Here is a look at the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season.
Facts
The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. The areas covered include the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.
The National Weather Service defines a hurricane as a “tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 74 mph (64 knots) or higher.”
Hurricanes are rated according to intensity of sustained winds on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. The 1-5 scale estimates potential property damage.
A Category 3 or higher is considered a major hurricane.
The National Hurricane Center advises preparedness:
- A hurricane watch indicates the possibility that a region could experience hurricane conditions within 48 hours.
- A hurricane warning indicates that sustained winds of at least 74 mph are expected within 36 hours.
Predictions
April 2, 2020 - The Colorado State University Tropical Meteorology Project team predicts an above-average Atlantic hurricane season. The team forecasts 16 named storms, including eight hurricanes.
May 21, 2020 - The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasts a 60% chance for an above-normal season, predicting that there is a 70% chance of having 13 to 19 named storms, of which six to 10 could develop into hurricanes, including three to six major hurricanes (Categories 3-5).
August 6, 2020 - NOAA releases its updated forecast, saying an “extremely active” hurricane season is possible. The agency now predicts 19 to 25 named storms, including seven to 11 hurricanes.
2020 Atlantic Storm Names
Hurricane names are pulled from six rotating lists maintained and updated by the World Meteorological Organization. Storm names are retired only when those storms are particularly deadly or costly. When the normal list of storm names is exhausted, additional names are taken from the Greek alphabet.
Tropical Storm Arthur
May 16, 2020 - Tropical Storm Arthur forms about 190 miles east-northeast of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
May 19, 2020 - Weakens to a post-tropical cyclone.
Tropical Storm Bertha
May 27, 2020 - Tropical Storm Bertha forms near the coast of South Carolina and then makes landfall approximately 20 miles east of Charleston.
May 28, 2020 - Weakens to a post-tropical cylcone.
Tropical Storm Cristobal
June 2, 2020 - Tropical Storm Cristobal forms in the southern Gulf of Mexico.
June 3, 2020 - Makes landfall in southern Mexico near the town of Atasta.
June 7, 2020 - Makes landfall in Louisiana.
June 8, 2020 - Weakens to a tropical depression.
Tropical Storm Dolly
June 23, 2020 - Tropical Storm Dolly forms.
June 24, 2020 - Weakens to a post-tropical cyclone.
Tropical Storm Edouard
July 5, 2020 - Tropical Storm Edouard forms.
July 6, 2020 - Weakens to a post-tropical cyclone.
Tropical Storm Fay
July 9, 2020 - Tropical Storm Fay forms off the coast of North Carollina.
July 10, 2020 - Makes landfall in New Jersey.
July 11, 2020 - Weakens to a tropical depression.
Tropical Storm Gonzalo
July 22, 2020 - Tropical Storm Gonzalo forms in the Atlantic.
July 25, 2020 - Weakens to a tropical depression.
Hurricane Hanna
July 23, 2020 - Tropical Storm Hanna forms in the Gulf of Mexico.
July 25, 2020 - Hanna strengthens into a Category 1 hurricane and later makes landfall on Padre Island, Texas.
July 26, 2020 - Weakens to a tropical storm, and then to a tropical depression.
Hurricane Isaias
July 29, 2020 - Tropical Storm Isaias forms in the Caribbean.
July 30, 2020 - Isaias strengthens into a hurricane.
August 3, 2020 - Isaias makes landfall as a Category 1 hurricane near Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina.
August 4, 2020 - Is downgraded to a tropical storm as it continues to move up the East Coast. Later in the day, Isaias weakens to a post-tropical cyclone.
Tropical Storm Josephine
August 13, 2020 - Tropical Storm Josephine forms.
August 16, 2020 - Weakens to a tropical depression.
Tropical Storm Kyle
August 14, 2020 - Tropical Storm Kyle forms.
August 16, 2020 - Weakens to a post-tropical cyclone.
Hurricane Laura
August 21, 2020 - Tropical Storm Laura forms in the Caribbean.
August 23, 2020 - Over 35 people are killed in the Caribbean, including the Dominican Republic and Haiti, due to rain and flooding caused by Tropical Storm Laura.
August 25, 2020 - Laura strengthens into a hurricane.
August 26, 2020 - Strengthens into a Category 4 hurricane.
August 27, 2020 - Makes landfall near Cameron, Louisiana, killing at least 27 people. Later in the day, Laura weakens to a tropical depression.
Hurricane Marco
August 21, 2020 - Tropical Storm Marco forms over the Northwestern Caribbean.
August 23, 2020 - Marco strengthens into a Category 1 hurricane. Later in the day, Marco weakens to a tropical storm.
August 24, 2020 - Makes landfall near the mouth of the Mississippi River.
August 25, 2020 - Weakens to a post-tropical cyclone.
Tropical Storm Nana
September 1, 2020 - Tropical Storm Nana forms in the Caribbean.
September 3, 2020 - Nana weakens to a tropical depression.
Tropical Storm Omar
September 1, 2020 - Tropical Storm Omar forms east of North Carolina.
September 5, 2020 - Weakens to a post-tropical cyclone.
Hurricane Paulette
September 7, 2020 - Tropical Storm Paulette forms.
September 12, 2020 - Paulette strengthens into a hurricane.
September 14, 2020 - Paulette makes landfall in Bermuda.
September 16, 2020 - Weakens to a post-tropical cyclone.
September 22, 2020 - Paulette regenerates into a tropical storm.
September 23, 2020 - Weakens to a post-tropical cyclone for the second time.
Tropical Storm Rene
September 7, 2020 - Tropical Storm Rene forms.
September 12, 2020 - Weakens to a tropical depression.
Hurricane Sally
September 12, 2020 - Tropical Storm Sally forms.
September 14, 2020 - Sally strengthens into a hurricane.
September 16, 2020 - Sally makes landfall near Gulf Shores, Alabama, as a Category 2 hurricane. Later in the night, Sally weakens to a tropical depression.
Hurricane Teddy
September 14, 2020 - Tropical Storm Teddy forms.
September 16, 2020 - Strengthens into a hurricane.
September 21, 2020 - Comes close to Bermuda but does not make landfall.
September 22, 2020 - Weakens to a post-tropical cyclone off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada.
Tropical Storm Vicky
September 14, 2020 - Tropical Storm Vicky forms.
September 17, 2020 - Weakens to a post-tropical cyclone.
Tropical Storm Wilfred
September 18, 2020 - Tropical Storm Wilfred forms.
September 20, 2020 - Weakens to a tropical depression.
Tropical Storm Alpha
September 18, 2020 - Subtropical Storm Alpha forms and makes landfall in Portugal.
September 19, 2020 - Weakens to a post-tropical cyclone.
Tropical Storm Beta
September 18, 2020 - Tropical Storm Beta forms.
September 21, 2020 - Beta makes landfall as a tropical storm on the Eastern coast of Texas.
September 22, 2020 - Weakens to a tropical depression.
Tropical Storm Gamma
October 2, 2020 - Tropical Storm Gamma forms about 135 miles south-southeast of Cozumel, Mexico.
October 3, 2020 - Makes landfall near Tulum, Mexico.
October 5, 2020 - Weakens to a post-tropical cyclone.
Hurricane Delta
October 5, 2020 - Tropical Storm Delta forms. Strengthens to a hurricane later in the day.
October 7, 2020 - Hurricane Delta makes landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula.
October 9, 2020 - Makes landfall near Creole, Louisiana, as a Category 2 hurricane. At least four people are reported to have died in the US.
October 10, 2020 - Weakens to a tropical depression.
Hurricane Epsilon
October 19, 2020 - Tropical Storm Epsilon forms in the Atlantic Ocean.
October 20, 2020 - Strengthens to a hurricane.
October 21, 2020 - Intensifies to a major, Category 3 storm.
October 22, 2020 - Weakens to a Category 1 hurricane and passes east of Bermuda.
October 25, 2020 - Weakens to a tropical storm.
October 26, 2020 - Becomes a post-tropical cyclone.
Hurricane Zeta
October 25, 2020 - Tropical Storm Zeta forms east of Mexico.
October 26, 2020 - Zeta makes landfall in the Yucatán Peninsula north of Tulum, Mexico, as a Category 1 hurricane.
October 28, 2020 - Zeta makes landfall in Louisiana as a Category 2 hurricane. At least six people have died in the US due to the storm.
Hurricane Eta
October 31, 2020 - Tropical Storm Eta forms in the Caribbean.
November 2, 2020 - Strengthens to a hurricane and intensifies to a Category 4 hurricane throughout the day.
November 3, 2020 - Eta makes landfall in northeastern Nicaragua as a Category 4 storm. Over 150 people have died in Central America due to the storm.
November 8, 2020 - Makes landfall on the south-central coast of Cuba as a tropical storm. Later in the day, Eta makes landfall in the Florida Keys.
Tropical Storm Theta
November 10, 2020 - Tropical Storm Theta forms in the Atlantic Ocean, making 2020 the most active hurricane season on record with 29 storms so far. Strengthens to a tropical storm later in the day.
November 15, 2020 - Weakens to a post-tropical cyclone.
Hurricane Iota
November 13, 2020 - Tropical Storm Iota forms in the Caribbean
November 15, 2020 - Strengthens into a hurricane.
November 16, 2020 - Makes landfall in Nicaragua as a Category 4 hurricane. Over 40 people die from Iota’s impacts in Central America and Columbia.
November 18, 2020 - Iota dissipates over Central America.