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2013 North Atlantic Hurricane Season Summary

| November 30, 2013 @ 9:00 am

2013 tws_atl_latest

The North Atlantic Hurricane Season officially ends today.

There were thirteen named storms, but only two hurricanes this year in the Atlantic.

Most interestingly, for the first time since 1994, there were no major hurricanes. There have only been 33 such seasons since 1851.

The Accumulated Cyclone Energy index (ACE) is a measurement of the wind energy over the lifetime of a tropical cyclone, measured in 6 hour increments. The 2013 North Atlantic Hurricane Season will go down as the 14th slowest since 1851 with an ACE of 30. It is the slowest ACE value since 1983, when a 17 was posted.

Here is a quick rundown of this season’s named storms:

Tropical Storm Andrea:
The only U.S. landfalling storm of 2013 brought heavy rain to the Florida Panhandle on June 6th. Andrea formed from a low pressure system in the Gulf of Mexico on June 5th. It strengthened to a 65 mph tropical storm with a central pressure of 992 mb just before landfall near Steinhatchee, Florida. Its biggest impact was rainfall of 3-5 inches from Florida to New England. A storm surge of 4.55 feet was observed at Cedar Key, Florida.

Tropical Storm Barry:
A tropical depression formed over the southwestern Caribbean on June 17th, made landfall in Belize, crossed the Yucatan, became a tropical storm over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico and made landfall in the Mexican state of Veracruz early on the 20th.

Tropical Storm Chantal:
Crossed Lesser Antilles as tropical storm on July 9th, but dissipated over the eastern Caribbean.

Tropical Storm Dorian:
Formed and weakened over the open Atlantic, but redeveloped near the Bahamas

Tropical Storm Erin:
Cape Verde storm that curved north prematurely and dissipated

Tropical Storm Fernand:
Formed over the SW Caribbean and moved inland in Mexico a short time later.

Tropical Storm Gabrielle:
Short-lived, weak tropical storm that formed and dissipated in the Caribbean Sea south of Puerto Rico, but reformed close to Bermuda.

Hurricane Humberto:
Another Cape Verde storm for the fishes that had a split life.

Hurricane Ingrid:
Another Bay of Campeche storm that impacted Mexico.

Tropical Storm Jerry:
Formed and dissipated over the open Atlantic.

Tropical Storm Karen:
Threatened the northern Gulf Coast, but fizzled just before landfall.

Tropical Storm Lorenzo:
Another storm for the fishes over the open Atlantic.

Tropical Storm Melissa:
Named as a subtropical storm over the open Atlantic that acquired tropical characteristics.

Category: Met 101/Weather History, Tropical

About the Author ()

Bill Murray is the President of The Weather Factory. He is the site's official weather historian and a weekend forecaster. He also anchors the site's severe weather coverage. Bill Murray is the proud holder of National Weather Association Digital Seal #0001 @wxhistorian

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