The 2017 Atlantic hurricane season was a hyperactive tropical cyclone season and the costliest on record, with a damage total of at least $282.02 billion (2017 USD). Featuring 17 named storms, 10 hurricanes and 6 major hurricanes, 2017 had the fifth-most named storms since reliable records began in 1851 – tied with 1936 – and the most major hurricanes since 2005. Collectively, the tropical cyclones were responsible for at least 3,364 deaths – the most fatalities in a single season since 2005. Most of the season's damage was due to hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. Another notable hurricane, Nate, was the worst natural disaster in Costa Rican history. The names Harvey, Irma, Maria and Nate were retired following the season due to the number of deaths and amount of damage they caused. This season is also one of only six years on record to feature multiple Category 5 hurricanes and the only season other than 2007 with two hurricanes making landfall at that intensity. All ten of the season's hurricanes occurred in a row – the greatest number of consecutive hurricanes in the satellite era, and tied for the highest number of consecutive hurricanes ever observed in the Atlantic basin. A hyperactive season, 2017 had the highest accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) since 2005, while a record three hurricanes each had an ACE of over 40: Irma, Jose and Maria.
This picture, taken by the VIIRS instrument on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Suomi NPP satellite on September 8, 2017, shows three hurricanes simultaneously active in the western Atlantic: Katia (left) making landfall in the Mexican state of Veracruz, Irma (center) approaching Cuba, and Jose (right) northeast of the Leeward Islands at peak intensity.Photograph credit: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration