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HurriTracker

1988 Atlantic hurricane season

Jun 1, 1988 – Nov 30, 1988 · Season ended

The 1988 Atlantic hurricane season produced 12 named storms, 5 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 14.4, 7.2 and 3.2. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 106, 86% of the average.

1987 season1989 seasonAll Atlantic seasons
Named storms
12
Avg 14.4 (1991–2020)
Hurricanes
5
64 kt or stronger · avg 7.2
Major (Cat 3+)
3
Including 1 Category 5
Accumulated energy
86% of normal
ACE 106 vs 1991–2020 avg 123
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Tracks colored by peak strengthTDTSC1C4C5

1988 season at a glance

  • Named storms: 12 (1991–2020 average 14.4).
  • Hurricanes (64 kt+): 5 (average 7.2).
  • Major, 96 kt+: 3, including 1 at Category 5 strength (average 3.2).
  • Accumulated cyclone energy: 105.6, 86% of the 123 average.
  • Named-storm days: 49.5, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
  • First named storm: Alberto, August 7.
  • First hurricane: Debby, September 2.
  • First major storm: Gilbert, September 11.
  • Last storm to dissipate: Keith, November 26.
  • All systems tracked: 19, 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 1988 season

StormDatesPeakMin pressureLandfall
TD 13L – TD—Batabanó, Cuba
Alberto – TS1002 mbTantramar, Canada
Beryl – TS1001 mbMeraux, United States
TD 14L – TD—Jacksonville, United States
TD 15L – TD——
TD 16L – TD——
Chris – TS1005 mbWilmington Island, United States
Debby – C1987 mbPoza Rica de Hidalgo, Mexico
Ernesto – TS994 mb—
TD 17L – TD——
TD 6L – TS994 mb—
Florence – C1982 mbGalliano, United States
Gilbert – C5888 mbKingston, Jamaica
Helene – C4938 mb—
TD 18L – TD——
Isaac – TS1005 mb—
Joan – C4932 mbSaint George's, Grenada
TD 19L – TD——
Keith – TS945 mbCancún, Mexico
  • TD 13L: This system formed in the Atlantic in May 1988 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 30 mph (45 km/h). It made landfall near Batabanó, Cuba. The system was tracked for 2 days.
  • Alberto: Alberto formed in the Atlantic in August 1988 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1002 mb. It made landfall near Tantramar, Canada. The system was tracked for 3 days.
  • Beryl: Beryl formed in the Atlantic in August 1988 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1001 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Meraux, United States and last near Meraux, United States. The system was tracked for 3 days.
  • TD 14L: This system formed in the Atlantic in August 1988 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h). It made landfall near Jacksonville, United States. The system was tracked for 2 days.
  • TD 15L: This system formed in the Atlantic in August 1988 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 11 days.
  • TD 16L: This system formed in the Atlantic in August 1988 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.
  • Chris: Chris formed in the Atlantic in August 1988 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1005 mb. It made landfall near Wilmington Island, United States. The system was tracked for 9 days.
  • Debby: Debby formed in the Atlantic in August 1988 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 Poza Rica de Hidalgo, Mexico. The system was tracked for 8 days.
  • Ernesto: Ernesto formed in the Atlantic in September 1988 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 994 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
  • TD 17L: This system formed in the Atlantic in September 1988 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 1 day.
  • TD 6L: This system formed in the Atlantic in September 1988 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 994 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
  • Florence: Florence formed in the Atlantic in September 1988 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 982 mb. It made landfall near Galliano, United States. The system was tracked for 4 days.
  • Gilbert: Gilbert formed in the Atlantic in September 1988 and peaked as a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 185 mph (295 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 888 mb. It made 3 landfalls, first near Kingston, Jamaica and last near Abasolo, Mexico. The system was tracked for 11 days.
  • Helene: Helene formed in the Atlantic in September 1988 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 938 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 11 days.
  • TD 18L: This system formed in the Atlantic in September 1988 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 1 day.
  • Isaac: Isaac formed in the Atlantic in September 1988 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1005 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
  • Joan: Joan formed in the Atlantic in October 1988 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 932 mb. It made 3 landfalls, first near Saint George's, Grenada and last near Bluefields, Nicaragua. The system was tracked for 23 days.
  • TD 19L: This system formed in the Atlantic in October 1988 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.
  • Keith: Keith formed in the Atlantic in November 1988 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 945 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Cancún, Mexico and last near Sarasota, United States. The system was tracked for 9 days.

Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.

Strongest storm of 1988

Hurricane Gilbert was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 185 mph (295 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 888 mb, on September 14. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

2 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 2 matched it. It produced 31% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.

Landfalls in 1988

10 of the season’s 19 systems made landfall, 4 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.

  • June 1: TD 13L near Batabanó, Cuba, 30 mph (tropical depression)
  • August 8: Alberto near Tantramar, Canada, 40 mph (tropical storm)
  • August 8: Beryl near Meraux, United States, 40 mph (tropical storm)
  • August 9: Beryl near Meraux, United States, 50 mph (tropical storm)
  • August 14: TD 14L near Jacksonville, United States, 35 mph (tropical depression)
  • August 28: Chris near Wilmington Island, United States, 45 mph (tropical storm)
  • September 3: Debby near Poza Rica de Hidalgo, Mexico, 75 mph (Category 1)
  • September 10: Florence near Galliano, United States, 80 mph (Category 1)
  • September 12: Gilbert near Kingston, Jamaica, 130 mph (Category 4)
  • September 14: Gilbert near Playa del Carmen, Mexico, 160 mph (Category 5)
  • September 16: Gilbert near Abasolo, Mexico, 125 mph (Category 3)
  • October 15: Joan near Saint George's, Grenada, 50 mph (tropical storm)
  • October 17: Joan near Santa Cruz de los Taques, Venezuela, 65 mph (tropical storm)
  • October 22: Joan near Bluefields, Nicaragua, 145 mph (Category 4)
  • November 21: Keith near Cancún, Mexico, 70 mph (tropical storm)
  • November 23: Keith near Sarasota, United States, 65 mph (tropical storm)

How 1988 ranks since 1980

The season ranks 27th of 47 Atlantic seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 3 other seasons), 30th for hurricanes (tied with 3 other seasons) and 26th for accumulated cyclone energy.

The record since 1980 is 30 named storms, in 2020, and the highest ACE is 250, in 2005.

1988 storm names

The 1988 season used 11 names: Alberto, Beryl, Chris, Debby, Ernesto, Florence, Gilbert, Helene, Isaac, Joan, Keith.

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.

The WMO later retired the names Gilbert and Joan, so they will not be used again.

1988 season FAQ

How many named storms were there in 1988?

The 1988 Atlantic hurricane season had 12 named storms, 5 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes, from 19 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 Alberto and the last was Keith.

What was the strongest storm of 1988?

Hurricane Gilbert. It peaked at 185 mph (295 km/h, 160 kt) with a lowest pressure of 888 mb on September 14. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 2 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 31% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.

When did the 1988 season end?

The official season ended on November 30, 1988, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Keith, dissipated on November 26. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 6 Atlantic storms since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.