2006 Atlantic hurricane season
Jun 1, 2006 – Nov 30, 2006 · Season ended
The 2006 Atlantic hurricane season produced 10 named storms, 5 hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 14.4, 7.2 and 3.2. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 79, 64% of the average.
2006 season at a glance
- Named storms: 10 (1991–2020 average 14.4).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 5 (average 7.2).
- Major, 96 kt+: 2 (average 3.2).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 78.5, 64% of the 123 average.
- Named-storm days: 52.8, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Alberto, June 11.
- First hurricane: Ernesto, August 27.
- First major storm: Gordon, September 14.
- Last storm to dissipate: Isaac, October 3.
- All systems tracked: 10, 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 2006 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alberto | – | TS | 969 mb | Perry, United States |
| TD 2L | – | TS | 998 mb | — |
| Beryl | – | TS | 1000 mb | Nantucket, United States |
| Chris | – | TS | 1001 mb | — |
| Debby | – | TS | 999 mb | — |
| Ernesto | – | C1 | 985 mb | Santiago de Cuba, Cuba |
| Florence | – | C1 | 963 mb | — |
| Gordon | – | C3 | 955 mb | — |
| Helene | – | C3 | 955 mb | — |
| Isaac | – | C1 | 985 mb | — |
- Alberto: Alberto formed in the Atlantic in June 2006 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 969 mb. It made landfall near Perry, United States. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- TD 2L: This system formed in the Atlantic in July 2006 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 998 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Beryl: Beryl formed in the Atlantic in July 2006 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 landfall near Nantucket, United States. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Chris: Chris formed in the Atlantic in August 2006 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1001 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Debby: Debby formed in the Atlantic in August 2006 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 999 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Ernesto: Ernesto formed in the Atlantic in August 2006 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 985 mb. It made 4 landfalls, first near Santiago de Cuba, Cuba and last near Long Beach, United States. The system was tracked for 11 days.
- Florence: Florence formed in the Atlantic in September 2006 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 963 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 15 days.
- Gordon: Gordon formed in the Atlantic in September 2006 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 955 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 14 days.
- Helene: Helene formed in the Atlantic in September 2006 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 955 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 15 days.
- Isaac: Isaac formed in the Atlantic in September 2006 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 did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 2006
Hurricane Gordon was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 120 mph (195 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 955 mb, on September 14. That is Category 3 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
96 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 14 matched it. It produced 28% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 2006
3 of the season’s 10 systems made landfall, none of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- June 13: Alberto near Perry, United States, 45 mph (tropical storm)
- July 21: Beryl near Nantucket, United States, 50 mph (tropical storm)
- August 28: Ernesto near Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, 40 mph (tropical storm)
- August 30: Ernesto near Islamorada, United States, 45 mph (tropical storm)
- August 30: Ernesto near Key Largo, United States, 45 mph (tropical storm)
- September 1: Ernesto near Long Beach, United States, 70 mph (tropical storm)
How 2006 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 35th of 47 Atlantic seasons since 1980 for named storms, 30th for hurricanes (tied with 3 other seasons) and 31st for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 30 named storms, in 2020, and the highest ACE is 250, in 2005.
2006 storm names
The 2006 season used 9 names: Alberto, Beryl, Chris, Debby, Ernesto, Florence, Gordon, Helene, Isaac.
1 system was tracked without a name and is listed by number.
Atlantic and East Pacific lists repeat every six years. See how storms are named.
2006 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 2006?
The 2006 Atlantic hurricane season had 10 named storms, 5 hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes, from 10 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 Alberto and the last was Isaac.
What was the strongest storm of 2006?
Hurricane Gordon. It peaked at 120 mph (195 km/h, 105 kt) with a lowest pressure of 955 mb on September 14. That is Category 3 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 96 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 28% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 2006 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 2006, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Isaac, dissipated on October 3. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 6 Atlantic storms since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.