| 2023 Atlantic hurricane season | |
|---|---|
 Season summary map | |
| Seasonal boundaries | |
| First system formed | January 16, 2023 |
| Last system dissipated | October 28, 2023 |
| Strongest storm | |
| Name | Lee |
| • Maximum winds | 165 mph (270 km/h) (1-minute sustained) |
| • Lowest pressure | 926 mbar (hPa; 27.35 inHg) |
| Seasonal statistics | |
| Total depressions | 21 |
| Total storms | 20 |
| Hurricanes | 7 |
| Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+) | 3 |
| Total fatalities | 21 total |
| Total damage | > $4.19 billion (2023 USD) |
| Related articles | |
The 2023 Atlantic hurricane season was the fourth-most active Atlantic hurricane season on record with 20 named storms forming,[nb 1] tied with 1933. Among them, 7 became hurricanes, with 3 reaching major hurricane strength.[nb 2] The season also had an above‑normal accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) rating of 148, despite the presence of the 2023–24 El Niño event, which typically results in less activity, and had the most storms for an El Niño year on record, largely due to record-warm sea surface temperatures across the Atlantic. The season officially began on June 1 and ended on November 30. These dates, adopted by convention, historically describe the period in each year when most tropical cyclogenesis occurs in the Atlantic. However, the formation of subtropical or tropical cyclones is possible at any time of the year, as demonstrated by the formation of a subtropical storm on January 16, the earliest start of an Atlantic hurricane season since Hurricane Alex in January 2016.[2] Because the system was operationally assessed as non-tropical by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and designated after the fact, it is referred to as "Unnamed."
June saw two tropical storms—Bret and Cindy—form in the tropical Atlantic (south of 23.5°N, east of 60°W) for the first time on record. The former made landfall on Saint Vincent. An unprecedented stretch of activity commenced in late August.[3] Tropical Storm Harold struck southern Texas on August 22, and Hurricane Franklin made landfall in the Dominican Republic as a tropical storm the following day, with the latter reaching peak intensity as a high-end Category 4 hurricane and bringing tropical-storm-force winds to Bermuda. After briefly attaining Category 4 strength on August 30, Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Florida as a Category 3 hurricane. In early September, Hurricane Lee rapidly intensified into a Category 5 hurricane, then later made multiple landfalls in Atlantic Canada as a strong extratropical cyclone. Later that month, Tropical Storm Ophelia made landfall in North Carolina. In October, both Tropical Storm Philippe, the longest-lived tropical cyclone in the Atlantic this year,[4] and Hurricane Tammy made landfall on Barbuda. Also that month, Tropical Depression Twenty‑One made landfall in Nicaragua. With Tammy's dissipation on October 28, the season effectively ended, as no tropical cyclones formed thereafter. The systems of this season collectively produced at least $4.19 billion (USD)[nb 3] in damage, and caused 20 fatalities.
Despite the above-normal activity this season, El Niño‑enhanced wind shear prevented most storms from significantly strengthening. Additionally, the El Niño event weakened the Bermuda High, allowing systems to curve northward or take more easterly tracks out to sea, as opposed to being pushed westward towards the continental United States, Mexico, or Central America. As a result, only a few systems impacted land or caused significant damage this season, with just three making landfall in the U.S.[5][6] For the first time since the 2014 season, no names were retired this year by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).[7]
Cite error: There are <ref group=nb> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=nb}} template (see the help page).
- ^ "Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on June 20, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
- ^ Barker, Aaron (May 11, 2023). "First storm of 2023 hurricane season formed in January, NHC says". Fox Weather. Archived from the original on May 12, 2023. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
EOTS 1130was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Henson, Bob (October 6, 2023). "Long-lived but underwhelming Philippe goes post-tropical". New Haven, Connecticut: Yale Climate Connections. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
- ^ Charlotte Carl (June 15, 2023). "Where is the Bermuda High? Here's what to know". Wink News. Archived from the original on December 1, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
- ^ Gus Alaka. How Do Hurricanes Move? (PDF) (Report). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 29, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:2was invoked but never defined (see the help page).