Cat. 5s three years in a row?

[HURAKAN]

A category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic is not something you see every year as we know, but they have developed several times as we have seen this year with Hurricane Iván, and last year, Hurricane Isabel. So, we have a pair between 2003-2004, like we saw in 1988-1989, but what is the possibility of having a triplet, 2003-04-05? Has it happened in recorded history? I would like to know.

HURRICANE SEASON 2005

[HurricaneBill]

I think it's possible but highly unlikely.

There hasn't been a three seasons in a row, but in 1960-1961, at least 3 Category 5 hurricanes formed.

Hurricane Donna in 1960
Hurricane Carla in 1961
Hurricane Hattie in 1961

Hurricane Ethel in 1960 is also listed as a Category 5 but I think reanalysis will downgrade it lower.

1961 is the only season I know where the Atlantic had two bonafide Category 5 hurricanes. Carla and Hattie were definitely Category 5 hurricanes.

[Scorpion]

I say that its extremely possible. It would be even more crazy if the Cat 5 turned out to be Irene. For some reason I think Irene will be the Big One for 05.

[HURAKAN]

I say that its extremely possible. It would be even more crazy if the Cat 5 turned out to be Irene. For some reason I think Irene will be the Big One for 05.

Well, you could be right, even though is impossible to predict Irene will be the BIG ONE although consecutively since 2000 the "I"s have been remarkable.

2000 Hurricane Isaac 140 mph
2001 Hurricane Iris 145 mph
2002 Hurricane Isidore 125 mph
2003 Hurricane Isabel 165 mph/915 mb
2004 Hurricane Iván 165 mph/910 mb

I see it as an "unbelievable" coincidence, and that all five have been major hurricanes and nothing less!

[Hurricanehink]

It could go either way, IMO. If it were to happen, it would probably be in the deep Atlantic or north of the islands.

[KWT]

It wouldn't suprise me.

[quandary]

Strong storms starting with the letter "I" carry the tradition back beyond 2000 basically to 1990. All the "I" storms have basically been category 2 or higher hurricanes, except when we didn't have them.

Iris (95) 95kts
Isidore (96) 100kts
No "I" (97)
Ivan (98) 85 kts
Irene (99) 95 kts
Issac (00) 120kts
Iris (01) 125 kts
Isidore (02) 110 kts
Isabel (03) 145 kts
Ivan (04) 145 kts

Also, is it just me, or are have the "I" storms been getting even stronger over the last 5 years?

Isidore might've been a category 3, but its minimum pressure was 934, typical for a category 4. Iris' minimum pressure was 948mb, and Issac's was 943 (but Issac didn't do much of anything anyways.).

What'll this year bring? 890mb Irene? Hoepfully it'll be a fish, whatever it is.

[DoctorHurricane2003]

I voted remotely possible because there is always the chance, but I do not think it is likely to happen next year due to other circumstances.

[Scorpion]

I want there to be a Cat 5 next year, because theyre so interesting to track and discuss here. Hopefully it would not hit land or weaken dramatically.

[MGC]

Isabel was likely stronger as the pressure measurment was made after her peak. I voted for possible. I doubt it though......MGC

[HURAKAN]

QUESTION:

In the Atlantic Ocean, has there been a hurricane reaching category 5 without making landfall in any other category? or another way to put it. Has there been a cateogry 5 hurricane that has for its entire "tropical" life remained as a fish?

[Hurricanehink]

QUESTION:

In the Atlantic Ocean, has there been a hurricane reaching category 5 without making landfall in any other category? or another way to put it. Has there been a cateogry 5 hurricane that has for its entire "tropical" life remained as a fish?

I believe this is what you are looking for.

[quandary]

Isabel was likely stronger as the pressure measurment was made after her peak. I voted for possible. I doubt it though......MGC

If you look at the end of season report on Isabel, the minimum pressure they have listed is 915mb. However, the lowest pressure recorded by aircraft was 920mb when they first flew into the storm. So, in that analysis they gave Isabel an extra 5mb based on its better appearance the day before.

The Public Advisories on Isabel had it at 924 and 921 when it was at its "peak." Thus, I would doubt that Isabel was any stronger than 915mb at best.

[SouthernWx]

Isabel was likely stronger as the pressure measurment was made after her peak. I voted for possible. I doubt it though......MGC

If you look at the end of season report on Isabel, the minimum pressure they have listed is 915mb. However, the lowest pressure recorded by aircraft was 920mb when they first flew into the storm. So, in that analysis they gave Isabel an extra 5mb based on its better appearance the day before.

The Public Advisories on Isabel had it at 924 and 921 when it was at its "peak." Thus, I would doubt that Isabel was any stronger than 915mb at best.

The day before recon flew into Isabel and recorded 920 mb, my personal analysis from Dvorak and visible satellite imagery was 905-910 mb and 150-155 kts (175 mph)....quite similar in appearance to 1980's hurricane Allen when passing just south of western Cuba. NHC was conservative IMO estimating a minimum central pressure of 915 mb and 145 kt.

As to whether we'll witness a cat-5 hurricane for the third year in a row during 2005....IMO it's unlikely but not impossible. There may have well been periods before 1960 in which cat-5 hurricanes developed in three consecutive seasons, but with limited recon data of that era (and none before 1944) and no satellite imagery, there's no truly accurate way we'll even know.

[Stormsfury]

QUESTION:

In the Atlantic Ocean, has there been a hurricane reaching category 5 without making landfall in any other category? or another way to put it. Has there been a cateogry 5 hurricane that has for its entire "tropical" life remained as a fish?

Hurricane DOG - 1950

[Stormsfury]

I say that its extremely possible. It would be even more crazy if the Cat 5 turned out to be Irene. For some reason I think Irene will be the Big One for 05.

Well, you could be right, even though is impossible to predict Irene will be the BIG ONE although consecutively since 2000 the "I"s have been remarkable.

2000 Hurricane Isaac 140 mph
2001 Hurricane Iris 145 mph
2002 Hurricane Isidore 125 mph
2003 Hurricane Isabel 165 mph/915 mb
2004 Hurricane Iván 165 mph/910 mb

I see it as an "unbelievable" coincidence, and that all five have been major hurricanes and nothing less!

Well, also of note is that Iris, Isidore, Isabel, and Ivan all have been retired (4 "I" storms in a row to be retired)