1983 Atlantic hurricane season
Jun 1, 1983 – Nov 30, 1983 · Season ended
The 1983 Atlantic hurricane season produced 4 named storms, 3 hurricanes and 1 major hurricane, against a 1991–2020 average of 14.4, 7.2 and 3.2. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 17, 14% of the average.
1983 season at a glance
- Named storms: 4 (1991–2020 average 14.4).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 3 (average 7.2).
- Major, 96 kt+: 1 (average 3.2).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 17.4, 14% of the 123 average.
- Named-storm days: 14.5, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Alicia, August 15.
- First hurricane: Alicia, August 17.
- First major storm: Alicia, August 18.
- Last storm to dissipate: Dean, September 30.
- All systems tracked: 6, including 2 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 1983 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD 1L | – | TD | — | — |
| TD 2L | – | TD | — | — |
| Alicia | – | C3 | 962 mb | Hitchcock, United States |
| Barry | – | C1 | 986 mb | Micco, United States |
| Chantal | – | C1 | 994 mb | — |
| Dean | – | TS | 999 mb | Poquoson, United States |
- TD 1L: This system formed in the Atlantic in July 1983 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 5 days.
- TD 2L: This system formed in the Atlantic in July 1983 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 6 days.
- Alicia: Alicia formed in the Atlantic in August 1983 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 962 mb. It made landfall near Hitchcock, United States. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Barry: Barry formed in the Atlantic in August 1983 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 986 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Micco, United States and last near Heroica Matamoros, Mexico. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Chantal: Chantal formed in the Atlantic in September 1983 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 994 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Dean: Dean formed in the Atlantic in September 1983 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 999 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Poquoson, United States and last near Mechanicsville, United States. The system was tracked for 4 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1983
Hurricane Alicia was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 115 mph (185 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 962 mb, on August 18. That is Category 3 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
111 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 22 matched it. It produced 37% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1983
3 of the season’s 6 systems made landfall, 2 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- August 18: Alicia near Hitchcock, United States, 115 mph (Category 3)
- August 25: Barry near Micco, United States, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- August 28: Barry near Heroica Matamoros, Mexico, 80 mph (Category 1)
- September 30: Dean near Poquoson, United States, 45 mph (tropical storm)
- September 30: Dean near Mechanicsville, United States, 35 mph (tropical depression)
How 1983 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 47th of 47 Atlantic seasons since 1980 for named storms, 40th for hurricanes (tied with 4 other seasons) and 46th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 30 named storms, in 2020, and the highest ACE is 250, in 2005.
1983 storm names
The 1983 season used 4 names: Alicia, Barry, Chantal, Dean.
2 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 Alicia, so it will not be used again.
1983 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1983?
The 1983 Atlantic hurricane season had 4 named storms, 3 hurricanes and 1 major hurricane, from 6 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 Alicia and the last was Dean.
What was the strongest storm of 1983?
Hurricane Alicia. It peaked at 115 mph (185 km/h, 100 kt) with a lowest pressure of 962 mb on August 18. That is Category 3 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 111 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 37% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 1983 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 1983, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Dean, dissipated on September 30. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 6 Atlantic storms since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.