Storms named Ophelia

Ophelia is the 15th name on the 2029 list of Atlantic hurricane names, so it is next scheduled for 2029. It is used that year only if the season reaches the letter O. Since 1986, seven storms have been named Ophelia; the strongest, in 2011, peaked as a Category 4 hurricane.

Times used

1986–2023

Strongest

2011 · Cat 4

940 mb

Most recent

2023

Atlantic

Next scheduled

2029

Atlantic list, name 15 of 21

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2023201720112008200519961986Tracks: IBTrACS / NHC

Has the name Ophelia been retired?

No. Ophelia is on the 2029 list of Atlantic names, and it is not among the 100 names NHC lists as retired from the Atlantic (Tropical Cyclone Naming History and Retired Names).

When will Ophelia be used again?

Ophelia is next scheduled for 2029, when the 2029 list is used. The six lists rotate, so each one returns every six years.

A name on the list is used only if the season gets that far. Ophelia is name 15 of 21, and 18 of the 46 Atlantic seasons from 1980 to 2025 got that far.

Every storm named Ophelia, newest first

Tropical Storm Ophelia (2023)

Dates: September 21, 2023 to September 24, 2023 (3 days)
Peak wind: 70 mph / 110 km/h · Tropical storm
Lowest pressure: 981 mb
Ocean: Atlantic
Order in season: 15th name of 2023

Ophelia formed in the Atlantic in September 2023 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 981 mb. It made landfall near Piney Green, United States. The system was tracked for 3 days.

Tropical Storm Ophelia (2023): track and history

Hurricane Ophelia (2017)

Dates: October 6, 2017 to October 17, 2017 (11 days)
Peak wind: 115 mph / 185 km/h · Category 3
Lowest pressure: 957 mb
Ocean: Atlantic
Order in season: 15th name of 2017

Ophelia formed in the Atlantic in October 2017 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 957 mb. It made landfall near Tralee, Ireland. The system was tracked for 11 days.

Hurricane Ophelia (2017): track and history

Hurricane Ophelia (2011)

Dates: September 20, 2011 to October 4, 2011 (14 days)
Peak wind: 140 mph / 220 km/h · Category 4
Lowest pressure: 940 mb
Ocean: Atlantic
Order in season: 15th name of 2011

Ophelia formed in the Atlantic in September 2011 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 940 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 14 days.

Hurricane Ophelia (2011): track and history

Cyclone Ophelia (2008)

Dates: February 26, 2008 to March 7, 2008 (10 days)
Peak wind: 75 mph / 120 km/h · Category 1
Lowest pressure: 974 mb
Ocean: Southern Hemisphere
ACE: 6.2

Ophelia formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2008 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 974 mb. The system was tracked for 10 days.

Cyclone Ophelia (2008): track and history

Hurricane Ophelia (2005)

Dates: September 6, 2005 to September 23, 2005 (17 days)
Peak wind: 85 mph / 140 km/h · Category 1
Lowest pressure: 976 mb
Ocean: Atlantic
Order in season: 15th name of 2005

Ophelia formed in the Atlantic in September 2005 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 976 mb. It made landfall near Lucaya, Bahamas. The system was tracked for 17 days.

Hurricane Ophelia (2005): track and history

Tropical Storm Ophelia (1996)

Dates: December 13, 1996 to December 27, 1996 (14 days)
Peak wind: 65 mph / 100 km/h · Tropical storm
Lowest pressure: 980 mb
Ocean: Southern Hemisphere
ACE: 4.4

Ophelia formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 1996 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 980 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 14 days.

Tropical Storm Ophelia (1996): track and history

Tropical Storm Ophelia (1986)

Dates: January 7, 1986 to January 13, 1986 (7 days)
Peak wind: 50 mph / 85 km/h · Tropical storm
Lowest pressure: 986 mb
Ocean: Southern Hemisphere
ACE: 1.2

Ophelia formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 1986 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 986 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.

Tropical Storm Ophelia (1986): track and history

Where storms named Ophelia made landfall

Storm	Landfall near	Date (UTC)	Wind
Ophelia 2023	Piney Green, United States	2023-09-23 10:15	70 mph / 110 km/h
Ophelia 2017	Tralee, Ireland	2017-10-16 11:00	75 mph / 120 km/h
Ophelia 2008	14.8°S 128.2°E	2008-02-28 15:00	30 mph / 45 km/h
Ophelia 2005	Lucaya, Bahamas	2005-09-06 16:00	30 mph / 45 km/h

Why was the storm named Ophelia?

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 2023, 2017, 2011 and 2005, Ophelia was the 15th name used in the Atlantic season.

Ophelia in other oceans

Storms named Ophelia appear in more than one ocean in our archive:

Atlantic: 2005, 2011, 2017 and 2023
Southern Hemisphere: 1986, 1996 and 2008

Each ocean region keeps its own name lists, drawn up by its own WMO regional committee (Tropical cyclone naming), so the same name can be given to unrelated storms in different oceans.

Questions about the name Ophelia

When was the last time a storm was named Ophelia?

The most recent was Tropical Storm Ophelia in 2023, in the Atlantic. It formed on September 21, peaked at 70 mph (110 km/h) and lasted 3 days. It made landfall near Piney Green, United States. It was the 15th name used in that Atlantic season. Before that, the name was used in 2017, 2011, 2008, 2005, 1996 and 1986.

What was the strongest storm named Ophelia?

Hurricane Ophelia in 2011 was the strongest, peaking as a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 940 mb. It formed in the Atlantic in September. The weakest of the seven, in 1986, peaked at 50 mph (85 km/h).