1991 Atlantic hurricane season
Jun 1, 1991 – Nov 30, 1991 · Season ended
The 1991 Atlantic hurricane season produced 8 named storms, 4 hurricanes and 2 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.
1991 season at a glance
- Named storms: 8 (1991–2020 average 14.4).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 4 (average 7.2).
- Major, 96 kt+: 2 (average 3.2).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 35.7, 29% of the 123 average.
- Named-storm days: 24.3, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Ana, July 4.
- First hurricane: Bob, August 17.
- First major storm: Bob, August 19.
- Last storm to dissipate: Hurricane 12L, November 2.
- All systems tracked: 12, 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 1991 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ana | – | TS | 1000 mb | — |
| TD 2L | – | TD | — | — |
| Bob | – | C3 | 950 mb | Charlestown, United States |
| TD 4L | – | TD | 1009 mb | — |
| TD 5L | – | TD | — | — |
| Claudette | – | C4 | 944 mb | — |
| Danny | – | TS | 998 mb | — |
| Erika | – | TS | 997 mb | Ponta Delgada, Portugal |
| Fabian | – | TS | 1002 mb | Nueva Gerona, Cuba |
| TD 10L | – | TD | 1009 mb | — |
| Grace | – | C2 | 980 mb | — |
| TD 12L | – | C1 | 972 mb | Halifax, Canada |
- Ana: Ana formed in the Atlantic in June 1991 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 2L: This system formed in the Atlantic in July 1991 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.
- Bob: Bob formed in the Atlantic in August 1991 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 950 mb. It made 3 landfalls, first near Charlestown, United States and last near Rockland, United States. The system was tracked for 13 days.
- TD 4L: This system formed in the Atlantic in August 1991 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1009 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- TD 5L: This system formed in the Atlantic in August 1991 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.
- Claudette: Claudette formed in the Atlantic in September 1991 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 944 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Danny: Danny formed in the Atlantic in September 1991 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 998 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Erika: Erika formed in the Atlantic in September 1991 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 997 mb. It made landfall near Ponta Delgada, Portugal. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Fabian: Fabian formed in the Atlantic in October 1991 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1002 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Nueva Gerona, Cuba and last near San Nicolás de Bari, Cuba. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- TD 10L: This system formed in the Atlantic in October 1991 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 30 mph (45 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1009 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 1 day.
- Grace: Grace formed in the Atlantic in October 1991 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 980 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- TD 12L: This system formed in the Atlantic in October 1991 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 972 mb. It made landfall near Halifax, Canada. The system was tracked for 5 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1991
Hurricane Claudette was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 130 mph (215 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 944 mb, on September 7. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
76 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 8 matched it. It produced 39% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1991
4 of the season’s 12 systems made landfall, 1 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- August 19: Bob near Charlestown, United States, 105 mph (Category 2)
- August 19: Bob near Narragansett, United States, 100 mph (Category 2)
- August 20: Bob near Rockland, United States, 70 mph (tropical storm)
- September 12: Erika near Ponta Delgada, Portugal, 40 mph (tropical storm)
- October 15: Fabian near Nueva Gerona, Cuba, 45 mph (tropical storm)
- October 16: Fabian near San Nicolás de Bari, Cuba, 45 mph (tropical storm)
- November 2: TD 12L near Halifax, Canada, 50 mph (tropical storm)
How 1991 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 37th of 47 Atlantic seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 3 other seasons), 34th for hurricanes (tied with 5 other seasons) and 42nd for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 30 named storms, in 2020, and the highest ACE is 250, in 2005.
1991 storm names
The 1991 season used 7 names: Ana, Bob, Claudette, Danny, Erika, Fabian, Grace.
5 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 Bob, so it will not be used again.
1991 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1991?
The 1991 Atlantic hurricane season had 8 named storms, 4 hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes, from 12 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 Ana and the last was Hurricane 12L.
What was the strongest storm of 1991?
Hurricane Claudette. It peaked at 130 mph (215 km/h, 115 kt) with a lowest pressure of 944 mb on September 7. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 76 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 39% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 1991 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 1991, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Hurricane 12L, dissipated on November 2. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 6 Atlantic storms since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.