1998 Atlantic hurricane season
Jun 1, 1998 – Nov 30, 1998 · Season ended
The 1998 Atlantic hurricane season produced 14 named storms, 10 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 14.4, 7.2 and 3.2. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 181, 148% of the average.
1998 season at a glance
- Named storms: 14 (1991–2020 average 14.4).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 10 (average 7.2).
- Major, 96 kt+: 3, including 1 at Category 5 strength (average 3.2).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 181.1, 148% of the 123 average.
- Named-storm days: 87.3, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Alex, July 29.
- First hurricane: Bonnie, August 22.
- First major storm: Bonnie, August 23.
- Last storm to dissipate: Nicole, December 2.
- All systems tracked: 14, 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 1998 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex | – | TS | 1002 mb | — |
| Bonnie | – | C3 | 954 mb | Murraysville, United States |
| Charley | – | TS | 1000 mb | Aransas Pass, United States |
| Danielle | – | C2 | 960 mb | — |
| Earl | – | C2 | 964 mb | Panama City, United States |
| Frances | – | TS | 990 mb | Rockport, United States |
| Georges | – | C4 | 937 mb | St. Paul Parish, Antigua and Barbuda |
| Hermine | – | TS | 999 mb | Houma, United States |
| Ivan | – | C1 | 975 mb | — |
| Jeanne | – | C2 | 969 mb | — |
| Karl | – | C2 | 970 mb | — |
| Lisa | – | C1 | 995 mb | — |
| Mitch | – | C5 | 905 mb | Santa Rosa de Aguán, Honduras |
| Nicole | – | C1 | 979 mb | — |
- Alex: Alex formed in the Atlantic in July 1998 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1002 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Bonnie: Bonnie formed in the Atlantic in August 1998 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 954 mb. It made landfall near Murraysville, United States. The system was tracked for 12 days.
- Charley: Charley formed in the Atlantic in August 1998 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1000 mb. It made landfall near Aransas Pass, United States. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Danielle: Danielle formed in the Atlantic in August 1998 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 960 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 15 days.
- Earl: Earl formed in the Atlantic in August 1998 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (155 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 964 mb. It made landfall near Panama City, United States. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Frances: Frances formed in the Atlantic in September 1998 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 990 mb. It made landfall near Rockport, United States. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Georges: Georges formed in the Atlantic in September 1998 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph (250 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 937 mb. It made 7 landfalls, first near St. Paul Parish, Antigua and Barbuda and last near Biloxi, United States. The system was tracked for 16 days.
- Hermine: Hermine formed in the Atlantic in September 1998 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 999 mb. It made landfall near Houma, United States. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Ivan: Ivan formed in the Atlantic in September 1998 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 975 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Jeanne: Jeanne formed in the Atlantic in September 1998 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 969 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 13 days.
- Karl: Karl formed in the Atlantic in September 1998 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 970 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Lisa: Lisa formed in the Atlantic in October 1998 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 995 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Mitch: Mitch formed in the Atlantic in October 1998 and peaked as a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 180 mph (285 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 905 mb. It made 3 landfalls, first near Santa Rosa de Aguán, Honduras and last near Pelican Bay, United States. The system was tracked for 19 days.
- Nicole: Nicole formed in the Atlantic in November 1998 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 9 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1998
Hurricane Mitch was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 180 mph (285 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 905 mb, on October 26. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
5 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 3 matched it. It produced 20% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1998
7 of the season’s 14 systems made landfall, 4 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- August 22: Charley near Aransas Pass, United States, 45 mph (tropical storm)
- August 27: Bonnie near Murraysville, United States, 110 mph (Category 2)
- September 3: Earl near Panama City, United States, 80 mph (Category 1)
- September 11: Frances near Rockport, United States, 50 mph (tropical storm)
- September 20: Hermine near Houma, United States, 40 mph (tropical storm)
- September 21: Georges near St. Paul Parish, Antigua and Barbuda, 115 mph (Category 3)
- September 21: Georges near Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis, 115 mph (Category 3)
- September 21: Georges near Humacao, Puerto Rico, 115 mph (Category 3)
- September 22: Georges near San Rafael del Yuma, Dominican Republic, 120 mph (Category 3)
- September 23: Georges near Baracoa, Cuba, 75 mph (Category 1)
- September 25: Georges near Key West, United States, 105 mph (Category 2)
- September 28: Georges near Biloxi, United States, 105 mph (Category 2)
- October 29: Mitch near Santa Rosa de Aguán, Honduras, 80 mph (Category 1)
- November 4: Mitch near Campeche, Mexico, 40 mph (tropical storm)
- November 5: Mitch near Pelican Bay, United States, 65 mph (tropical storm)
How 1998 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 20th of 47 Atlantic seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 3 other seasons), 6th for hurricanes (tied with 2 other seasons) and 5th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 30 named storms, in 2020, and the highest ACE is 250, in 2005.
1998 storm names
The 1998 season used 14 names: Alex, Bonnie, Charley, Danielle, Earl, Frances, Georges, Hermine, Ivan, Jeanne, Karl, Lisa, Mitch, Nicole.
Atlantic and East Pacific lists repeat every six years. See how storms are named.
The WMO later retired the names Georges and Mitch, so they will not be used again.
1998 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1998?
The 1998 Atlantic hurricane season had 14 named storms, 10 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes, from 14 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 Alex and the last was Nicole.
What was the strongest storm of 1998?
Hurricane Mitch. It peaked at 180 mph (285 km/h, 155 kt) with a lowest pressure of 905 mb on October 26. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 5 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 20% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 1998 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 1998, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Nicole, dissipated on December 2. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 6 Atlantic storms since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.