Final Accounting: The 2008 North Atlantic Hurricane Season

Let’s take a look back at the 2008 North Atlantic Hurricane Season.

The 2008 North Atlantic Hurricane Season tied for the sixth busiest on record in terms of named storms since 1851. There were sixteen named storms, including eight hurricanes and five major hurricanes. Only ten seasons since 1851 have had more major hurricanes. It is a top 20 season in terms of ACE (Accumulated Cyclone Energy.) which is a calculation of the energy expended by all tropical cyclones during the season, derived from maximum wind speeds and duration. The final ACE calculation is not in for 2008, but it was 141 after Nana, and I estimate that Omar’s ACE was 8 and Paloma’s was 11, for an unofficial total of 160. This is over the threshold for a hyperactive season (153).

Cuba saw a record number of major hurricanes (Gustav, Ike and Paloma) and monetary damage. Category Three hurricanes formed in five consecutive months, the first time that has ever happened. Most interestingly, a record six named tropical cyclones made landfall in the U.S. (Dolly, Edouard, Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Ike.) Other highlights included Bertha’s seventeen days as a tropical cyclone in July, the longest lived July storm on record. Fay made a record four landfalls in Florida and every inch of the huge coastline of the Sunshine State was under a tropical storm or hurricane watch or warning at some point because of Fay. Paloma became the second strongest November hurricane on record with top winds of 145 mph. Marco is the smallest Atlantic tropical cyclone on record, with a radius of tropical storm force winds that extended out just 15 miles.

It was the fourth costliest hurricane season on record in the U.S. with $21 billion in damage. It was also the 26th deadliest U.S. hurricane season. Ike resulted in 82 deaths. Haiti had a terrible year, with four storms bringing torrential rains, deadly flooding and mudslides in August and September. Over 800 people died in Haiti.

Ranking: Named Storms Since 1851
2005 28
1933 21
1995 19
1887 19
1969 18
2003 16
2008 16
1936 16
2004 15
2000 15
2001 15
2007 15
1998 14
1916 14
1953 14
1990 14
1950 13
1996 13
1949 13
1971 13

Ranking: Hurricanes Since 1851
2005 15
1969 12
1995 11
1887 11
1916 11
1950 11
1933 10
1998 10
1893 10
1878 10
1886 10
1870 10
2004 9
2001 9
1996 9
1955 9
1980 9
1880 9
2008 8
2000 8
2007 8
1990 8
1999 8
1926 8
1961 8
1954 8
1951 8

Ranking: ACE
2005 248
1950 243
1893 231
1995 227
2004 225
1926 222
1933 213
1961 205
1955 199
1887 182
1998 182
1878 181
1916 177
1999 177
2003 175
1964 170
1886 166
1996 166
1906 163
2008 160

Tomorrow: Arthur through Fay. Monday: Gustav through Paloma.

Category: Uncategorized