2005 Atlantic hurricane season

2005 Atlantic hurricane season

The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was at the time the most active in recorded history, until its record was surpassed 15 years later. The season shattered numerous records, with 28 tropical or subtropical storms recorded. It produced the second-highest accumulated cyclone energy in the Atlantic basin, surpassed only by the 1933 season. Its storms caused an estimated 3,912 deaths and approximately USD 171. 7 billion in damage.

About 2005 Atlantic hurricane season in brief

Summary 2005 Atlantic hurricane seasonThe 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was at the time the most active in recorded history, until its record was surpassed 15 years later. The season shattered numerous records, with 28 tropical or subtropical storms recorded. A record 15 storms attained hurricane status, with maximum sustained winds of at least 74 mph ; of those, a record seven became major hurricanes, which are a Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Four storms of this season became Category 5 hurricanes, the highest ranking on the scale. The most devastating effects of the season were felt on the Gulf Coast of the United States, where Katrina’s storm surge crippled New Orleans, Louisiana, for weeks and devastated the Mississippi coastline. It also produced the second-highest accumulated cyclone energy in the Atlantic basin, surpassed only by the 1933 season. Its storms caused an estimated 3,912 deaths and approximately USD 171. 7 billion in damage. The strongest hurricane, Wilma, became the most intense Atlantic hurricane on record, as measured by barometric pressure. It was the costliest season on record at the the time, until it was surpassed 12 years later by the 2010 season. The first storm – Arlene – developed on June 8. The final storm – Zeta – formed in late December and lasted until January 6, 2006. The U.S. National Hurricane Center named 27 storms, exhausting the annual pre-designated list and resulting in the usage of six Greek letter names, and also identified an additional unnamed storm during a post-season re-analysis.

The increase was based on the belief that El Niño conditions would not persist into the hurricane season, with a continued risk of a major hurricane landfall in the Caribbean or United States. On May 2, the Cuban Institute of Meteorology issued their seasonal forecast, which predicted that the season would feature 13 named storms, 6 hurricanes and 3 intense hurricanes. During January 2005, TSR increased its forecast to 13. 9 tropicals storms, 7. 8 hur Hurricanes, 3. 6 major hurricanes, and predicted the ACE rating would be 157. This was followed on May 16 by NOAA, who predicted a 70% chance of 12–15 tropical storms above normal activity, 7–9 hurricanes, 3–5 major hurricanes and 3–9 major hurricanes. The group believed that the El Niño was not expected to persist into this point; by the end of the year, El Niño is believed to have left the Atlantic at its warmest point, with only a 3% to 4% risk of tropical storms and 4% chance of major hurricanes in the next few months. The hurricane season officially began on June 1, 2005, and the first storm – Arlene – developed on July 8. The last storm – Zeta – formed on December 6, 2006, and it was the last storm to form during the season, lasting until January 6.