Highlights of the unusually active 2005 Atlantic hurricane season-- A YEAR OF BREAKING RECORDS

The hurricane season of 2005 will be reviewed. Preliminary data indicate that the year saw a record number of 23 named tropical storms, two more than the previous record established in 1933. In addition, there were 14 hurricanes, two more than the record of 12 established in 1969. For the first time since aircraft reconnaissance began in the mid 1940s, there were 4 category five hurricanes in one season. One of them, Wilma had a minimum pressure of 882 mb, the lowest measured on record in the Atlantic basin. Eight systems affected the United States, five more than the average. “Major” Hurricanes Dennis, Katrina, Rita and Wilma all directly impacted the United States resulting in 2005 becoming the deadliest hurricane season in this country since 1928 and the costliest ever.