (1-min mean) gusting to 50 kn (60 mph; 95 km/h)
Pressure:	1004 mbar (29.65 inHg)
Movement:	NNE at 12 kn (14 mph; 22 km/h)
See more detailed information.

Main article: Tropical Storm Karen (2019)

On September 18, the NHC began to monitor a tropical wave midway between Cape Verde and the Lesser Antilles for possible tropical cyclone development. On September 22, the system developed a closed center of circulation and was named Karen just east of Tobago. After crossing the Lesser Antilles and emerging into the Caribbean Sea, Karen weakened to a depression as it turned northwards, heading for Puerto Rico. But on the next day, it reintensified back to a tropical storm just south of the island.

Current storm information

As of 11:00 a.m. AST (15:00 UTC) September 26, Tropical Storm Karen is located within 40 nautical miles of 26.6°N 63.3°W / 26.6; -63.3 (Karen), about 405 mi (650 km) south-southeast of Bermuda. Maximum sustained winds are 40 kn (45 mph; 75 km/h), with gusts to 50 kn (60 mph; 95 km/h). The minimum barometric pressure is 1004 mbar (29.65 inHg), and the system is moving north-northeast at 12 kn (14 mph; 22 km/h). Tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles (95 km) from the center of Karen.

For latest official information see:

• The NHC's latest Public Advisory on Tropical Storm Karen
• The NHC's latest Forecast Discussion on Tropical Storm Karen
• The NHC's latest Forecast Advisory on Tropical Storm Karen

Hurricane Lorenzo

Hurricane Lorenzo
Current storm status Category 4 hurricane (1-min mean)
Satellite image Forecast map
As of:	11:00 AST (15:00 UTC) September 26
Location:	15.4°N 40.2°W / 15.4; -40.2 (Hurricane Lorenzo) ± 20 nm About 1,055 mi (1,695 km) W of the southernmost Cabo Verde islands
Sustained winds:	130 mph (215 km/h) (1-min mean) gusting to 160 mph (260 km/h)
Pressure:	949 mbar (hPa; 28.02 inHg)
Movement:	WNW at 11 kn (13 mph; 20 km/h)
See more detailed information.

On September 19, the NHC began to monitor a tropical wave that was forecast to emerge from the coast of Africa. On September 22, the wave emerged into the Atlantic ocean. The system quickly organized afterwards, and at 03:00 UTC on the next day, the NHC initiated advisories on Tropical Depression Thirteen. Twelve hours later, the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Lorenzo over the far eastern Atlantic Ocean. On the next day, the storm further intensified to a hurricane. After completing an eyewall replacement cycle in the morning of September 26 which had hindered development somewhat, Lorenzo underwent a period of extremely rapid intensification. An increase in maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) in just six hours caused Lorenzo to reach Category 4 major hurricane status by 15:00 UTC on September 26. At this point, Lorenzo had become one of the largest and most powerful hurricanes on record for the central tropical Atlantic, with the only comparable hurricane in recent times near there being Gabrielle of 1989.

Current storm information

As of 11:00 a.m. AST (15:00 UTC) September 26, Hurricane Lorenzo is located within 20 nautical miles of 15.4°N 40.2°W / 15.4; -40.2 (Lorenzo), about 1,055 mi (1,695 km) west of the southernmost Cabo Verde islands. Maximum sustained winds are 115 kn (130 mph; 215 km/h), with gusts to 140 kn (160 mph; 260 km/h). The minimum barometric pressure is 949 mbar (28.02 inHg), and the system is moving west-northwest at 11 kn (13 mph; 20 km/h). Hurricane-force winds extend up to 45 miles (75 km) from the center of Lorenzo, and tropical storm-force winds up to 255 miles (405 km) from the center.

For the latest official information, see:

• The NHC's latest public advisory on Hurricane Lorenzo
• The NHC's latest forecast advisory on Hurricane Lorenzo
• The NHC's latest forecast discussion on Hurricane Lorenzo

Storm names

See also: Tropical cyclone naming § North Atlantic Ocean

The following list of names will be used for named storms that form in the North Atlantic in 2019. Retired names, if any, will be announced by the World Meteorological Organization in the spring of 2020. The names not retired from this list will be used again in the 2025 season. This is the same list used in the 2013 season, with the exception of the name Imelda, which replaced Ingrid. The name Imelda was used for the first time this year.

Andrea Barry Chantal Dorian Erin Fernand Gabrielle

Humberto Imelda Jerry Karen (active) Lorenzo (active) Melissa (unused) Nestor (unused)

Olga (unused) Pablo (unused) Rebekah (unused) Sebastien (unused) Tanya (unused) Van (unused) Wendy (unused)

Season effects

This is a table of all the storms that have formed in the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season. It includes their duration, names, affected areas, damages, and death totals. Deaths in parentheses are additional and indirect (an example of an indirect death would be a traffic accident), but were still related to that storm. Damage and deaths include totals while the storm was extratropical, a tropical wave, or a low, and all the damage figures are in USD. Potential tropical cyclones are not included in this table.

Saffir–Simpson scale
TD	TS	C1	C2	C3	C4	C5

2019 North Atlantic tropical cyclone season statistics

Storm name	Dates active	Storm category at peak intensity	Max 1-min wind mph (km/h)	Min. press. (mbar)	Areas affected	Damage (USD)	Deaths	Ref(s)
Andrea	May 20 – 21	Subtropical storm	40 (65)	1006	Bermuda	None	None
Barry	July 11 – 15	Category 1 hurricane	75 (120)	991	Midwestern United States, Eastern United States, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Great Lakes region	>$600 million	0 (1)
Three	July 22 – 23	Tropical depression	35 (55)	1013	The Bahamas, Florida	None	None
Chantal	August 21 – 24	Tropical storm	40 (65)	1009	East Coast of the United States	None	None
Dorian	August 24 – September 7	Category 5 hurricane	185 (295)	910	Windward Islands, Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, The Northwestern Bahamas, East Coast of the United States, Eastern Canada	>$7.5 billion	56 (7)
Erin	August 26 – 29	Tropical storm	40 (65)	1005	Cuba, The Bahamas, East Coast of the United States, Atlantic Canada	Minimal	None
Fernand	September 3 – 5	Tropical storm	50 (85)	1000	Northeastern Mexico, South Texas	$213 million	1
Gabrielle	September 3 – 10	Tropical storm	65 (100)	995	Cape Verde, British Isles	None	None
Humberto	September 13 – 20	Category 3 hurricane	125 (205)	951	Hispaniola, Cuba, Bahamas, Southeastern United States, Bermuda, Atlantic Canada. Ireland, United Kingdom	Unknown	1
Imelda	September 17 – 19	Tropical storm	40 (65)	1005	Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas	Unknown	5
Jerry	September 17 – 25	Category 2 hurricane	105 (165)	976	Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, Bermuda	None	None
Karen	September 22 – Present	Tropical storm	45 (75)	1002	Windward Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, U.S. Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico	Unknown	None
Lorenzo	September 22 – Present	Category 4 hurricane	130 (215)	949	Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, The Gambia, Cape Verde	None	None
Season aggregates
13 systems	May 20 – Present		185 (295)	910		>$8.483 billion	≥ 62 (8)

See also

• List of Atlantic hurricanes
• List of Atlantic hurricane seasons
• Tropical cyclones in 2019
• 2019 Pacific hurricane season
• 2019 Pacific typhoon season
• 2019 North Indian Ocean cyclone season
• South-West Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 2018–19, 2019–20
• Australian region cyclone seasons: 2018–19, 2019–20
• South Pacific cyclone seasons: 2018–19, 2019–20
• South Atlantic tropical cyclone

External links

• National Hurricane Center website
• National Hurricane Center's Atlantic Tropical Weather Outlook
• Tropical Cyclone Formation Probability Guidance Product