Hurricane Season "Officially" Ends

[vbhoutex]

From Jeff Lindner with Harris County Flood Control District:

Yesterday was the “official” end of the 2020 hurricane season, although tropical storms and hurricanes can develop outside the June 1 to November 30 period.

This season is the most active season ever recorded with a total of 30 tropical storms (pervious record was 28 in 2005), 13 hurricanes (2005 continues to hold the record with 15) and 6 major hurricanes. This is only the second time the Greek alphabet has been used (previous was 2005).

The US coastline…especially the US Gulf coast experienced a record number of US landfall…12 surpassing the previous record of 9 from 1916. These landfalls included (Bertha, Cristobal, Hanna, Fay, Isaias, Laura, Marco, Sally, Beta, Delta, Zeta, Eta (2 FL landfalls))

The US Gulf coast experienced 9 of the 12 landfalls including 5 hurricanes (Hanna, Laura, Sally, Delta, Zeta). The states of TX and LA suffered 7 of the 9 landfalls with only Sally and Eta making landfall east of the Mississippi River. The state of Louisiana experienced the landfall of 5 tropical systems: 2 tropical storms (Cristobal and Marco) and 3 hurricanes (Laura, Delta, Zeta). Laura and Delta made landfall only 12 miles apart roughly 6 weeks apart in southwest Louisiana just east of Cameron. Portions of the state of LA spent a total of 3 weeks within the NHC error cone this hurricane season. The state of LA was under coastal watches or warnings due to a tropical cyclone for a total of 474 hours or 19.75 days.


Laura was the strongest hurricane to make landfall in the state of LA since 1856.

On September 14, 2020…5 tropical cyclones were ongoing at the same time in the Atlantic basin (Sally, Paulette, Rene, Teddy, and Vicky). This ties September 1971 for the most number of tropical cyclones at the same time in the basin.

On September 18, 2020…3 tropical cyclones formed within in 6-hr window (Wilfred, Alpha, and Beta). This is only the second time in recorded history that 3 tropical cyclones have formed in such a short time period…the other time was in 1893.

10 tropical storms formed in the month of September the most for any month on record

A total of 10 systems experienced rapid intensification (35mph increase in wind speed in 24hrs) in 2020 (Hanna, Laura, Sally, Teddy, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon, Zeta, Eta, and Iota).

Hurricanes Delta, Iota, and Eta experienced winds speed increases over 100mph in 36 hours or less.

Of the 6 major hurricanes in 2020…4 were in October and November and Greek alphabet names (Delta, Epsilon, Eta, and Iota).

Hurricanes Eta and Iota both made landfall only 15 miles apart along the Nicaragua coast both as category 4 hurricanes.

Hurricane Iota (160mph) became the latest category 5 hurricane on record in the Atlantic basin and the second strongest November hurricane on record only behind the 1932 Cuba hurricane (175mph)

NOAA hurricane hunters flew a total of 86 missions for 678 flight hours and 102 eyewall passages. A total of 1772 dropsondes were deployed.

Estimated damages for the 2020 hurricane season are 37 billion in the US…compared to 307 billion (2017…Harvey and Irma) and 238 billion (2005…Katrina, Rita, Wilma). For the most part storms impacting the US coast in 2020 missed large metro areas when compared to 2017 and 2005.

[MarioProtVI]

Not sure where 307B comes from for 2017. Unless he’s using that old $198 billion estimate which was determined to be too high (it was settled at 125)

[wwizard]

Has a season ever ended with a cat 5?

[GrayLancer18]

Has a season ever ended with a cat 5?

The 1932 season had the strongest November C5 in recorded history and was the last storm to dissipate. However it was the penultimate one to form;
a C2 formed later but it didn't last long and dissipated first.

[Nimbus]

Good riddance

[cheezyWXguy]

Not sure where 307B comes from for 2017. Unless he’s using that old $198 billion estimate which was determined to be too high (it was settled at 125)

Probably forgot to list Maria but included it in the damage figure