1980 Atlantic hurricane season
Jun 1, 1980 – Nov 30, 1980 · Season ended
The 1980 Atlantic hurricane season produced 11 named storms, 9 hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 14.4, 7.2 and 3.2. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 149, 122% of the average.
1980 season at a glance
- Named storms: 11 (1991–2020 average 14.4).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 9 (average 7.2).
- Major, 96 kt+: 2, including 1 at Category 5 strength (average 3.2).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 149.1, 122% of the 123 average.
- Named-storm days: 62.3, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Allen, August 2.
- First hurricane: Allen, August 3.
- First major storm: Allen, August 4.
- Last storm to dissipate: Karl, November 28.
- All systems tracked: 18, including 7 that stayed below tropical-storm strength.
Counts use 1-minute best-track winds: named storms reached 34 kt (39 mph), the next column 64 kt (74 mph) and major storms 96 kt (111 mph).
Every storm of the 1980 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD 1L | – | TD | — | — |
| TD 2L | – | TD | — | Lake Jackson, United States |
| TD 3L | – | TD | — | — |
| Allen | – | C5 | 899 mb | Raymondville, United States |
| TD 5L | – | TD | — | — |
| Bonnie | – | C2 | 975 mb | — |
| Charley | – | C1 | 989 mb | — |
| TD 8L | – | TD | — | — |
| Georges | – | C1 | 993 mb | — |
| Earl | – | C1 | 985 mb | — |
| Danielle | – | TS | 1004 mb | Greatwood, United States |
| Frances | – | C3 | 958 mb | — |
| Hermine | – | TS | 993 mb | Orange Walk, Belize |
| Ivan | – | C2 | 970 mb | — |
| TD 15L | – | TD | — | — |
| Jeanne | – | C2 | 986 mb | — |
| TD 17L | – | TD | — | Nueva Gerona, Cuba |
| Karl | – | C1 | 985 mb | — |
- TD 1L: This system formed in the Atlantic in July 1980 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 30 mph (45 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- TD 2L: This system formed in the Atlantic in July 1980 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h). It made landfall near Lake Jackson, United States. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- TD 3L: This system formed in the Atlantic in July 1980 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Allen: Allen formed in the Atlantic in July 1980 and peaked as a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 190 mph (305 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 899 mb. It made landfall near Raymondville, United States. The system was tracked for 11 days.
- TD 5L: This system formed in the Atlantic in August 1980 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Bonnie: Bonnie formed in the Atlantic in August 1980 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (155 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 975 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Charley: Charley formed in the Atlantic in August 1980 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 989 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- TD 8L: This system formed in the Atlantic in August 1980 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Georges: Georges formed in the Atlantic in September 1980 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 993 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Earl: Earl formed in the Atlantic in September 1980 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 985 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Danielle: Danielle formed in the Atlantic in September 1980 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1004 mb. It made landfall near Greatwood, United States. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Frances: Frances formed in the Atlantic in September 1980 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 958 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 15 days.
- Hermine: Hermine formed in the Atlantic in September 1980 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 993 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Orange Walk, Belize and last near Soteapan, Mexico. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Ivan: Ivan formed in the Atlantic in October 1980 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 970 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 11 days.
- TD 15L: This system formed in the Atlantic in October 1980 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 30 mph (45 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Jeanne: Jeanne formed in the Atlantic in November 1980 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (155 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 986 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- TD 17L: This system formed in the Atlantic in November 1980 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h). It made 2 landfalls, first near Nueva Gerona, Cuba and last near Artemisa, Cuba. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Karl: Karl formed in the Atlantic in November 1980 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 985 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1980
Hurricane Allen was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 190 mph (305 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 899 mb, on August 7. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
No Atlantic storm since 1980 has peaked higher; 1 other matched it. It produced 35% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1980
5 of the season’s 18 systems made landfall, 1 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- July 20: TD 2L near Lake Jackson, United States, 30 mph (tropical depression)
- August 10: Allen near Raymondville, United States, 105 mph (Category 2)
- September 6: Danielle near Greatwood, United States, 45 mph (tropical storm)
- September 22: Hermine near Orange Walk, Belize, 65 mph (tropical storm)
- September 24: Hermine near Soteapan, Mexico, 60 mph (tropical storm)
- November 16: TD 17L near Nueva Gerona, Cuba, 30 mph (tropical depression)
- November 16: TD 17L near Artemisa, Cuba, 30 mph (tropical depression)
How 1980 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 31st of 47 Atlantic seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 3 other seasons), 9th for hurricanes (tied with 4 other seasons) and 12th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 30 named storms, in 2020, and the highest ACE is 250, in 2005.
1980 storm names
The 1980 season used 11 names: Allen, Bonnie, Charley, Georges, Earl, Danielle, Frances, Hermine, Ivan, Jeanne, Karl.
7 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
Atlantic and East Pacific lists repeat every six years. See how storms are named.
The WMO later retired the name Allen, so it will not be used again.
1980 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1980?
The 1980 Atlantic hurricane season had 11 named storms, 9 hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes, from 18 systems tracked in all. The 1991–2020 average is 14.4 named storms, 7.2 at 64 kt or more and 3.2 major per season. The first to form was Allen and the last was Karl.
What was the strongest storm of 1980?
Hurricane Allen. It peaked at 190 mph (305 km/h, 165 kt) with a lowest pressure of 899 mb on August 7. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. No Atlantic storm since 1980 has peaked higher. It produced 35% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 1980 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 1980, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Karl, dissipated on November 28. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 6 Atlantic storms since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.