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There were a record 27 named storms, of which 14 were hurricanes, exceeding the 1969 record of 12 hurricanes, and 7 were major hurricanes. Of the 7 major hurricanes, an unprecendented 3 reached category 5 status, with a 4th reaching the greatest possible windspeed within category 4 of the Saffir-Simpson scale. The season has been remarkable for its early beginning and number of storms as well as the intensity of the hurricanes, including the most intense hurricane on record for the Atlantic. Many records were broken during the season and a list of the most notable are available at the end of this summary.
Since reliable records began around the middle of the 20th century (1944) with routine reconnaisance aircraft missions, no season has exceeded 19 named storms until 2005. However, it is known that at least one other season exceeded 20 named storms before 1944 and that was 1933 (21). Prior to the launch of satellites in the 1970s, and particularly before the routine reconnaissance aircraft missions, it was difficult to detect storms that did not affect land or ships, and it is therefore likely that activity in some seasons before the middle of the 20th century is underestimated.
Instead of examining only the number of tropical storms and hurricanes as an indicator of activity, NOAA's Accumulated Cyclone Energy Index takes into account the cumulative strength and duration of each storm. As shown in the figure to the right, 2005 is the third most active season on record behind 1950 and 1995 in terms of the ACE index. Tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic basin has been above normal since 1995. This has been largely in response to the active phase of the multi-decadal signal. The average number of named storms since 1995 has been 13, compared to 8.6 during the preceding 25 years during which time the multi-decadal signal was in an inactive phase. An average of 7.7 hurricanes and 3.6 major hurricanes since 1995 compares to 5 hurricanes and 1.5 major hurricanes from 1970-1994.
Characteristics of an active multi-decadal signal in the Atlantic include: warmer SSTs in the tropical Atlantic region, an amplified sub-tropical ridge at upper levels across the central and eastern North Atlantic, reduced vertical wind shear in the deep tropics over the central North Atlantic, and an African Easterly Jet (AEJ) that is favorable for promoting the development and intensification of tropical disturbances moving westward off the coast of Africa. Recent studies also indicate that in addition to this multi-decadal oscillation the destructive power of hurricanes has generally increased since the mid-1970s, when the period of the most rapid increase in global ocean and land temperatures began.
| Tropical Cyclone | Maximum Sustained Windspeed (kt) | Landfall Date, Location and Sustained Windspeed | Estimated cost of damage in the US (in US dollars)** |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arlene | 60 | 6/11/05 - Pensacola FL (50 kt) | not available |
| Brett | 35 | 6/29/05 - Tuxpan, Mexico (35 kt) | not available |
| Cindy | 60 | 7/5/05 - Grand Isle, LA (60 kt) | not available |
| Dennis | 130 | 7/8/05 - Cuba (Cat 4); 7/10/05 - Pensacola FL (105 kt) | over $2 billion total losses, over $1 billion insured losses |
| Emily | 110 | 7/14/05 - Grenada (80 kt); 7/18/05 - Cozumel, Mexico(120 kt); 7/20/05 - Boca Madre Mexico (110 kt) | not available |
| Franklin | 60 | ||
| Gert | 40 | 7/24/05 - Cabo Rojo, Mexico (40 kt) | not available |
| Harvey | 55 | ||
| Irene | 85 | ||
| Jose | 45 | 8/23/05 - NW of Veracruz, Mexico (45 kt) | not available |
| Katrina | 150 | 8/25/05 - Hollywood, FL (70 kt); 8/29/05 Buras, LA (110 kt) and Ansley, MS (105 kt) | over $100 billion total losses, over $34 billion insured losses |
| Lee | 35 | ||
| Maria | 100 | ||
| Nate | 80 | ||
| Ophelia | 65 | Struck North Carolina, but did not make official landfall | not available |
| Philippe | 70 | ||
| Rita | 150 | 9/24/05 - Between Sabine Pass TX and Johnson's Bayou LA (105 kt) | over $10 billion total losses, at least $4.7 billion insured losses |
| Stan | 70 | 10/2/05 - Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico (40 kt); 10/4/05 - SE of Veracruz, Mexico (70 kt) | |
| Tammy | 45 | 10/5/05 - Jacksonville FL (45 kt) | not available |
| Vince | 65 | ||
| Wilma | 150 | 10/21/05 - Cozumel, Mexico (120 kt); 10/22/05 - Playa del Carmen, Mexico (115 kt); 10/24/05 - near Everglades City, FL (105 kt) | over $12 billion total losses, over $6 billion insured losses |
| Alpha | 45 | ||
| Beta | 100 | 10/30/05 - Nicaragua (90 kt) | not available |
| Gamma | 40 | ||
| Delta | 60 | ||
| Epsilon | 70 | ||
| Zeta | 56 |
**preliminary estimates and subject to significant revision. Estimates are based on insurance industry estimates (Insurance Industry Institute), with uninsured losses not tallied yet, so using a factor of at least 2 times insured losses for the total. Insured losses do not include flood insurance coverage (FEMA).
Overview of the 2005 hurricane season:
The 2005 season began early with Tropical Storm Arlene forming on June 9th from a tropical depression in the southwest Caribbean Sea. Tropical Storm Bret also formed in June making it only the 13th time since 1851 that 2 tropical storms are known to have formed in June.
A record active July followed, wherein 5 named storms (Cindy, Dennis, Emily, Franklin and Gert) formed. The previous record for the number of named storms in July was four. Of the 5 named storms, 2 major hurrianes formed tying a record set in 1916. The seven named storms that had formed up until the end of July represented a record level of activity for the first two months of the season.
A further five named storms formed in August of which two were hurricanes bringing the seasonal total to 12 named storms and 4 hurricanes - well above the long term average as of August 31st, which is 4.4 storms and 2.1 hurricanes. August also saw the development of Hurricane Katrina, which will likely be one of the most costly and destructive storms in US history. At one stage a category 5 hurricane, Katrina ultimately made landfall in Louisiana and Mississippi at category 3 strength. While loss of life will not approach the magnitude of the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 (6000-12000 deaths), it nonetheless caused more than 1,300 deaths and will likely cost more than 100 billion dollars - by far the highest cost of any hurricane in history.
In September, five hurricanes formed leading to a seasonal total nearly double the June-September average number of named storms. In only one other year (1933) had this many storms (17) formed by the end of September. The 2005 season eventually surpassed 1933 for the number of named tropical cyclones. The second category five hurricane of the season developed in September - Hurricane Rita. Impacting the Florida Keys and eventually the Texas/Louisiana border, it prompted massive evacuations along the Gulf Coast and caused widespread damage in parts of Southwest Louisiana, just weeks after Katrina impacted the state. Hurricane Ophelia also impacted the US as it raked the North Carolina coast leading to 10-12 inches of rain for coastal areas as well as significant coastal erosion.
October produced some unusual tropical activity and the most intense Atlantic hurricane on record. Six named storms formed during the month leading to an extension of the naming system to include the Greek alphabet. Hurricane Wilma entered the record books in October as having the lowest central pressure of any Atlantic hurricane at 882 mb, beating Hurricane Gilbert in 1988 with 888 mb. At one stage a category 5 storm, Wilma produced well over 60 inches of rain as it moved across the Yucatan Peninsula, then turned northeastward and eventually made landfall in Florida as a category 3 storm. Hurricane Vince was unusual in its track and location. Vince became a hurricane in the eastern Atlantic and tracked northeastward, passing northwest of the Madeira Islands. Weakening, it eventually made landfall in Spain as a tropical depression. It is the first known instance of a tropical cyclone making landfall in Spain. Tammy impacted northeast Florida as a tropical storm and Tropical Storm Alpha and Hurricane Beta also formed in October. For the first time since the naming convention was instituted, the Greek alphabet had to be employed as the 22nd named storm of the season developed. Alpha produced heavy rains across portions of Hispaniola, while Beta became a major (category 3) hurricane as it neared the coast of Nicaragua, eventually making landfall at category 2.
In November, 3 further storms formed,Tropical Storm Gamma, Tropical Storm Delta, and Hurricane Epsilon. Gamma formed from the remnants of the 27th tropical depression of the season near the Honduras coast and moved very little before weakening to a tropical depression early on the 20th. Heavy rains associated with Gamma significantly impacted Honduras leading to 12 deaths, flooding and landslides. Tropical Storm Delta formed in the eastern Atlantic and recurved to threaten the Canary Islands and coastal North Africa. The storm weakened to a depression northwest of the Canary Islands, but still caused significant damage, killing 7 people. Hurricane Epsilon formed on the 29th in the central Atlantic just north of 30°N. After moving west-southwestward while strengthening, Epsilon turned to move east-northeastward at the end of the month and became a hurricane on December 2nd. Continuing to strengthen, despite moving over cooler waters, Epsilon reached a maximum sustained windspeed of 80 mph and hurricane strength winds persisted for 5 days, with a brief intervening period of winds just below hurricane strength. Epsilon was only the 6th December hurricane ever recorded.
The 27th named storm of the season, Tropical Storm Zeta, formed on December 30th and remained in open central North Atlantic waters for its entire existence. Moving generally torwards the west, Zeta was sustained for 8 days and achieved maximum windspeeds of 65 mph on January 3rd. Zeta weakened to a Tropical Depression on the 6th and lost tropical characteristics the same day.
NCDC thanks William Gray and Colorado State University for collating many of these records.
The average seasonal activity in the Eastern Pacific Basin is 16 named storms, 9 hurricanes and 4 major hurricanes. In terms of the number of tropical storms, the season was near average in 2005, with 15 named systems, however, there were only 7 hurricanes and only 1 major hurricane (category 3, 4 or 5 on the Saffir Simpson Scale). Hurricane Kenneth - the only major hurricane of the season, reached windspeeds only 2 mph above the minimum windspeed to be designated a category 3 storm (113 kts). When NOAA's Accumulated Cyclone Energy Index (ACE) is used to calculate activity (see image to the right), the season is well below average, with many of the storms being weak and short-lived relative to average.
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