1996 Atlantic hurricane season
Jun 1, 1996 – Nov 30, 1996 · Season ended
The 1996 Atlantic hurricane season produced 13 named storms, 9 hurricanes and 6 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 14.4, 7.2 and 3.2. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 166, 136% of the average.
1996 season at a glance
- Named storms: 13 (1991–2020 average 14.4).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 9 (average 7.2).
- Major, 96 kt+: 6 (average 3.2).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 166.2, 136% of the 123 average.
- Named-storm days: 79.0, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Arthur, June 19.
- First hurricane: Bertha, July 7.
- First major storm: Bertha, July 9.
- Last storm to dissipate: Marco, November 26.
- All systems tracked: 13, every one of which reached 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 1996 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arthur | – | TS | 992 mb | Morehead City, United States |
| Bertha | – | C3 | 960 mb | Murraysville, United States |
| Cesar | – | C1 | 985 mb | Bluefields, Nicaragua |
| Dolly | – | C1 | 989 mb | Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Mexico |
| Edouard | – | C4 | 933 mb | — |
| Fran | – | C3 | 946 mb | Long Beach, United States |
| Gustav | – | TS | 1005 mb | — |
| Hortense | – | C4 | 935 mb | Guánica, Puerto Rico |
| Isidore | – | C3 | 960 mb | — |
| Josephine | – | TS | 970 mb | Perry, United States |
| Kyle | – | TS | 1001 mb | Puerto Cortez, Honduras |
| Lili | – | C3 | 960 mb | San Nicolás de Bari, Cuba |
| Marco | – | C1 | 983 mb | — |
- Arthur: Arthur formed in the Atlantic in June 1996 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 992 mb. It made landfall near Morehead City, United States. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Bertha: Bertha formed in the Atlantic in July 1996 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 960 mb. It made landfall near Murraysville, United States. The system was tracked for 12 days.
- Cesar: Cesar formed in the Atlantic in July 1996 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 985 mb. It made landfall near Bluefields, Nicaragua. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Dolly: Dolly formed in the Atlantic in August 1996 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 989 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Mexico and last near Naranjos, Mexico. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Edouard: Edouard formed in the Atlantic in August 1996 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 933 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 18 days.
- Fran: Fran formed in the Atlantic in August 1996 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 946 mb. It made landfall near Long Beach, United States. The system was tracked for 18 days.
- Gustav: Gustav formed in the Atlantic in August 1996 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 7 days.
- Hortense: Hortense formed in the Atlantic in September 1996 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 935 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Guánica, Puerto Rico and last near Eastern Passage, Canada. The system was tracked for 13 days.
- Isidore: Isidore formed in the Atlantic in September 1996 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 960 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Josephine: Josephine formed in the Atlantic in October 1996 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 970 mb. It made landfall near Perry, United States. The system was tracked for 11 days.
- Kyle: Kyle formed in the Atlantic in October 1996 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 landfall near Puerto Cortez, Honduras. The system was tracked for 1 day.
- Lili: Lili formed in the Atlantic in October 1996 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 960 mb. It made landfall near San Nicolás de Bari, Cuba. The system was tracked for 15 days.
- Marco: Marco formed in the Atlantic in November 1996 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 983 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 13 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1996
Hurricane Edouard was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 145 mph (230 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 933 mb, on August 25. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
46 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 14 matched it. It produced 30% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1996
9 of the season’s 13 systems made landfall, 6 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- June 20: Arthur near Morehead City, United States, 40 mph (tropical storm)
- July 12: Bertha near Murraysville, United States, 105 mph (Category 2)
- July 28: Cesar near Bluefields, Nicaragua, 85 mph (Category 1)
- August 20: Dolly near Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Mexico, 75 mph (Category 1)
- August 23: Dolly near Naranjos, Mexico, 80 mph (Category 1)
- September 6: Fran near Long Beach, United States, 115 mph (Category 3)
- September 10: Hortense near Guánica, Puerto Rico, 80 mph (Category 1)
- September 15: Hortense near Eastern Passage, Canada, 80 mph (Category 1)
- October 8: Josephine near Perry, United States, 70 mph (tropical storm)
- October 12: Kyle near Puerto Cortez, Honduras, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- October 18: Lili near San Nicolás de Bari, Cuba, 100 mph (Category 2)
How 1996 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 24th of 47 Atlantic seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 2 other seasons), 9th for hurricanes (tied with 4 other seasons) and 9th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 30 named storms, in 2020, and the highest ACE is 250, in 2005.
1996 storm names
The 1996 season used 13 names: Arthur, Bertha, Cesar, Dolly, Edouard, Fran, Gustav, Hortense, Isidore, Josephine, Kyle, Lili, Marco.
Atlantic and East Pacific lists repeat every six years. See how storms are named.
The WMO later retired the names Cesar, Fran and Hortense, so they will not be used again.
1996 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1996?
The 1996 Atlantic hurricane season had 13 named storms, 9 hurricanes and 6 major hurricanes, from 13 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 Marco.
What was the strongest storm of 1996?
Hurricane Edouard. It peaked at 145 mph (230 km/h, 125 kt) with a lowest pressure of 933 mb on August 25. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 46 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 30% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 1996 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 1996, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Marco, 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.