Atlantic Basin Hurricane & Tropical Storm Center
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February Tropics, Say What?
Feb 6, 2012; 2:10 PM ET
The calendar says it's early February, but that is not stopping the tropics from trying to come alive near South Florida.
The 2011 Hurricane Season Has Come to a Close
Feb 8, 2012 4:50 AM
The 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season will go down in history as one of the most active on record.
On Monday, Nov. 28, 2011, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) officials released a list of final statistics for the season, which included a post-storm upgrade of Tropical Storm Nate to hurricane status and the addition of a previously unclassified, unnamed tropical storm.
In all, 19 named tropical systems prowled the Tropical Atlantic Basin this season, with seven achieving hurricane status and three gaining major hurricane status (Category 3 hurricane or stronger).
With 19 storms, 2011 goes in the record books as tied for the third-highest total since records began in 1851 (joining 1887, 1995 and 2010).
The unnamed tropical system, which formed in early September between Bermuda and Nova Scotia, was added to the list after an analysis of past satellite images by NOAA. The agency points out this storm could have gone undetected in the pre-satellite era.
Concerning the number of hurricanes, 2011 was fairly ordinary.
According to Tropical Weather and Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski, "Despite the high number of named systems, most storms were underachievers this year."
In a typical year, 11 storms are named, with six becoming hurricanes and two major hurricanes.
The strongest hurricane was Ophelia, which maxed out at 140-mph sustained winds.
"Most hurricanes formed well away from the U.S. and stayed away from the U.S.," Kottlowski said.
There were three tropical cyclone landfalls this season, which is typical.
However, Hurricane Irene stood above the rest in reminding the East Coast of the U.S. that it takes only one hurricane to make a memorable season.
On Aug. 27, Irene became the first hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. mainland since Ike in 2008.
"Irene broke the 'hurricane amnesia' that can develop when so much time lapses between landfalling storms," said Jack Hayes, Ph.D., director of NOAA's National Weather Service.
According to Kottlowski, "A northwesterly flow of dry air and wind shear kept most of the storms away from the U.S. However, the flow backed off just long enough to let Irene, then Lee come ashore."
Irene was responsible for widespread flooding, 56 fatalities and $10.1 billion in damage, with homes, bridges and roads still in the process of being rebuilt from North Carolina to New England more than three months later. Extensive damage also occurred in the Bahamas.
Rainfall from Irene and Lee combined to set rainfall records in a number of locations in the mid-Atlantic and even topped record flood stages along the Susquehanna set during Agnes in 1972.
Both AccuWeather.com and NOAA's long-range forecast teams correctly predicted a busier-than-normal season.
You can view the original AccuWeather forecast, released this past spring, here, or take a look at stats from this season's storms in our Hurricane Center.
Expert Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski contributed to the content of this story.
By AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Bill Deger
Atlantic Basin Maps
National Hurricane Center Outlook
000 ABNT20 KNHC 061158 TWOAT SPECIAL TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 700 AM EST MON FEB 6 2012 FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC...CARIBBEAN SEA AND THE GULF OF MEXICO... A BROAD AREA OF LOW PRESSURE EXTENDING FROM WESTERN CUBA NORTHWARD INTO THE FLORIDA STRAITS IS INTERACTING WITH A MID TO UPPER-LEVEL TROUGH. WHILE THIS SYSTEM IS PRODUCING A LARGE AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF AN ORGANIZED SURFACE CIRCULATION AND UPPER-LEVEL WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BECOME LESS FAVORABLE FOR SUBTROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION DURING THE DAY TODAY. THIS SYSTEM HAS A LOW CHANCE...NEAR 0 PERCENT...OF BECOMING A SUBTROPICAL CYCLONE DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS. REGARDLESS OF ANY ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT...THIS SYSTEM WILL PRODUCE WIDESPREAD RAINFALL AND ISOLATED GUSTY WINDS OVER PORTIONS OF NORTHERN CUBA...THE FLORIDA KEYS AND SOUTH FLORIDA TODAY AS IT MOVES GENERALLY NORTHEASTWARD NEAR 15 MPH. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS SYSTEM CAN BE FOUND IN OFFSHORE WATERS FORECASTS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE...UNDER AWIPS HEADER MIAOFFNT3 AND WMO HEADER FZNT23 KNHC...AND IN PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE. THIS WILL BE THE LAST SPECIAL TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK ISSUED ON THIS SYSTEM. ELSEWHERE...TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION IS NOT EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS. $$ FORECASTER BRENNAN
Hurricane WeatherWhys®: Intensity & Impact
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Hurricane Features
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Atlantic Category 5 Storms
To qualify as a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane intensity scale, maximum sustained winds must exceed 155 mph (135 kt).
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Retired Hurricane Names
Hurricanes that have a severe impact on lives or the economy are remembered by generations after the devastation they caused, and some go into weather history.
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Download Hurricane Tracking Maps
AccuWeather.com has created a number of specialty maps designed for tracking the progress of tropical storms and hurricanes. Use these maps in conjunction with our Hurricane Position graphic, as well as statements issued by the NHC with storm positions.
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When and Where Do Hurricanes Occur?
Hurricanes (by whatever name) are by far most common in the Pacific Ocean, with the western Pacific being most active. In some years, the Philippines are struck by more than 20 tropical storms and typhoons.
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What Are the Parts of a Hurricane?
Low pressure in the hurricane can act as a plunger, slightly pulling up the water level. However, the components that contribute to the greatest storm surge affect are the winds blowing to the left side of the storm and the topography of the land as the storm makes land fall.
