1999 Atlantic hurricane season
Jun 1, 1999 – Nov 30, 1999 · Season ended
The 1999 Atlantic hurricane season produced 12 named storms, 8 hurricanes and 5 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 14.4, 7.2 and 3.2. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 176, 144% of the average.
1999 season at a glance
- Named storms: 12 (1991–2020 average 14.4).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 8 (average 7.2).
- Major, 96 kt+: 5 (average 3.2).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 176.4, 144% of the 123 average.
- Named-storm days: 78.5, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Arlene, June 12.
- First hurricane: Bret, August 21.
- First major storm: Bret, August 22.
- Last storm to dissipate: Lenny, November 23.
- All systems tracked: 16, 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 1999 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arlene | – | TS | 1006 mb | — |
| TD 2L | – | TD | 1004 mb | Gutiérrez Zamora, Mexico |
| Bret | – | C4 | 944 mb | Raymondville, United States |
| Cindy | – | C4 | 942 mb | — |
| Dennis | – | C2 | 962 mb | Marsh Harbour, Bahamas |
| Emily | – | TS | 1004 mb | — |
| TD 7L | – | TD | 1006 mb | Aldama, Mexico |
| Floyd | – | C4 | 921 mb | Nassau, Bahamas |
| Gert | – | C4 | 930 mb | — |
| Harvey | – | TS | 994 mb | Marco Island, United States |
| TD 11L | – | TD | 1002 mb | — |
| TD 12L | – | TD | 1007 mb | — |
| Irene | – | C2 | 958 mb | Nueva Gerona, Cuba |
| Jose | – | C2 | 979 mb | St. Peter Parish, Antigua and Barbuda |
| Katrina | – | TS | 999 mb | Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua |
| Lenny | – | C4 | 933 mb | Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands |
- Arlene: Arlene formed in the Atlantic in June 1999 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1006 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- TD 2L: This system formed in the Atlantic in July 1999 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1004 mb. It made landfall near Gutiérrez Zamora, Mexico. The system was tracked for 1 day.
- Bret: Bret formed in the Atlantic in August 1999 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 944 mb. It made landfall near Raymondville, United States. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Cindy: Cindy formed in the Atlantic in August 1999 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 942 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 13 days.
- Dennis: Dennis formed in the Atlantic in August 1999 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 962 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Marsh Harbour, Bahamas and last near Morehead City, United States. The system was tracked for 16 days.
- Emily: Emily formed in the Atlantic in August 1999 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1004 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- TD 7L: This system formed in the Atlantic in September 1999 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1006 mb. It made landfall near Aldama, Mexico. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Floyd: Floyd formed in the Atlantic in September 1999 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph (250 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 921 mb. It made 3 landfalls, first near Nassau, Bahamas and last near Long Beach, United States. The system was tracked for 12 days.
- Gert: Gert formed in the Atlantic in September 1999 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 930 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 12 days.
- Harvey: Harvey formed in the Atlantic in September 1999 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 994 mb. It made landfall near Marco Island, United States. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- TD 11L: This system formed in the Atlantic in October 1999 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1002 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- TD 12L: This system formed in the Atlantic in October 1999 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1007 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Irene: Irene formed in the Atlantic in October 1999 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 958 mb. It made 4 landfalls, first near Nueva Gerona, Cuba and last near Homestead, United States. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Jose: Jose formed in the Atlantic in October 1999 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (155 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 979 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near St. Peter Parish, Antigua and Barbuda and last near Road Town, British Virgin Islands. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Katrina: Katrina formed in the Atlantic in October 1999 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 999 mb. It made landfall near Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Lenny: Lenny formed in the Atlantic in November 1999 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph (250 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 933 mb. It made 5 landfalls, first near Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands and last near Saint John’s, Antigua and Barbuda. The system was tracked for 10 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1999
Hurricane Floyd was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 155 mph (250 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 921 mb, on September 13. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
26 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 8 matched it. It produced 17% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1999
10 of the season’s 16 systems made landfall, 6 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- July 3: TD 2L near Gutiérrez Zamora, Mexico, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- August 23: Bret near Raymondville, United States, 115 mph (Category 3)
- August 28: Dennis near Marsh Harbour, Bahamas, 85 mph (Category 1)
- September 4: Dennis near Morehead City, United States, 70 mph (tropical storm)
- September 6: TD 7L near Aldama, Mexico, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- September 14: Floyd near Nassau, Bahamas, 120 mph (Category 3)
- September 14: Floyd near Marsh Harbour, Bahamas, 125 mph (Category 3)
- September 16: Floyd near Long Beach, United States, 105 mph (Category 2)
- September 21: Harvey near Marco Island, United States, 60 mph (tropical storm)
- October 14: Irene near Nueva Gerona, Cuba, 70 mph (tropical storm)
- October 14: Irene near Güira de Melena, Cuba, 70 mph (tropical storm)
- October 15: Irene near Key West, United States, 75 mph (Category 1)
- October 15: Irene near Homestead, United States, 80 mph (Category 1)
- October 20: Jose near St. Peter Parish, Antigua and Barbuda, 90 mph (Category 1)
- October 21: Jose near Road Town, British Virgin Islands, 70 mph (tropical storm)
- October 30: Katrina near Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua, 40 mph (tropical storm)
- November 17: Lenny near Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, 155 mph (Category 4)
- November 18: Lenny near Koolbaai, Sint Maarten, 125 mph (Category 3)
- November 19: Lenny near Marigot, Saint Martin, 100 mph (Category 2)
- November 19: Lenny near Gustavia, Saint Barthelemy, 85 mph (Category 1)
- November 20: Lenny near Saint John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, 65 mph (tropical storm)
How 1999 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 27th of 47 Atlantic seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 3 other seasons), 14th for hurricanes (tied with 4 other seasons) and 7th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 30 named storms, in 2020, and the highest ACE is 250, in 2005.
1999 storm names
The 1999 season used 12 names: Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Dennis, Emily, Floyd, Gert, Harvey, Irene, Jose, Katrina, Lenny.
4 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 Floyd and Lenny, so they will not be used again.
1999 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1999?
The 1999 Atlantic hurricane season had 12 named storms, 8 hurricanes and 5 major hurricanes, 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 Arlene and the last was Lenny.
What was the strongest storm of 1999?
Hurricane Floyd. It peaked at 155 mph (250 km/h, 135 kt) with a lowest pressure of 921 mb on September 13. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 26 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 17% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 1999 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 1999, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Lenny, dissipated on November 23. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 6 Atlantic storms since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.