1988 Atlantic hurricane season

The 1988 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 1988, and lasted until November 30, 1988. The season produced 19 tropical depressions of which 12 attained tropical storm status. Five tropical cyclones reached hurricane status of which three became major hurricanes reaching Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. Four hurricanes and three tropical storms made landfall during the season and caused 550 deaths and USD 4. 86 billion in damage.

About 1988 Atlantic hurricane season in brief

Summary 1988 Atlantic hurricane seasonThe 1988 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 1988, and lasted until November 30, 1988. The season produced 19 tropical depressions of which 12 attained tropical storm status. Five tropical cyclones reached hurricane status of which three became major hurricanes reaching Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. The most notable cyclone of the season was Hurricane Gilbert, which at the time was the strongest Atlantic hurricane on record. Four hurricanes and three tropical storms made landfall during the season and caused 550 deaths and USD 4. 86 billion in damage. The official storm track forecast errors were 30 to 40 percent lower than the average for the previous 10 years. The 24-, 48-, and 72-hour forecasts were the most accurate in more than 18 years and were also more accurate than in each subsequent season until 1996. A normal season as defined by NOAA has six to 14 named storms of which four to eight reach hurricane strength and one to three become major hurricanes. The June 1988 forecast was that eleven storms would form and that seven would reach hurricane status. The final storm of the year, Tropical Storm Keith, became extratropical on November 24, only 6 days before the official end of theseason on November 30. It was an above average season in which 19 tropical depressions formed and five of these attained hurricane status, of whom three reached major hurricane level. The first cyclone to attain tropical stormstatus was Alberto on August 8, nearly a month later than usual.

Rainfall from the depression and its precursor peaked at 40.in, including a daily peak of 34.in. The season’s activity was reflected with an accumulated cyclone energy rating of 103, which is classified as \”near normal\”. ACE is, broadly speaking, a measure of the power of the hurricane multiplied by the length of time it existed, so storms that last a long time, as well as particularly strong hurricanes, have high ACEs. It is only calculated for full advisories on tropical systems at or exceeding 34 knots, which is tropical storm strength. The system encountered unfavorable conditions as it moved northward toward Cuba, and a reconnaissance airplane sent to Cuba could not find a well-defined well- defined center. The depression remained weak and degenerated into low pressure in the Florida Straits on June 2. The storm prompted officials to use helicopters and amphibious vehicles to evacuate 65,000 people in low-lying areas to higher-lying grounds. The Soviet planes destroyed five Soviet planes and multiple buildings and left many communications and power grounds without power. The hurricane Joan, striking Nicaragua as a Category 4 hurricane, caused about US$1. 87 billion in damage and more than 200  deaths. It crossed into the eastern Pacific Ocean and was reclassified as Tropical Storm Miriam. A tornado in the city of Camagüey was also impacted in the province of Villa, Cienfuegos, though the most affected province was Villa, Spiritus, Cagügo de Ávila, and Camagès.