The 2008 Atlantic Hurricane Season officially came to a close on
Sunday, Nov. 30th, marking the end of a season that produced a record
number of consecutive storms to strike the United States and ranks as
one of the more active seasons in the 64 years since comprehensive
records began.
A total of 16 named storms formed this season, based on an operational
estimate by NOAA's National Hurricane Center . The storms included
eight hurricanes, five of which were major hurricanes at Category 3
strength or higher. These numbers fall within the ranges predicted in
NOAA's pre- and mid-season outlooks issued in May and August. The
August outlook called for 14 to 18 named storms, seven to 10
hurricanes and three to six major hurricanes. An average season has 11
named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.
"This year's hurricane season continues the current active hurricane
era and is the tenth season to produce above-normal activity in the
past 14 years," said Gerry BELL, Ph.D., lead seasonal hurricane
forecaster at NOAA's Climate Prediction Center.
Overall, the season is tied as the fourth most active in terms of
named storms (16) and major hurricanes (five), and is tied as the
fifth most active in terms of hurricanes (eight) since 1944, which was
the first year aircraft missions flew into tropical storms and hurricanes.
For the first time on record, six consecutive tropical cyclones
(Dolly, Edouard, Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Ike) made landfall on the U.S.
mainland and a record three major hurricanes (Gustav, Ike and Paloma)
struck Cuba. This is also the first Atlantic season to have a major
hurricane (Category 3) form in five consecutive months (July: Bertha,
August: Gustav, September: Ike, October: Omar, November: Paloma).
