Records set in the Atlantic Hurricane Season of 2005

[HURAKAN]

Seasonal records set in 2005

Most tropical storms: 27. Old record: 21 in 1933.

Most hurricanes: 14. Old record: 12 in 1969.

Most Category 5 hurricanes: 3 (Katrina, Rita, Wilma. Emily may be classified as a Category 5 upon re-analysis.) Old record: 2 in 1960 and 1961.

Most hurricane names to be retired: 6 (Dennis, Emily, Katrina, Rita, Stan, Wilma, and possibly others). Previous record: 4 in 1955, 1995, and 2004.

Most major hurricanes: 7 (Dennis, Emily, Katrina, Maria, Rita, Wilma, Beta). Ties record of 7 set in 1950.

Most major hurricanes to hit the U.S.: 4 (Dennis, Katrina, Rita, Wilma). Previous record: 3 in 1893, 1909, 1933, and 1954.

Most damage ever recorded in a hurricane season: $150 billion. Previous record: approximately $50 billion dollars (normalized to 2005 dollars) set in 1992 and 2004.

Highest Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) index: 245. Previous record: 243 (1950). Average for a season is 93.

Latest end to a hurricane season: January 6 Previous record: January 5, for the 1954-55 hurricane season.

Notable near records for the season

Second highest number of tropical storms to hit U.S.: 7 (The record was 8 in 1916 and 2004). Note that Hurricane Ophelia is not considered a U.S. strike, although it did bring hurricane conditions to the North Carolina coast.

Second highest number of hurricanes to kill 1000+ people: 2 (Katrina and Stan). All time record: 3 (1780).

Second highest number of named storm days: 126.5. All time record: 136 (1933).

Single storm records

Strongest Atlantic hurricane ever: Wilma, 882 mb central pressure. Old record: Hurricane Gilbert (1988), 888 mb.

Fastest intensification ever by an Atlantic hurricane: Wilma. Wilma's pressure dropped from 982 millibars to 882 millibars in 24 hours on Oct 19, a rate of 4.2 millibars an hour. Previous record: Gilbert (1988) dropped 3 mb/hour over 24 hours. Wilma's pressure fell 9.7 mb/hour over six hours early on Oct. 19, beating Hurricane Beulah's drop of 6.3 mb/hour in six hours in 1967.

Most damaging hurricane ever: Katrina, $100 billion plus. Old record: Hurricane Andrew (1992), $50 billion in 2005 dollars.

Greatest storm surge from an Atlantic hurricane: Katrina, 28-30 feet. Old record: Hurricane Camille (1969), 24.6 feet.

Dennis became the most intense hurricane on record before August when a central pressure of 930 mb was recorded.

Emily eclipsed the record previously set by Dennis for lowest pressure recorded for a hurricane before August when its central pressure reached 929 mb.

Vince was the furthest north and east that a storm has ever developed in the Atlantic basin.

Vince was the first tropical cyclone in recorded history to strike the Iberian Peninsula.

Delta was the first tropical cyclone in recorded history to strike the Canary Islands.

Monthly records

June

Two named storms formed (Arlene and Bret). Only 1957, 1959, 1968, and 1986 had two or more named storms form during the month of June.

July

Five named storms formed (Cindy, Dennis, Emily, Franklin, and Gert). This is the most on record for July.

Two major hurricanes formed (Dennis and Emily). This is the most on record.

25.25 named storm days occurred. This is the most on record.

10.75 hurricane days occurred. This is the most on record.

5.75 intense hurricane days occurred. This is the most on record.

August

Five named storms formed (Harvey, Irene, Jose, Katrina and Lee). Only 1990, 1995 and 2004 had more than five named storms form during the month of August.

September

Five hurricanes formed (Maria, Nate, Ophelia, Philippe and Rita). This ties 1955, 1969, 1981, 1998 and 2000 for the most hurricanes to form during the month of September.

October

Six named storms formed (Stan, Tammy, Vince, Wilma, Alpha and Beta). This ties 1950 for the most named storm formations during the month of October.

Four hurricanes formed (Stan, Vince, Wilma and Beta). Only 1950 had more hurricanes develop during the month of October.

Two major hurricanes formed (Wilma and Beta). This ties 1950, 1961, 1964 and 1995 for the most intense hurricanes to form during the month of October.

Five intense hurricane days occurred. Only 1954 and 1961 recorded more intense hurricane days.

November

Three tropical storms formed in November (Gamma, Delta, and Epsilon). This breaks the record of two storms set in six years, most recently in 2001.

December

Epsilon was a hurricane for 5.25 days, making it the longest lived December hurricane on record. The previous record was just over four days, set by an unnamed 1887 hurricane.

January

Tropical Storm Zeta was the longest-lived January storm on record (six days). January 2006 had the greatest number of named storm days ever recorded in January (six).

Earliest Storm Formation records


Earliest formation of a season's 4th Storm

Earliest formation of a season's 5th Storm

Earliest formation of a season's 6th Storm

Earliest formation of a season's 7th Storm

Earliest formation of a season's 8th Storm

Earliest formation of a season's 9th Storm

Earliest formation of a season's 10th Storm

Earliest formation of a season's 11th Storm

Earliest formation of a season's 13th Storm

Earliest formation of a season's 14th Storm

Earliest formation of a season's 15th Storm

Earliest formation of a season's 16th Storm

Earliest formation of a season's 17th Storm

Earliest formation of a season's 19th Storm

Earliest formation of a season's 20th Storm

Earliest formation of a season's 21st Storm

Earliest formation of a season's 22nd Storm

Earliest formation of a season's 23rd Storm

Earliest formation of a season's 24th Storm

Earliest formation of a season's 25th Storm

Earliest formation of a season's 26th Storm

Earliest formation of a season's 27th Storm

I credit Dr. Bill Gray's Hurricane Season of 2005 Verification posted on his web site for compiling many of these records, along with wunderblogger Cory Pesaturo. You will find many more records listed on their web pages.

THANKS TO:


THIS IS A COLLECTION MADE BY WEATHERUNDERGROUND.COM ABOUT ALL THE RECORDS MADE OR TIED IN 2005.

BY THE WAY, TO THE SEASONAL RECORDS I WOULD ADD THAT 2005 WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE HAD AT LEAST 2 TROPICAL CYCLONES IN EVERY MONTH OF THE HURRICANE SEASON. ALSO, FOR THE FIRST TIME 10 TROPICAL SYSTEMS DEVELOP AFTER SEPTEMBER 30TH. FURTHERMORE, THEY DON'T MENTION THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE USE THE GREEK ALPHABET.

JUNE: 2 STORMS

JULY: 5 STORMS

AUGUST: 5 STORMS

SEPTEMBER: 5 STORMS

OCTOBER: 6 STORMS (BUSIEST MONTH)

NOVEMBER: 3 STORMS

DECEMBER: 1 STORM

[JonathanBelles]

wow is there a record for most records?

[Brent]

wow is there a record for most records?

2005 probably won it...

[Hurricanehink]

Good job, but a couple discrepancies.

1) 1950 had 8 major hurricanes, leading this year to be #2 with 7, a near record as it tied with 1961 with 7 as well.

2) June was a near record as well with 2 storms. 4 seasons have had 3 June storms; 1886, 1909, 1936, and 1968)

3) July ties 1916 with 2 major hurricanes

[HURAKAN]

Good job, but a couple discrepancies.

1) 1950 had 8 major hurricanes, leading this year to be #2 with 7, a near record as it tied with 1961 with 7 as well.

2) June was a near record as well with 2 storms. 4 seasons have had 3 June storms; 1886, 1909, 1936, and 1968)

3) July ties 1916 with 2 major hurricanes

I agree with you in the discrepancies except for #3. According to Eye of the Storm, WEATHERUNDERGROUND.COM, and Unisys, in July of 1916 two hurricanes formed which only one reached Cat. 3 strength, the other one was a Cat. 2.

[Tampa Bay Hurricane]

And IMO we will see increasing hurricane intensity for hurricanes
but probably a number of storms the same or around 15 average
for next 20-30 years

[WindRunner]

The place to go when you have a track or intensity question (click on query storm tracks, and click yes if any popups about window size come up):

http://hurricane.csc.noaa.gov/hurricanes/index.htm


According to the CSC, there were three hurricanes in July 1916 - 2 Cat 3 and 1 Cat 2. (If you want to see more, do a Query by: Climatology and select the month of July and 1916 in the popup window.)

[Tampa Bay Hurricane]

The place to go when you have a track or intensity question (click on query storm tracks, and click yes if any popups about window size come up):

http://hurricane.csc.noaa.gov/hurricanes/index.htm


According to the CSC, there were three hurricanes in July 1916 - 2 Cat 3 and 1 Cat 2. (If you want to see more, do a Query by: Climatology and select the month of July and 1916 in the popup window.)

Thanks for link

[HurricaneBill]

Although not a record of any sort, I think this is still an interesting thing:

Hurricane Dennis was the first major "D" hurricane in nearly 21 years. The last had been Hurricane Diana in 1984.

[WindRunner]

On that note, we had the first hurricane strength V-storm and W-storm (even if 1933 was named), and the first major W-storm, and the first major hurricane using the Greek alphabet.

[senorpepr]

Good job, but a couple discrepancies.

1) 1950 had 8 major hurricanes, leading this year to be #2 with 7, a near record as it tied with 1961 with 7 as well.

2) June was a near record as well with 2 storms. 4 seasons have had 3 June storms; 1886, 1909, 1936, and 1968)

3) July ties 1916 with 2 major hurricanes

I agree with you in the discrepancies except for #3. According to Eye of the Storm, WEATHERUNDERGROUND.COM, and Unisys, in July of 1916 two hurricanes formed which only one reached Cat. 3 strength, the other one was a Cat. 2.

I concur there. July 1916 had two hurricanes, one being category three, but the other was barely category two strength--maximum winds of 85kt.

[WindRunner]

Ahhh, you reanalysists. Right now the official records show 2 Cat 3's, even if one did have a min pressure of 979mb. Come on!

[Hurricanehink]

Well, 1916 had one June tropical storm that became a hurricane and major hurricane. Then, a July storm became a major hurricane. I count that as 2 July major hurricanes.

[Matt-hurricanewatcher]

Anything that has a 979 millibar pressure is around 80 to 85 knots. Not a Major hurricane.

[WindRunner]

Anything that has a 979 millibar pressure is around 80 to 85 knots. Not a Major hurricane.

I know, and it's especially hard to know that it is almost certain that they have finished reanylizing it, but haven't released it because they're finishing whatever period they chose to do for the next phase. But yes, you are almost certainly right about it being a Cat 2. But until it's official, the intensity stands (like the 1950 storms and their overinflated ACE).

[Derek Ortt]

the reanalysis project is into the mid 1930's now

[WindRunner]

the reanalysis project is into the mid 1930's now

I figured they were somewhere into the 30s. Any idea when the next dataset will be releaed?