1987 Atlantic hurricane season
Jun 1, 1987 – Nov 30, 1987 · Season ended
The 1987 Atlantic hurricane season produced 7 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 34, 28% of the average.
1987 season at a glance
- Named storms: 7 (1991–2020 average 14.4).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 3 (average 7.2).
- Major, 96 kt+: 1 (average 3.2).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 34.4, 28% of the 123 average.
- Named-storm days: 37.3, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Tropical Storm 3L, August 9.
- First hurricane: Arlene, August 22.
- First major storm: Emily, September 22.
- Last storm to dissipate: Tropical Depression 14L, November 4.
- All systems tracked: 14, 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 1987 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD 1L | – | TD | — | — |
| Arlene | – | C1 | 987 mb | San Andros, Bahamas |
| TD 3L | – | TS | 1007 mb | Galveston, United States |
| TD 4L | – | TD | — | — |
| Bret | – | TS | 1000 mb | — |
| TD 6L | – | TD | — | — |
| Cindy | – | TS | 1000 mb | — |
| TD 8L | – | TD | — | — |
| TD 9L | – | TD | — | — |
| Dennis | – | TS | 1000 mb | — |
| TD 11L | – | TD | — | — |
| Emily | – | C3 | 958 mb | Santa Cruz de Barahona, Dominican Republic |
| Floyd | – | C1 | 993 mb | Key Largo, United States |
| TD 14L | – | TD | — | San Nicolás de Bari, Cuba |
- TD 1L: This system formed in the Atlantic in May 1987 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 8 days.
- Arlene: Arlene formed in the Atlantic in August 1987 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 987 mb. It made landfall near San Andros, Bahamas. The system was tracked for 20 days.
- TD 3L: This system formed in the Atlantic in August 1987 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1007 mb. It made landfall near Galveston, United States. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- TD 4L: This system formed in the Atlantic in August 1987 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 3 days.
- Bret: Bret formed in the Atlantic in August 1987 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1000 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- TD 6L: This system formed in the Atlantic in August 1987 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 3 days.
- Cindy: Cindy formed in the Atlantic in September 1987 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1000 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- TD 8L: This system formed in the Atlantic in September 1987 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 3 days.
- TD 9L: This system formed in the Atlantic in September 1987 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.
- Dennis: Dennis formed in the Atlantic in September 1987 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1000 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 12 days.
- TD 11L: This system formed in the Atlantic in September 1987 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.
- Emily: Emily formed in the Atlantic in September 1987 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 958 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Santa Cruz de Barahona, Dominican Republic and last near Smith's Parish, Bermuda. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Floyd: Floyd formed in the Atlantic in October 1987 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 made landfall near Key Largo, United States. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- TD 14L: This system formed in the Atlantic in October 1987 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h). It made landfall near San Nicolás de Bari, Cuba. The system was tracked for 4 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1987
Hurricane Emily was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 125 mph (205 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 958 mb, on September 22. That is Category 3 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
85 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 10 matched it. It produced 30% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1987
5 of the season’s 14 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 10: TD 3L near Galveston, United States, 45 mph (tropical storm)
- August 10: Arlene near San Andros, Bahamas, 30 mph (tropical depression)
- September 23: Emily near Santa Cruz de Barahona, Dominican Republic, 110 mph (Category 2)
- September 25: Emily near Smith's Parish, Bermuda, 85 mph (Category 1)
- October 12: Floyd near Key Largo, United States, 75 mph (Category 1)
- November 3: TD 14L near San Nicolás de Bari, Cuba, 30 mph (tropical depression)
How 1987 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 42nd of 47 Atlantic seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 2 other seasons), 40th for hurricanes (tied with 4 other seasons) and 43rd for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 30 named storms, in 2020, and the highest ACE is 250, in 2005.
1987 storm names
The 1987 season used 6 names: Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Dennis, Emily, Floyd.
8 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.
1987 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1987?
The 1987 Atlantic hurricane season had 7 named storms, 3 hurricanes and 1 major hurricane, from 14 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 Tropical Storm 3L and the last was Floyd.
What was the strongest storm of 1987?
Hurricane Emily. It peaked at 125 mph (205 km/h, 110 kt) with a lowest pressure of 958 mb on September 22. That is Category 3 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 85 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 30% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 1987 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 1987, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Tropical Depression 14L, dissipated on November 4. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 6 Atlantic storms since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.