2008 Atlantic Hurricane Season in Review
Above Average Season Sets New Record for Most Consecutive Landfalls
Nov 26, 2008
The average hurricane season has eleven named storms, six of which become hurricanes. Two of those hurricanes typically go on to become major hurricanes, with a Saffir-Simpson ranking of Category 3 or higher. 2008's hurricane season easily surpassed those averages.
Some 16 named storms formed this year, NOAA's National Hurricane Center reports.Of these, eight became hurricanes, and five major hurricanes. The season was tied for fourth in the most named storms and major hurricanes over the past 64 years, and tied for fifth for the number of hurricanes.
NOAA can also chalk up a victory for its hurricane forecasting division: its August forecast called for 14 to 18 named storms, seven to 10 hurricanes and three to six major hurricanes.
Active Season Leads to More Landfalling Storms
The activity across the Atlantic did indeed catch the attention of forecasters. “This year’s hurricane season continues the current active hurricane era and is the tenth season to produce above-normal activity in the past 14 years,” NOAA Climate Prediction Center lead hurricane forecaster Dr. Gerry Bell said.
More storms meant more opportunities for storms to strike the US mainland. In fact, during 2008, a record six named storms struck the US - Dolly, Edouard, Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Ike - and a record three major hurricanes crossed Cuba, that being Gustav, Ike and Paloma.
Some of these landfalling storms also set further record. Fay, a tropical storm which formed near land in mid-August, made landfall four times in Florida over a period from August 19 to August 23. This was the first single storm to strike the state four times.
Paloma set a record for the second strongest November storm with winds of 145mph. This was behind Hurricane Lenny, which reached winds of 155mph in 1999.
Why are There More Hurricanes?
NOAA says the increase in hurricane activity is part of a larger multi-decadal cycle of increased tropical activity. This started in 1995, and since then nearly three-quarters of the seasons have featured above-normal numbers of named storms.
Ocean water temperatures also played a part. In the Pacific, the La Nina phase of the El Nino Southern Oscillation was weakening, which reduced wind shear across the Atlantic. Shear is a significant retardant to tropical cyclone development.
Additionally, Atlantic Ocean temperatures are running above normal by about one degree Fahrenheit. This occurred during the peak of the hurricane season, which gave storms some extra fuel to develop.
Forecasters Look Ahead to 2009 Hurricane Season
With the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season drawing to a close, forecasters say they will continue to review the data in order to better forecasts in 2009 and beyond. "With this season behind us, it’s time to prepare for the one that lies ahead," National Hurricane Center director Bill Read said.
No forecasts have yet been made for activity in 2009. NOAA says it will release its first outlook for the 2009 season in May.
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