1990 Atlantic hurricane season
Jun 1, 1990 – Nov 30, 1990 · Season ended
The 1990 Atlantic hurricane season produced 14 named storms, 8 hurricanes and 1 major hurricane, against a 1991–2020 average of 14.4, 7.2 and 3.2. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 97, 79% of the average.
1990 season at a glance
- Named storms: 14 (1991–2020 average 14.4).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 8 (average 7.2).
- Major, 96 kt+: 1 (average 3.2).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 96.7, 79% of the 123 average.
- Named-storm days: 72.3, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Arthur, July 24.
- First hurricane: Bertha, July 29.
- First major storm: Gustav, August 31.
- Last storm to dissipate: Nana, October 21.
- All systems tracked: 16, 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 1990 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD 1L | – | TD | — | Mariel, Cuba |
| Arthur | – | TS | 995 mb | — |
| Bertha | – | C1 | 973 mb | — |
| Cesar | – | TS | 1000 mb | — |
| Edouard | – | TS | 1003 mb | — |
| Diana | – | C2 | 980 mb | Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Mexico |
| Fran | – | TS | 1007 mb | Princes Town, Trinidad and Tobago |
| Gustav | – | C3 | 956 mb | — |
| Hortense | – | TS | 993 mb | — |
| Isidore | – | C2 | 978 mb | — |
| TD 11L | – | TD | — | — |
| Josephine | – | C1 | 980 mb | — |
| Klaus | – | C1 | 985 mb | — |
| Lili | – | C1 | 987 mb | — |
| Marco | – | TS | 989 mb | Largo, United States |
| Nana | – | C1 | 989 mb | — |
- TD 1L: This system formed in the Atlantic in May 1990 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 30 mph (45 km/h). It made landfall near Mariel, Cuba. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Arthur: Arthur formed in the Atlantic in July 1990 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 995 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Bertha: Bertha formed in the Atlantic in July 1990 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 973 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Cesar: Cesar formed in the Atlantic in July 1990 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 8 days.
- Edouard: Edouard formed in the Atlantic in August 1990 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1003 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 11 days.
- Diana: Diana formed in the Atlantic in August 1990 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (155 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 980 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Mexico and last near Túxpam de Rodríguez Cano, Mexico. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Fran: Fran formed in the Atlantic in August 1990 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1007 mb. It made landfall near Princes Town, Trinidad and Tobago. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Gustav: Gustav formed in the Atlantic in August 1990 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 956 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Hortense: Hortense formed in the Atlantic in August 1990 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 993 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Isidore: Isidore formed in the Atlantic in September 1990 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (155 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 978 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 14 days.
- TD 11L: This system formed in the Atlantic in September 1990 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.
- Josephine: Josephine formed in the Atlantic in September 1990 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 980 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 15 days.
- Klaus: Klaus formed in the Atlantic in October 1990 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 985 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Lili: Lili formed in the Atlantic in October 1990 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 did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Marco: Marco formed in the Atlantic in October 1990 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 989 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Largo, United States and last near Live Oak, United States. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Nana: Nana formed in the Atlantic in October 1990 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 989 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 1990
Hurricane Gustav was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 120 mph (195 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 956 mb, on August 31. That is Category 3 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
96 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 14 matched it. It produced 24% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1990
4 of the season’s 16 systems made landfall, 1 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- May 25: TD 1L near Mariel, Cuba, 30 mph (tropical depression)
- August 5: Diana near Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Mexico, 65 mph (tropical storm)
- August 7: Diana near Túxpam de Rodríguez Cano, Mexico, 100 mph (Category 2)
- August 14: Fran near Princes Town, Trinidad and Tobago, 40 mph (tropical storm)
- October 11: Marco near Largo, United States, 50 mph (tropical storm)
- October 12: Marco near Live Oak, United States, 30 mph (tropical depression)
How 1990 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 20th of 47 Atlantic seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 3 other seasons), 14th for hurricanes (tied with 4 other seasons) and 28th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 30 named storms, in 2020, and the highest ACE is 250, in 2005.
1990 storm names
The 1990 season used 14 names: Arthur, Bertha, Cesar, Edouard, Diana, Fran, Gustav, Hortense, Isidore, Josephine, Klaus, Lili, Marco, Nana.
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 names Diana and Klaus, so they will not be used again.
1990 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1990?
The 1990 Atlantic hurricane season had 14 named storms, 8 hurricanes and 1 major hurricane, from 16 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 Arthur and the last was Nana.
What was the strongest storm of 1990?
Hurricane Gustav. It peaked at 120 mph (195 km/h, 105 kt) with a lowest pressure of 956 mb on August 31. That is Category 3 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 96 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 24% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 1990 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 1990, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Nana, dissipated on October 21. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 6 Atlantic storms since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.