It has been a season of firsts for hurricanes in the North Atlantic. Epsilon is only the fifth hurricane to form during the month of December in Atlantic records. The others are unnamed storms in 1887 and 1925, the second Alice in 1954 and 1984’s Lili. It is the sixth ever to occur in the twelfth month. Add 1998’s Nicole to the earlier list to make six.
We had ideas that it would be a busy hurricane season. Early in the season, we asked kiddingly what would happen if the National Hurricane Center used up their list of twenty one names. There was only one season in recorded history that had twenty one tropical storms, and that was way back in 1933.
It was certainly a season of records. The twenty six named storms that formed established a new record. The fourteen hurricanes also breaks the old record of twelve, that was set in 1969. In addition, Cindy may have reached hurricane status before making landfall in Louisiana. This would make fifteen hurricanes. The seven major hurricanes that occurred, tied the record set in 1969.
There were officially three Category Five hurricanes this year and there well may have been four, if Emily indeed reached Cat Five status. Katrina, Rita and Wilma were all Category Five hurricanes. There have been twenty eight Category Five hurricanes (twenty nine if you count Emily) and three or four of them occurred this year. Two different years had two Category Five hurricanes (1960 and 1961.)
The two named storms in June was significant because that has only happened twice since North Atlantic hurricane records began. The five named storms in July broke the old record of four. So by the end of July, there had been seven named storms, which was unprecedented. By the end of August, there had been twelve named storms. The long term average by that time is 4.4 names storms. The six named storms in October established a new record.
So, 26 names storms, 14 hurricanes and 7 major hurricanes, compared to the long term averages of 11 named storms, 6 hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes. And it is not over yet.
We had ideas that it would be a busy hurricane season. Early in the season, we asked kiddingly what would happen if the National Hurricane Center used up their list of twenty one names. There was only one season in recorded history that had twenty one tropical storms, and that was way back in 1933.
It was certainly a season of records. The twenty six named storms that formed established a new record. The fourteen hurricanes also breaks the old record of twelve, that was set in 1969. In addition, Cindy may have reached hurricane status before making landfall in Louisiana. This would make fifteen hurricanes. The seven major hurricanes that occurred, tied the record set in 1969.
There were officially three Category Five hurricanes this year and there well may have been four, if Emily indeed reached Cat Five status. Katrina, Rita and Wilma were all Category Five hurricanes. There have been twenty eight Category Five hurricanes (twenty nine if you count Emily) and three or four of them occurred this year. Two different years had two Category Five hurricanes (1960 and 1961.)
The two named storms in June was significant because that has only happened twice since North Atlantic hurricane records began. The five named storms in July broke the old record of four. So by the end of July, there had been seven named storms, which was unprecedented. By the end of August, there had been twelve named storms. The long term average by that time is 4.4 names storms. The six named storms in October established a new record.
So, 26 names storms, 14 hurricanes and 7 major hurricanes, compared to the long term averages of 11 named storms, 6 hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes. And it is not over yet.
on December 2, 2005, 11:06 pm
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