1989 Atlantic hurricane season
Jun 1, 1989 – Nov 30, 1989 · Season ended
The 1989 Atlantic hurricane season produced 11 named storms, 7 hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 14.4, 7.2 and 3.2. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 135, 110% of the average.
1989 season at a glance
- Named storms: 11 (1991–2020 average 14.4).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 7 (average 7.2).
- Major, 96 kt+: 2, including 1 at Category 5 strength (average 3.2).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 134.8, 110% of the 123 average.
- Named-storm days: 65.3, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Allison, June 26.
- First hurricane: Chantal, August 1.
- First major storm: Gabrielle, September 3.
- Last storm to dissipate: Karen, December 4.
- All systems tracked: 15, 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 1989 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD 1L | – | TD | — | — |
| Allison | – | TS | 999 mb | Bay City, United States |
| Barry | – | TS | 1005 mb | — |
| Chantal | – | C1 | 984 mb | Galveston, United States |
| Dean | – | C2 | 968 mb | Saint-Pierre, Saint Pierre and Miquelon |
| TD 6L | – | TD | — | — |
| Erin | – | C2 | 968 mb | — |
| Felix | – | C1 | 979 mb | — |
| TD 9L | – | TD | — | — |
| Gabrielle | – | C4 | 935 mb | — |
| Hugo | – | C5 | 918 mb | Le Moule, Guadeloupe |
| Iris | – | TS | 1001 mb | — |
| TD 13L | – | TD | — | — |
| Jerry | – | C1 | 982 mb | Hitchcock, United States |
| Karen | – | TS | 1000 mb | — |
- TD 1L: This system formed in the Atlantic in June 1989 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.
- Allison: Allison formed in the Atlantic in June 1989 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 999 mb. It made landfall near Bay City, United States. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Barry: Barry formed in the Atlantic in July 1989 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1005 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Chantal: Chantal formed in the Atlantic in July 1989 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 984 mb. It made landfall near Galveston, United States. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Dean: Dean formed in the Atlantic in July 1989 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 968 mb. It made landfall near Saint-Pierre, Saint Pierre and Miquelon. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- TD 6L: This system formed in the Atlantic in August 1989 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 9 days.
- Erin: Erin formed in the Atlantic in August 1989 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 968 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Felix: Felix formed in the Atlantic in August 1989 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 979 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 16 days.
- TD 9L: This system formed in the Atlantic in August 1989 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.
- Gabrielle: Gabrielle formed in the Atlantic in August 1989 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 935 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 14 days.
- Hugo: Hugo formed in the Atlantic in September 1989 and peaked as a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 918 mb. It made 5 landfalls, first near Le Moule, Guadeloupe and last near Mount Pleasant, United States. The system was tracked for 15 days.
- Iris: Iris formed in the Atlantic in September 1989 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1001 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- TD 13L: This system formed in the Atlantic in October 1989 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.
- Jerry: Jerry formed in the Atlantic in October 1989 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 982 mb. It made landfall near Hitchcock, United States. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Karen: Karen formed in the Atlantic in November 1989 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 6 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1989
Hurricane Hugo was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 160 mph (260 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 918 mb, on September 15. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
19 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 6 matched it. It produced 32% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1989
5 of the season’s 15 systems made landfall, 3 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- June 26: Allison near Bay City, United States, 45 mph (tropical storm)
- August 1: Chantal near Galveston, United States, 80 mph (Category 1)
- August 8: Dean near Saint-Pierre, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, 65 mph (tropical storm)
- September 17: Hugo near Le Moule, Guadeloupe, 140 mph (Category 4)
- September 18: Hugo near Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, 140 mph (Category 4)
- September 18: Hugo near Isabel Segunda, Puerto Rico, 125 mph (Category 3)
- September 18: Hugo near Fajardo, Puerto Rico, 125 mph (Category 3)
- September 22: Hugo near Mount Pleasant, United States, 140 mph (Category 4)
- October 16: Jerry near Hitchcock, United States, 85 mph (Category 1)
How 1989 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 31st of 47 Atlantic seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 3 other seasons), 19th for hurricanes (tied with 7 other seasons) and 17th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 30 named storms, in 2020, and the highest ACE is 250, in 2005.
1989 storm names
The 1989 season used 11 names: Allison, Barry, Chantal, Dean, Erin, Felix, Gabrielle, Hugo, Iris, Jerry, Karen.
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.
The WMO later retired the name Hugo, so it will not be used again.
1989 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1989?
The 1989 Atlantic hurricane season had 11 named storms, 7 hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes, from 15 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 Allison and the last was Karen.
What was the strongest storm of 1989?
Hurricane Hugo. It peaked at 160 mph (260 km/h, 140 kt) with a lowest pressure of 918 mb on September 15. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 19 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 32% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 1989 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 1989, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Karen, dissipated on December 4. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 6 Atlantic storms since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.