Storms named Hortense (retired)

Hortense is a retired Atlantic hurricane name. The World Meteorological Organization took it off the lists after the 1996 storm, so no future Atlantic storm will be called Hortense. Its place on the list now belongs to Hanna, on the 2026 list. Since 1984, three storms have been named Hortense; the strongest, in 1996, peaked as a Category 4 hurricane.

Times used

1984–1996

Strongest

1996 · Cat 4

935 mb

Most recent

1996

Atlantic

Retired

After 1996

Slot now: Hanna (2026 list)

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199619901984Tracks: IBTrACS / NHC

Has the name Hortense been retired?

Yes. Hortense is on NHC’s list of retired Atlantic names because of the 1996 storm. It is one of 100 names retired there since 1954 (Tropical Cyclone Naming History and Retired Names).

A name is retired when a storm was so deadly or costly that using the name again would be insensitive; the World Meteorological Organization then picks a new name with the same first letter at its annual meeting.

When will Hortense be used again?

It won’t be. Retired names are not used again on the Atlantic lists. Its place on the list, the H slot, now belongs to Hanna, on the 2026 Atlantic list, which is the list in use this year.

Every storm named Hortense, newest first

Hurricane Hortense (1996)

Dates: September 3, 1996 to September 16, 1996 (13 days)
Peak wind: 140 mph / 220 km/h · Category 4
Lowest pressure: 935 mb
Ocean: Atlantic
Order in season: 8th name of 1996

Hortense formed in the Atlantic in September 1996 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 935 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Guánica, Puerto Rico and last near Eastern Passage, Canada. The system was tracked for 13 days.

Hurricane Hortense (1996): track and history

Tropical Storm Hortense (1990)

Dates: August 25, 1990 to August 31, 1990 (6 days)
Peak wind: 65 mph / 100 km/h · Tropical storm
Lowest pressure: 993 mb
Ocean: Atlantic
Order in season: 8th name of 1990

Hortense formed in the Atlantic in August 1990 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 993 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.

Tropical Storm Hortense (1990): track and history

Hurricane Hortense (1984)

Dates: September 23, 1984 to October 2, 1984 (10 days)
Peak wind: 75 mph / 120 km/h · Category 1
Lowest pressure: 993 mb
Ocean: Atlantic
Order in season: 8th name of 1984

Hortense formed in the Atlantic in September 1984 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 993 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.

Hurricane Hortense (1984): track and history

Where storms named Hortense made landfall

Storm	Landfall near	Date (UTC)	Wind
Hortense 1996	Guánica, Puerto Rico	1996-09-10 06:00	80 mph / 130 km/h
Hortense 1996	Eastern Passage, Canada	1996-09-15 03:00	80 mph / 130 km/h

Why was the storm named Hortense?

Names go in alphabetical order, one per storm, as each storm reaches tropical-storm strength (39 mph, 34 knots), so a storm’s place in its season decides its name.

In each of 1996, 1990 and 1984, Hortense was the 8th name used in the Atlantic season.

Questions about the name Hortense

When was the last time a storm was named Hortense?

The most recent was Hurricane Hortense in 1996, in the Atlantic. It formed on September 3, peaked at 140 mph (220 km/h) and lasted 13 days. It made landfall near Guánica, Puerto Rico. It was the 8th name used in that Atlantic season. Before that, the name was used in 1990 and 1984.

What was the strongest storm named Hortense?

Hurricane Hortense in 1996 was the strongest, peaking as a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 935 mb. It formed in the Atlantic in September and made landfall near Guánica, Puerto Rico. The weakest of the three, in 1990, peaked at 65 mph (100 km/h).