2001 Atlantic hurricane season
Jun 1, 2001 – Nov 30, 2001 · Season ended
The 2001 Atlantic hurricane season produced 15 named storms, 9 hurricanes and 4 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 14.4, 7.2 and 3.2. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 110, 90% of the average.
2001 season at a glance
- Named storms: 15 (1991–2020 average 14.4).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 9 (average 7.2).
- Major, 96 kt+: 4 (average 3.2).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 109.9, 90% of the 123 average.
- Named-storm days: 68.8, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Allison, June 5.
- First hurricane: Erin, September 9.
- First major storm: Erin, September 9.
- Last storm to dissipate: Olga, December 4.
- All systems tracked: 17, including 2 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 2001 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allison | – | TS | 1000 mb | Freeport, United States |
| TD 2L | – | TD | 1010 mb | — |
| Barry | – | TS | 990 mb | Santa Rosa Beach, United States |
| Chantal | – | TS | 997 mb | San Pedro, Belize |
| Dean | – | TS | 994 mb | — |
| Erin | – | C3 | 968 mb | — |
| Felix | – | C3 | 962 mb | — |
| Gabrielle | – | C1 | 975 mb | Venice, United States |
| TD 9L | – | TD | 1005 mb | Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua |
| Humberto | – | C2 | 970 mb | — |
| Iris | – | C4 | 948 mb | Bella Vista, Belize |
| Jerry | – | TS | 1004 mb | — |
| Karen | – | C1 | 982 mb | Bridgewater, Canada |
| Lorenzo | – | TS | 1007 mb | — |
| Michelle | – | C4 | 933 mb | Nueva Gerona, Cuba |
| Noel | – | C1 | 986 mb | — |
| Olga | – | C1 | 973 mb | — |
- Allison: Allison formed in the Atlantic in June 2001 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1000 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Freeport, United States and last near Franklin, United States. The system was tracked for 14 days.
- TD 2L: This system formed in the Atlantic in July 2001 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 30 mph (45 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1010 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 1 day.
- Barry: Barry formed in the Atlantic in August 2001 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 990 mb. It made landfall near Santa Rosa Beach, United States. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Chantal: Chantal formed in the Atlantic in August 2001 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 997 mb. It made landfall near San Pedro, Belize. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Dean: Dean formed in the Atlantic in August 2001 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 994 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Erin: Erin formed in the Atlantic in September 2001 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 968 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 15 days.
- Felix: Felix formed in the Atlantic in September 2001 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 962 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 11 days.
- Gabrielle: Gabrielle formed in the Atlantic in September 2001 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 975 mb. It made landfall near Venice, United States. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- TD 9L: This system formed in the Atlantic in September 2001 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1005 mb. It made landfall near Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua. The system was tracked for 1 day.
- Humberto: Humberto formed in the Atlantic in September 2001 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.
- Iris: Iris formed in the Atlantic in October 2001 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 948 mb. It made landfall near Bella Vista, Belize. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Jerry: Jerry formed in the Atlantic in October 2001 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 2 days.
- Karen: Karen formed in the Atlantic in October 2001 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 982 mb. It made landfall near Bridgewater, Canada. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Lorenzo: Lorenzo formed in the Atlantic in October 2001 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1007 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Michelle: Michelle formed in the Atlantic in October 2001 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 933 mb. It made 4 landfalls, first near Nueva Gerona, Cuba and last near Nassau, Bahamas. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Noel: Noel formed in the Atlantic in November 2001 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 3 days.
- Olga: Olga formed in the Atlantic in November 2001 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 973 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 12 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 2001
Hurricane Iris was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 145 mph (230 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 948 mb, on October 9. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
46 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 14 matched it. It produced 9% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 2001
8 of the season’s 17 systems made landfall, 2 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- June 5: Allison near Freeport, United States, 50 mph (tropical storm)
- June 11: Allison near Franklin, United States, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- August 6: Barry near Santa Rosa Beach, United States, 70 mph (tropical storm)
- August 21: Chantal near San Pedro, Belize, 70 mph (tropical storm)
- September 14: Gabrielle near Venice, United States, 70 mph (tropical storm)
- September 20: TD 9L near Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- October 9: Iris near Bella Vista, Belize, 145 mph (Category 4)
- October 15: Karen near Bridgewater, Canada, 45 mph (tropical storm)
- November 4: Michelle near Nueva Gerona, Cuba, 140 mph (Category 4)
- November 4: Michelle near Jagüey Grande, Cuba, 130 mph (Category 4)
- November 5: Michelle near San Andros, Bahamas, 90 mph (Category 1)
- November 5: Michelle near Nassau, Bahamas, 85 mph (Category 1)
How 2001 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 14th of 47 Atlantic seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 5 other seasons), 9th for hurricanes (tied with 4 other seasons) and 25th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 30 named storms, in 2020, and the highest ACE is 250, in 2005.
2001 storm names
The 2001 season used 15 names: Allison, Barry, Chantal, Dean, Erin, Felix, Gabrielle, Humberto, Iris, Jerry, Karen, Lorenzo, Michelle, Noel, Olga.
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.
The WMO later retired the names Allison, Iris and Michelle, so they will not be used again.
2001 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 2001?
The 2001 Atlantic hurricane season had 15 named storms, 9 hurricanes and 4 major hurricanes, from 17 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 Allison and the last was Olga.
What was the strongest storm of 2001?
Hurricane Iris. It peaked at 145 mph (230 km/h, 125 kt) with a lowest pressure of 948 mb on October 9. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 46 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 9% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 2001 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 2001, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Olga, dissipated on December 4. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 6 Atlantic storms since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.