2015 Atlantic hurricane season
Jun 1, 2015 – Nov 30, 2015 · Season ended
The 2015 Atlantic hurricane season produced 11 named storms, 4 hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 14.4, 7.2 and 3.2. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 63, 51% of the average.
2015 season at a glance
- Named storms: 11 (1991–2020 average 14.4).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 4 (average 7.2).
- Major, 96 kt+: 2 (average 3.2).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 62.7, 51% of the 123 average.
- Named-storm days: 43.5, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Ana, May 8.
- First hurricane: Danny, August 20.
- First major storm: Danny, August 21.
- Last storm to dissipate: Kate, November 13.
- All systems tracked: 12, 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 2015 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ana | – | TS | 998 mb | North Myrtle Beach, United States |
| Bill | – | TS | 997 mb | Rockport, United States |
| Claudette | – | TS | 1003 mb | — |
| Danny | – | C3 | 960 mb | — |
| Erika | – | TS | 1001 mb | — |
| Fred | – | C1 | 986 mb | — |
| Grace | – | TS | 1000 mb | — |
| Henri | – | TS | 1003 mb | — |
| TD 9L | – | TD | 1006 mb | — |
| Ida | – | TS | 1001 mb | — |
| Joaquin | – | C4 | 931 mb | George Town, Bahamas |
| Kate | – | C1 | 980 mb | — |
- Ana: Ana formed in the Atlantic in May 2015 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 998 mb. It made landfall near North Myrtle Beach, United States. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Bill: Bill formed in the Atlantic in June 2015 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 997 mb. It made landfall near Rockport, United States. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Claudette: Claudette formed in the Atlantic in July 2015 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 4 days.
- Danny: Danny formed in the Atlantic in August 2015 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 960 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Erika: Erika formed in the Atlantic in August 2015 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1001 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Fred: Fred formed in the Atlantic in August 2015 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 986 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Grace: Grace formed in the Atlantic in September 2015 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1000 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Henri: Henri formed in the Atlantic in September 2015 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 3 days.
- TD 9L: This system formed in the Atlantic in September 2015 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1006 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Ida: Ida formed in the Atlantic in September 2015 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1001 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 13 days.
- Joaquin: Joaquin formed in the Atlantic in September 2015 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph (250 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 931 mb. It made landfall near George Town, Bahamas. The system was tracked for 18 days.
- Kate: Kate formed in the Atlantic in November 2015 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 980 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 2015
Hurricane Joaquin was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 155 mph (250 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 931 mb, on October 3. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
26 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 8 matched it. It produced 47% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 2015
3 of the season’s 12 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 2015 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 31st of 47 Atlantic seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 3 other seasons), 34th for hurricanes (tied with 5 other seasons) and 36th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 30 named storms, in 2020, and the highest ACE is 250, in 2005.
2015 storm names
The 2015 season used 11 names: Ana, Bill, Claudette, Danny, Erika, Fred, Grace, Henri, Ida, Joaquin, Kate.
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.
The WMO later retired the names Erika and Joaquin, so they will not be used again.
2015 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 2015?
The 2015 Atlantic hurricane season had 11 named storms, 4 hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes, from 12 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 Ana and the last was Kate.
What was the strongest storm of 2015?
Hurricane Joaquin. It peaked at 155 mph (250 km/h, 135 kt) with a lowest pressure of 931 mb on October 3. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 26 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 47% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 2015 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 2015, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Kate, dissipated on November 13. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 6 Atlantic storms since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.