1997 Atlantic hurricane season
Jun 1, 1997 – Nov 30, 1997 · Season ended
The 1997 Atlantic hurricane season produced 8 named storms, 3 hurricanes and 1 major hurricane, against a 1991–2020 average of 14.4, 7.2 and 3.2. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 41, 33% of the average.
1997 season at a glance
- Named storms: 8 (1991–2020 average 14.4).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 3 (average 7.2).
- Major, 96 kt+: 1 (average 3.2).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 40.8, 33% of the 123 average.
- Named-storm days: 30.0, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Tropical Storm 1L, June 1.
- First hurricane: Bill, July 12.
- First major storm: Erika, September 8.
- Last storm to dissipate: Grace, October 17.
- All systems tracked: 9, including 1 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 1997 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD 1L | – | TS | 1003 mb | — |
| Ana | – | TS | 1000 mb | — |
| Bill | – | C1 | 986 mb | — |
| Claudette | – | TS | 1003 mb | — |
| Danny | – | C1 | 984 mb | Galliano, United States |
| TD 6L | – | TD | 1008 mb | — |
| Erika | – | C3 | 946 mb | — |
| Fabian | – | TS | 1004 mb | — |
| Grace | – | TS | 999 mb | — |
- TD 1L: This system formed in the Atlantic in May 1997 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1003 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Ana: Ana formed in the Atlantic in June 1997 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1000 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Bill: Bill formed in the Atlantic in July 1997 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 986 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Claudette: Claudette formed in the Atlantic in July 1997 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 4 days.
- Danny: Danny formed in the Atlantic in July 1997 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 3 landfalls, first near Galliano, United States and last near Fairhope, United States. The system was tracked for 11 days.
- TD 6L: This system formed in the Atlantic in July 1997 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1008 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Erika: Erika formed in the Atlantic in September 1997 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 946 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 17 days.
- Fabian: Fabian formed in the Atlantic in October 1997 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1004 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Grace: Grace formed in the Atlantic in October 1997 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 999 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1997
Hurricane Erika was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 125 mph (205 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 946 mb, on September 8. That is Category 3 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
85 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 10 matched it. It produced 65% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1997
1 of the season’s 9 systems made landfall, 1 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
How 1997 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 37th of 47 Atlantic seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 4 other seasons), 40th for hurricanes (tied with 4 other seasons) and 38th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 30 named storms, in 2020, and the highest ACE is 250, in 2005.
1997 storm names
The 1997 season used 7 names: Ana, Bill, Claudette, Danny, Erika, Fabian, Grace.
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.
1997 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1997?
The 1997 Atlantic hurricane season had 8 named storms, 3 hurricanes and 1 major hurricane, from 9 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 Tropical Storm 1L and the last was Grace.
What was the strongest storm of 1997?
Hurricane Erika. It peaked at 125 mph (205 km/h, 110 kt) with a lowest pressure of 946 mb on September 8. That is Category 3 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 85 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 65% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 1997 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 1997, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Grace, dissipated on October 17. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 6 Atlantic storms since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.