| 1976 Atlantic hurricane season | |
|---|---|
 Season summary map | |
| Seasonal boundaries | |
| First system formed | May 21, 1976 |
| Last system dissipated | October 28, 1976 |
| Strongest storm | |
| Name | Belle |
| • Maximum winds | 120 mph (195 km/h) (1-minute sustained) |
| • Lowest pressure | 957 mbar (hPa; 28.26 inHg) |
| Seasonal statistics | |
| Total depressions | 21 |
| Total storms | 10 |
| Hurricanes | 6 |
| Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+) | 2 |
| Total fatalities | 84 total |
| Total damage | $101.63 million (1976 USD) |
| Related articles | |
The 1976 Atlantic hurricane season was a fairly average Atlantic hurricane season in which 21 tropical or subtropical cyclones formed. 10 of them became nameable storms. Six of those reached hurricane strength, with two of the six becoming major hurricanes, which are Category 3 or higher on the Saffir–Simpson scale. The season officially began on June 1 and lasted until November 30. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. However, the first system, a subtropical storm, developed in the Gulf of Mexico on May 21, several days before the official start of the season. The system spawned nine tornadoes in Florida, resulting in about $628,000 (1976 USD) in damage, though impact was minor otherwise.
The season featured only one fully tropical storm throughout the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, a rare occurrence. The strongest hurricane of the season was Hurricane Belle, which reached Category 3 intensity east of North Carolina. Belle later struck Long Island, New York, as a Category 1 hurricane, causing $100 million in damage and a total of 12 deaths between the Carolinas and New England, as well as an additional $1 million in damage in the Canadian province of New Brunswick. Tropical Storm Dottie and a subtropical storm in mid-September produced minor damage in the Southeastern United States; the former also caused four deaths in the Bahamas after a fishing boat capsized. Although Hurricane Emmy left little damage in the Azores, poor weather conditions resulted in a plane crash at Lajes Field, killing 68 people. Collectively, the tropical cyclones of this season resulted in 84 deaths and about $101.63 million in damage.