atlantic hurricane season atlantic hurricane season deadliest atlantic hurricane seasons featured highest number storm related fatalities years officially began june ended november dates conventionally period tropical cyclones form atlantic_ocean tropical cyclone tropical storm alex developed july season final storm hurricane extratropical december strongest storm tied hurricane dean seventh intense atlantic hurricane recorded second deadliest atlantic hurricane recorded history system dropped tremendous amounts rainfall central_america causing confirmed deaths billion usd damage season feature category hurricane saffir simpson hurricane wind scale hurricane andrew season storms landfall directly affected land landfall southeastern north_carolina category hurricane late august killing people causing billion damage hurricane earl caused million damage deaths making landfall florida category hurricane deadliest destructive hurricanes season caused billion damage billion damage respectively intense category hurricane moved causing significant damage making landfall near mississippi hurricane powerful destructive late season hurricane affected central_america making landfall florida tropical storm significant rainfall produced central_america caused significant damage killed people making system second deadliest hurricane recorded history great hurricane season advance hurricane season forecasts hurricane activity issued national meteorological services scientific agencies noted hurricane experts include forecasters climate prediction center associates forecasts include weekly monthly changes significant factors help determine number tropical storms hurricanes major hurricanes particular year stated average atlantic hurricane season contains roughly tropical storms hurricanes major hurricanes ace index units typically season average average average based cumulative ace index number tropical storms hurricanes major hurricanes hurricane season considered occasionally began issuing december initially predicted named storms hurricanes major hurricanes occur upcoming season later april released forecast calling named storms hurricanes major hurricane predictions june august remained forecast april additionally forecasters predicted event began dissipate shortly season began predicted named storms hurricanes early include forecast number major hurricanes season summary atlantic hurricane season officially began june tropical cyclone developing july average season tropical cyclones formed fourteen depressions attained tropical storm status hurricane hurricanes intensified major hurricanes dissipation april development june attributed average activity hurricanes tropical storms landfall season caused deaths nearly billion damage caused damage landfall storm season hurricane dissipated december day official season ending november activity season began slowly tropical cyclone forming july tropical storm alex july late named storm atlantic hurricane season dormant weeks developed august tropical cyclogenesis frequent additional storms end august september active month coinciding peak season tropical cyclones formed month reached hurricane intensity hurricanes active september straits florida north_atlantic located near cape_verde situated occurrence august hurricanes existed atlantic september possible fourth following busy september activity began slowing starting october tropical cyclones developed storms hurricane second cyclone intense deadliest storm atlantic hurricane season overall season activity reflected cumulative accumulated cyclone energy ace rating ace broadly speaking measure power hurricane multiplied length time existed storms long time particularly strong hurricanes high aces calculated advisories tropical systems exceeding knots mph tropical storm strength storms tropical storm alex tropical wave emerged west coast africa july rapidly developed surface circulation following day result estimated tropical depression formed utc july centered miles south southwest cape_verde initially minimal change structure convection occurred increase deep convection satellite intensity estimates mph depression upgraded tropical storm alex early july influence deep layer ridge storm tracked west west northwestward mph mid- upper level trough located north west alex generated vertical wind shear starting july allowing minimal intensification later july burst deep convection resulted slight strengthening storm utc july alex attained peak intensity maximum sustained wind speed mph minimum atmospheric pressure mbar inhg vertical wind shear prevented alex strengthening instead caused weaken later day august low level circulation exposed south remaining deep convection later day alex curved northwestward avoided threat lesser antilles utc august storm downgraded tropical depression early following day alex considered dissipated reconnaissance aircraft failed locate closed low level circulation hurricane tropical depression developed tropical wave utc august located east lesser antilles tracking west northwestward hours depression upgraded tropical storm tropical storm intensity passed north puerto_rico august early following day hurricane hunter aircraft indicated storm strengthened hurricane curved north northwestward august shortly peaked winds mph storm weakened slightly making landfall near wilmington north_carolina winds mph early august storm briefly weakened tropical storm later august strengthened hurricane emerging atlantic colder waters weakened tropical storm late august storm accelerated east northeastward offshore extratropical cyclone august south_carolina strong winds reported particularly charleston georgetown trees power lines downed area structural damage storm caused deaths million losses south_carolina strong winds downing numerous trees power lines left people electricity person killed tree fell house north_carolina damage reached million erosion severe numerous docks piers bulkheads damaged destroyed protective dunes constructed hurricane ruined virginia strong winds eastern portions state caused structural damage downed trees power lines leaving people electricity damage virginia reached approximately million fatalities reported delaware massachusetts later duration brought rough seas strong winds light rainfall newfoundland nova_scotia caused little damage overall deaths million damage sources claimed losses reached billion tropical storm area disturbed weather developed tropical depression utc august located miles east southeast texas depression moved generally northwestward duration based data oil platforms northern gulf_of_mexico depression upgraded tropical storm utc august storm intensified reconnaissance aircraft reporting sustained winds mph utc august shortly weakened hours later landfall near texas winds mph late august system weakened tropical depression persisted tropical cyclone hours longer dissipating near texas heavy rainfall reported southern texas recorded inches precipitation hour period record city responsible local flooding texas collectively houses mobile homes apartments destroyed county damage estimated million texas losses reached million deaths confirmed additional people listed missing flooding occurred northern mexico especially state inundated feet water damaged houses city seven deaths reported area hurricane tropical wave emerged atlantic west coast africa august convection quickly organized utc august tropical depression developed located miles west southwest cape_verde favorable conditions allowed strengthening upgrade tropical storm later day storm sharply intensified hurricane august strengthening continued peaking winds mph august storm intensity days ranging minimal category strong category hurricane differing atmospheric conditions passing north lesser antilles dropped heavy rainfall puerto_rico causing street flooding damaging home damage puerto_rico totaled additionally crossed seas wake hurricane contributing weakening tracking west northwest days anticyclone curved storm northeast located northeast bahamas august early september weakened category hurricane passing northwest bermuda produced tropical storm force winds island storm continued slowly weaken lose tropical characteristics utc september transitioned extratropical cyclone located east southeast newfoundland remnant extratropical cyclone reached british isles september merging extratropical low pressure area days later rogue waves reported effects land light rainfall remnant extratropical storm associated united_kingdom large waves severe beach erosion coastal flooding occurred causing evacuations cornwall england hurricane earl developed tropical wave southwestern gulf_of_mexico utc august located midway depression estimated strengthened tropical storm earl hours later located miles south southwest new_orleans louisiana storm headed north northeastward difficult track multiple centers satellite imagery earl slowly curved east northeastward continued strengthening reconnaissance aircraft data indicating storm reached hurricane intensity utc september briefly category hurricane hours later peaked winds mph storm weakened category hurricane early september landfall near florida winds mph earl rapidly weakened tropical storm hours later transitioned extratropical cyclone georgia late september precipitation fell transit northern florida inches near homes damaged high winds port joe storm surge inundated businesses storm surge damaged homes businesses led brief closure homes businesses damaged high winds flooding severe flooding coastal caused significant damage communities structures impacted homes destroyed damaged flooding september strongest tornado spawned earl florida touched destroyed homes damaged fatalities million damage florida states heavy rainfall tornadoes resulted severe localized damage particularly alabama georgia north_carolina south_carolina storm related fatality occurred south_carolina caused tornado overall earl caused deaths million damage tropical wave developed tropical depression september located miles east texas depression moved south southwestward strengthened september executed small cyclonic loop moving westward southward northeastward september storm moved quickly northward curving northwestward peaked winds mph early september later weakened slightly utc storm landfall near texas winds mph slowly weakened inland continued northwestward early september curved northward weakening tropical depression storm degenerated remnant area low pressure utc september located northeastern texas early duration interacted tropical storm eastern pacific resulting torrential rainfall mexico peaking inches roughly people directly affected flooding rivers region exceed banks damage estimated million deaths confirmed severe flooding reported united_states particularly louisiana texas rainfall storm united_states peaked inches louisiana flooding worst parish homes area reported water damage tides highest hurricane causing significant coastal flooding texas flooding particularly severe eastern portions state homes businesses houston area damaged destroyed floods united_states million damage fatalities louisiana hurricane tropical depression seven developed tropical wave september located south cape_verde tracked west northwestward intensified september favorable conditions warm sea surface temperature good upper level outflow allowed storm rapidly september peaked mph category hurricane weakened increasing vertical wind shear winds mph storm landfall antigua puerto_rico september landfall dominican_republic winds mph september weakened significantly hispaniola late september struck eastern cuba winds mph storm tracked inland near north coast cuba retaining hurricane force winds september storm struck winds mph heading northwestward days struck intensity quickly weakened tropical depression september time turned eastward october dissipated close atlantic_ocean near florida georgia border homes damaged destroyed antigua property losses reaching million deaths roughly structures damaged structures deaths million damage reported strong winds heavy rainfall puerto_rico left island electricity impacted homes wiped thirds crops caused deaths billion losses heavy precipitation dominican_republic caused mudslides left homeless damaged buildings road infrastructure additionally destroyed crops caused deaths left billion losses situation similar haiti mudslides left people homeless certain crops ruined persons dead million damage cuba mudslides strong winds damaged homes completely destroyed additionally businesses damaged destroyed extensive crops losses occurred deaths million damage reported cuba hurricane force winds florida keys damaged houses destroyed homes florida panhandle flooding extensive rainfall inches residents isolated roads closed flooding alabama houses apartment buildings businesses experienced significant impacts houses destroyed left alabama fatality reported mobile woman driving slid road creek mississippi bore storm united_states coast mississippi homes flooded worst impacted areas inland homes minor damage suffered major damage destroyed winds left people electricity state mississippi approximately million losses louisiana storm caused indirect deaths strong winds storm surge impacted homes destroyed fishing camps left people electricity overall caused deaths roughly billion losses tropical storm tropical wave crossed africa coast entered atlantic_ocean september tracked westward days curving northwestward caribbean_sea near coast south_america september system entered gulf_of_mexico quickly developed tropical depression september depression executed cyclonic loop heading west southwest south curving northeast finally northward september depression intensified storm continued north northeastward landfall near louisiana winds mph utc september rapidly weakened inland dissipated mississippi late september outer bands dropped heavy rainfall florida traffic accidents occurred result man dying losing control vehicle route effects overall louisiana minimal minor flooding lake man went debris boat propeller attempted swim boat instead drowned spawned tornadoes mississippi destroyed mobile homes damaged seven cars caused injury locally heavy rainfall left parts mississippi highway alabama water motorists remnants produced inches rain charleston south_carolina leaving feet standing water neighborhoods overall storm caused deaths damage hurricane tropical wave developed western africa near prime september days later sounding data indicated system entered atlantic_ocean system quickly developed deep convection improved significantly organization classified tropical depression starting utc september located approximately miles southwest cape_verde depression initially tracked west west southwestward slow intensification vertical wind shear september elongated trough turned depression northwestward later day depression strengthened upgraded tropical storm september curved northward far eastern atlantic heading north northwestward september storm briefly weakened quickly strengthened hurricane later day days later began slowly turning northeastward utc september attained peak intensity maximum sustained winds mph minimum atmospheric pressure mbar inhg tracking east northeastward briefly posed threat azores tropical storm hurricane force winds impact archipelago shortly colder sea surface temperatures weakened tropical storm early september hours later storm transitioned extratropical cyclone northeast azores hurricane september september slow moving tropical wave crossed west coast africa following day increase deep convection allowed classified tropical depression forming miles west guinea easternmost tropical cyclone development atlantic basin tropical storm light wind shear depression strengthened tropical storm utc september significant intensification occurred hurricane hours later late september storm category hurricane saffir simpson hurricane wind scale utc september attained peak intensity maximum sustained winds mph minimum barometric pressure mbar inhg peaking moderate category hurricane increase vertical wind shear slowly weakened storm time began curving northwestward late september storm downgraded category hurricane days later trough forced accelerate north northeast strengthened slightly september storm began weakening late september downgraded tropical storm shortly weakening tropical depression october wind gust mph reported azores storm passed azores lost tropical characteristics utc october remnant extratropical cyclone struck portugal october spain later day hurricane non tropical low pressure system noted coast carolinas september deep convection better organized september system designated located near bermuda initially depression moved quickly east ahead frontal boundary moving east_coast united_states early september depression upgraded tropical storm time storm began curved east southeastward slowed forward speed later day westerly northwesterly wind shear caused center partially exposed deep convection despite strengthened hurricane utc september response large mid- upper level trough accelerated northeast shortly developing defined eye storm reached peak intensity mph utc september wind shear caused begin weakening later september satellite imagery indicated cyclone beginning lose tropical characteristics deep convective activity limited north northwest center low level center separated center cloud circulation weakened tropical storm utc september located near azores later day storm extratropical cooler waters center circulation separated deep convection extratropical remnants noted south ireland september hurricane lisa tropical wave exited west coast africa september system soon preventing quick development october system distinguishable better defined low level circulation forming october reported tropical depression formed utc october located midway africa strong wind shear kept depression disorganized able intensify tropical storm lisa hours later unfavorable conditions intensification deemed unlikely lisa initially tracked northwestward october upper level low pressure system caused storm turn northeastward trough transitioned deep low causing lisa accelerate starting october despite winds mph improved appearance satellite imagery strengthening predicted october convection persisted near center banding features developed lisa accelerated forward speed reaching mph october later day deep low west strong high pressure system east caused lisa turn northward utc october lisa unexpectedly strengthened hurricane simultaneously peaking winds mph later day storm began merging extratropical frontal system eventually early october hurricane tropical depression thirteen spawned tropical wave october located offshore colombia caribbean_sea later day depression days intensified hurricane curving westward storm rapidly deepened reaching peak category hurricane winds mph minimum pressure mbar inhg late october weakened significantly turning south october moved ashore winds mph east honduras quickly weakened tropical storm deteriorate tropical depression october central_america degenerated low pressure area november near border mexico guatemala designated tropical storm november emerging turning northeast storm struck city early november briefly weakened tropical depression yucatán_peninsula storm intensified reaching gulf_of_mexico final landfall near naples florida winds mph november shortly storm extratropical near northern bahamas lasted days crossing atlantic_ocean heavy rainfall jamaica flooded numerous houses caused fatalities mudslides strong winds rough seas large amounts precipitation resulted minor effects cuba offshore honduras sank drowning people board honduras large slow moving storm dropped inches rain causing destruction country crops estimated road infrastructure villages completely dismantled homes destroyed damaged damage totaled billion honduras fatalities reported nicaragua rainfall totals reached inches miles roads required replacement repairs effects agriculture significant houses destroyed additional damaged deaths billion damage reported nicaragua costa_rica storm impacted homes destroyed extensive road infrastructure crop damage reported people killed million damage costa_rica storm caused flooding far south panama fatalities occurred flash flooding landslides el_salvador damaged homes miles roadway caused heavy losses crops livestock damage totaled million deaths confirmed effects similar slightly significant guatemala houses destroyed additional impacted degree additionally miles roads affected nearly miles major highways crop damage guatemala nearly million reported deaths million losses occurred guatemala storm caused relatively minor effects mexico belize fatalities countries respectively brought tropical storm winds south florida rainfall inches florida keys buildings damaged destroyed tornadoes state spawned damaged destroyed houses storm caused fatalities million damage florida overall caused billion losses people left dead hurricane intense frontal low persisted near gradually acquired tropical characteristics low level circulation tropical depression fourteen developed utc november located miles west southwest light wind shear able strengthen swiftly tracking west southwestward reaching winds mph later day november wind shear increased causing storm weaken utc november downgraded tropical depression low level circulation entirely devoid deep convection result national_hurricane_center discontinued advisories utc november forecast development post analysis indicates remained tropical cyclone utc november national_hurricane_center resumed advisories unexpectedly deep convection began developing hours later upgraded tropical storm influence cold curved northeastward starting november crossing sea surface temperatures normal storm began significantly intensify development eye increasing satellite intensity estimates upgraded hurricane early november hours later attained peak intensity maximum sustained wind speed mph minimum atmospheric pressure mbar inhg weakened tropical storm later december losing tropical characteristics utc december storm transitioned extratropical cyclone located northwest azores storm names following names named storms north_atlantic names marked gray list season exception alex replaced andrew names time year retired names rotating lists replaced matthew season remaining names retired season effects table storms atlantic hurricane season mentions season storms names landfall peak damages millions death totals deaths additional indirect traffic accident landslide related storm damage death totals list include impacts storm precursor wave post tropical low damage figures usd
1998 Atlantic hurricane season