Statistical Abstract: Atlantic Hurricane Seasons: 1950-2004

[donsutherland1]

STATISTICAL ABSTRACT: ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASONS
Hurricane Seasons: 1950-2004

Total Storms:
Named Storms: 569
Hurricanes: 334
Major Hurricanes: 144
Category 5 Hurricanes: 23
Category 4 Hurricanes: 52
Category 3 Hurricanes: 69
Category 2 Hurricanes: 59
Category 1 Hurricanes: 131
Tropical Storms: 231

Named Storms:
Most: 19, 1995
Least: 4, 1972 and 1983
Average: 10.3

Hurricanes:
Most: 12, 1969
Least: 2, 1982
Average: 6.1

Major Hurricanes:
Most: 8, 1950
Least: 0, 1968, 1972, 1986, and 1994
Average: 2.6

Highest Percentage of Hurricanes becoming Major Hurricanes: 100%, 1964 (6H/6MH)
Lowest Percentage of Hurricanes becoming Major Hurricanes: 0%, 1968 (5H/0MH)
…Note: 1972, 1986, and 1994 also had no major hurricanes but had fewer hurricanes

Highest Percentage of Named Storms becoming Major Hurricanes: 63.6%, 1961 (11S/7MH)
Lowest Percentage of Named Storms becoming Major Hurricanes: 0%, 1968 (8S/0MH)
…Note: 1972, 1986, and 1994 also had no major hurricanes but had fewer named storms

Hurricanes:
Most Category 5 Storms: 2, 1960 and 1961
Most Category 4 Storms: 5, 1999
Most Category 4 or 5 Storms: 5, 1999
Most Category 3 Storms: 5, 1950
Most Category 3 Storms or Stronger: 8, 1950
Most Category 2 Storms: 4, 1998
Most Category 1 Storms: 5, 1959, 1968, 1969, and 1990
Most Category 1 or 2 Storms: 7, 1969, 1980, 1990, and 1998

Years with 4 or More Category 4 or Stronger Storms: 1961, 1964, 1999, and 2004

Years with at least 1 storm of every Category: 1950, 1951, 1955, and 2004

Tropical Storms:
Most: 9, 2003
Least: 1, 1952, 1972, 1977, and 1983
Average: 4.2

Seasonal Productivity:
Most days between named storms: 37.3 days, 1952
Fewest days between named storms: 5.2 days, 1950
Average: 13.4 days

Most days between hurricanes: 60.0 days, 1982
Fewest days between hurricanes: 6.1 days, 1950
Average: 24.4 days

Length of Season:
Longest season: 284 days, 1978 (January 18-October 28)
Shortest season: 42 days, 1983 (August 15-September 26)
Average: 129.8 days
…Note: Length of season is measured from the dates storms formed

Storm Formation:
Earliest date for the first named storm: January 18, 1978
Latest date for the first named storm: August 29, 1977

Years in which the first named storm formed before June 1: 1951, 1952, 1953, 1959, 1970, 1972, 1976, 1978, 1981, 1992, and 2003
Years in which the first named storm formed August 1 or later: 1950, 1962, 1967, 1977, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988, and 2000

Earliest date for the last named storm: September 15, 1979
Latest date for the last named storm: December 30, 1954

Years in which the last storm formed September 30 or earlier: 1960, 1982, 1983, 1993, and 2002
Years in which the last storm formed December 1 or later: 1953, 1954, 1975, 1984, and 2003

Named Storms by Month of Formation:
January: 1
February: 1
April: 2
May: 7
June: 33
July: 49
August: 150
September: 197
October: 97
November: 26
December: 6

Hurricanes by Month of Formation:
May: 2
June: 10
July: 26
August: 93
September: 130
October: 55
November: 16
December: 2

Percentage of Named Storms Becoming Hurricanes by Month of Formation:
February: 0.0%
April: 0.0%
May: 28.6%
June: 30.3%
July: 53.1%
August: 62.0%
September: 66.0%
October: 56.7%
November: 61.5%
December: 33.3%

Major Hurricanes by Month of Formation:
May: 1
June: 2
July: 5
August: 50
September: 68
October: 15
November: 2

Percentage of Hurricanes Becoming Major Hurricanes by Month of Formation:
May: 50.0%
June: 20.0%
July: 19.2%
August: 53.8%
September: 52.3%
October: 27.3%
November: 12.5%
December: 0.0%

Early-Starting Seasons and Statistics:
Seasons beginning before June 1:

Averages:
Named Storms: 10.5
Hurricanes: 5.8
Major Hurricanes: 2.5

Most Named Storms: 16, 2003
Least Named Storms: 7, 1952, 1972, and 1992

Most Hurricanes: 8, 1951
Least Hurricanes: 3, 1972

Most Major Hurricanes: 5, 1951
Least Major Hurricanes: 0, 1972

Late-Starting Seasons and Statistics:
Seasons beginning on or after August 1:

Averages:
Named Storms: 9.2
Hurricanes: 5.4
Major Hurricanes: 2.2

Most Named Storms: 15, 2000
Least Named Storms: 4, 1983

Most Hurricanes: 11, 1950
Least Hurricanes: 3, 1962, 1983, and 1987

Most Major Hurricanes: 8, 1950
Least Major Hurricanes: 1, 1962, 1967, 1977, 1983, 1984, 1987, and 1992

Date of First Storm and Number of Storms:
Before June 1:
8/11 (73%) of seasons had 10 or more named storms; 3/11 (27%) had 8 or fewer named storms
…Average: 10.5 named storms; 5.8 hurricanes; 2.5 major hurricanes
…Most: 16 named storms; 8 hurricanes; 5 major hurricanes
…Least: 7 named storms; 3 hurricanes; 0 major hurricanes

Month in which the last named storm formed:
October: 7
November: 2
December: 2
Earliest: October 15
Latest: December 7

June 1-June 30:
10/23 (43%) of seasons had 10 or more named storms; 11/23 (48%) had 8 or fewer named storms
…Average: 9.7 named storms; 5.6 hurricanes; 2.5 major hurricanes
…Most: 19 named storms; 11 hurricanes; 6 major hurricanes
…Least: 6 named storms; 2 hurricanes; 0 major hurricanes

Month in which the last named storm formed:
September: 3
October: 10
November: 8
December: 2
Earliest: September 17
Latest: December 30

July 1-July 31:
10/12 (83%) of seasons had 10 or more named storms; 1/12 (8%) had 8 or fewer named storms
…Average: 12.3 named storms; 7.8 hurricanes; 3.3 major hurricanes
…Most: 18 named storms; 12 hurricanes; 7 major hurricanes
…Least: 8 named storms; 4 hurricanes; 1 major hurricane

Month in which the last named storm formed:
September: 1
October: 4
November: 7
Earliest: September 21
Latest: November 30

August 1 or later:
4/9 (44%) of seasons had 10 or more named storms; 5/9 (56%) had 8 or fewer named storms
…Average: 9.2 named storms; 5.4 hurricanes; 2.2 major hurricanes
…Most: 15 named storms; 11 hurricanes; 8 major hurricanes
…Least: 4 named storms; 3 hurricanes; 1 major hurricane

Month in which the last named storm formed:
September: 1
October: 6
November: 1
December: 1
Earliest: September 26
Latest: December 12

Landfalling Major U.S. Hurricanes:

Most major hurricanes making landfall: 3, 1954 (1 Category 4; 2 Category 3), 1955 (3 Category 3), and 2004 (1 Category 4; 2 Category 3)

Years with Category 5 Hurricanes making landfall:
1969 and 1992

Years with Category 4 Hurricanes making landfall:
1954, 1957, 1960, 1961, 1989, and 2004

Years with Category 3 Hurricanes making landfall:
1950, 1954, 1955, 1959, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1970, 1974, 1975, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1999, and 2004

Number of seasons with major U.S. landfalling hurricanes (1950-2004): 31/55 (56.4%)

Number of seasons without major U.S. landfalling hurricanes (1950-2004): 24/55 (43.6%)

[MWatkins]

Don,

As always...excellent excellent work. I have printed a copy and will be using this for reference for next year...of course if you don't mind.

I will...of course...give you credit if/whenever I use the information contained here-in. You must have put a ton of work into this and the product is excellent.

Good job man.

MW

[SouthernWx]

Excellent research as usual Don...congratulations!

[Stormsfury]

I'm convinced ... when it comes to statistical weather information, whether it's regarding winter weather and snowfall, or tropical weather ... you have no equal, Don ...

Outstanding research ... (bookmarked thread) ...

SF

[HURAKAN]

Just a great job, Congratulations.

[cycloneye]

Don excellent work as always.

[Hyperstorm]

VERY Interesting as always! Congratulations on this SUPERB job...

[DoctorHurricane2003]

Great job! Just a few minor things though:

1998 only had 1 category 5 hurricane, Mitch. Georges maxed at 135 KTS (Category 4).

2002 also only had 2 major hurricanes (Isidore, Lili).

[donsutherland1]

Thanks everyone for the kind words.

I'm aware of some small errors (many thanks for those who noticed them). I'll edit this and repost it in the next day or so.

Best wishes.

[donsutherland1]

Just a quick note: the edits have now been made.