1986 Atlantic hurricane season
Jun 1, 1986 – Nov 30, 1986 · Season ended
The 1986 Atlantic hurricane season produced 6 named storms, 4 hurricanes and 0 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 14.4, 7.2 and 3.2. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 36, 29% of the average.
1986 season at a glance
- Named storms: 6 (1991–2020 average 14.4).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 4 (average 7.2).
- Major, 96 kt+: 0 (average 3.2).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 35.8, 29% of the 123 average.
- Named-storm days: 23.3, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Andrew, June 6.
- First hurricane: Bonnie, June 25.
- Last storm to dissipate: Frances, November 21.
- All systems tracked: 10, including 4 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 1986 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew | – | TS | 999 mb | — |
| Bonnie | – | C1 | 990 mb | Port Arthur, United States |
| TD 3L | – | TD | — | — |
| TD 4L | – | TD | — | — |
| Charley | – | C1 | 980 mb | Morehead City, United States |
| TD 6L | – | TD | — | — |
| TD 7L | – | TD | — | Ciudad Cuauhtémoc, Mexico |
| Danielle | – | TS | 1000 mb | — |
| Earl | – | C2 | 979 mb | — |
| Frances | – | C1 | 1000 mb | — |
- Andrew: Andrew formed in the Atlantic in June 1986 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 999 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Bonnie: Bonnie formed in the Atlantic in June 1986 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 990 mb. It made landfall near Port Arthur, United States. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- TD 3L: This system formed in the Atlantic in July 1986 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 4L: This system formed in the Atlantic in August 1986 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 2 days.
- Charley: Charley formed in the Atlantic in August 1986 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 980 mb. It made landfall near Morehead City, United States. The system was tracked for 17 days.
- TD 6L: This system formed in the Atlantic in August 1986 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 7L: This system formed in the Atlantic in September 1986 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h). It made landfall near Ciudad Cuauhtémoc, Mexico. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Danielle: Danielle formed in the Atlantic in September 1986 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1000 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Earl: Earl formed in the Atlantic in September 1986 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 979 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Frances: Frances formed in the Atlantic in November 1986 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1000 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 1986
Hurricane Earl was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 105 mph (165 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 979 mb, on September 12. That is Category 2 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
149 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 23 matched it. It produced 55% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1986
3 of the season’s 10 systems made landfall, 2 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
How 1986 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 44th of 47 Atlantic seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 2 other seasons), 34th for hurricanes (tied with 5 other seasons) and 41st for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 30 named storms, in 2020, and the highest ACE is 250, in 2005.
1986 storm names
The 1986 season used 6 names: Andrew, Bonnie, Charley, Danielle, Earl, Frances.
4 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.
1986 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1986?
The 1986 Atlantic hurricane season had 6 named storms, 4 hurricanes and 0 major hurricanes, from 10 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 Andrew and the last was Frances.
What was the strongest storm of 1986?
Hurricane Earl. It peaked at 105 mph (165 km/h, 90 kt) with a lowest pressure of 979 mb on September 12. That is Category 2 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 149 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 55% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 1986 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 1986, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Frances, dissipated on November 21. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 6 Atlantic storms since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.