2016 Atlantic hurricane season
Jun 1, 2016 – Nov 30, 2016 · Season ended
The 2016 Atlantic hurricane season produced 15 named storms, 7 hurricanes and 4 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 14.4, 7.2 and 3.2. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 143, 116% of the average.
2016 season at a glance
- Named storms: 15 (1991–2020 average 14.4).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 7 (average 7.2).
- Major, 96 kt+: 4, including 1 at Category 5 strength (average 3.2).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 142.5, 116% of the 123 average.
- Named-storm days: 82.3, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Alex, January 12.
- First hurricane: Alex, January 14.
- First major storm: Gaston, August 28.
- Last storm to dissipate: Otto, November 26.
- All systems tracked: 16, 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 2016 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex | – | C1 | 978 mb | Praia da Vitória, Portugal |
| Bonnie | – | TS | 1006 mb | Mount Pleasant, United States |
| Colin | – | TS | 987 mb | Perry, United States |
| Danielle | – | TS | 1007 mb | Tamiahua, Mexico |
| Earl | – | C1 | 979 mb | Belize City, Belize |
| Fiona | – | TS | 1004 mb | — |
| Gaston | – | C3 | 955 mb | — |
| TD 8L | – | TD | 1010 mb | — |
| Hermine | – | C1 | 981 mb | Tallahassee, United States |
| Ian | – | TS | 984 mb | — |
| Karl | – | TS | 980 mb | — |
| Julia | – | TS | 1007 mb | Hutchinson Island South, United States |
| Lisa | – | TS | 999 mb | — |
| Matthew | – | C5 | 934 mb | Les Anglais, Haiti |
| Nicole | – | C4 | 950 mb | — |
| Otto | – | C3 | 975 mb | Guápiles, Costa Rica |
- Alex: Alex formed in the Atlantic in January 2016 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 978 mb. It made landfall near Praia da Vitória, Portugal. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Bonnie: Bonnie formed in the Atlantic in May 2016 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1006 mb. It made landfall near Mount Pleasant, United States. The system was tracked for 14 days.
- Colin: Colin formed in the Atlantic in June 2016 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 987 mb. It made landfall near Perry, United States. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Danielle: Danielle formed in the Atlantic in June 2016 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1007 mb. It made landfall near Tamiahua, Mexico. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Earl: Earl formed in the Atlantic in August 2016 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 made 3 landfalls, first near Belize City, Belize and last near Antón Lizardo, Mexico. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Fiona: Fiona formed in the Atlantic in August 2016 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 8 days.
- Gaston: Gaston formed in the Atlantic in August 2016 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 13 days.
- TD 8L: This system formed in the Atlantic in August 2016 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1010 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Hermine: Hermine formed in the Atlantic in August 2016 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 981 mb. It made landfall near Tallahassee, United States. The system was tracked for 11 days.
- Ian: Ian formed in the Atlantic in September 2016 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 984 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Karl: Karl formed in the Atlantic in September 2016 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 980 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 13 days.
- Julia: Julia formed in the Atlantic in September 2016 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1007 mb. It made landfall near Hutchinson Island South, United States. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Lisa: Lisa formed in the Atlantic in September 2016 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 7 days.
- Matthew: Matthew formed in the Atlantic in September 2016 and peaked as a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 165 mph (270 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 934 mb. It made 4 landfalls, first near Les Anglais, Haiti and last near Mount Pleasant, United States. The system was tracked for 12 days.
- Nicole: Nicole formed in the Atlantic in October 2016 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 950 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 15 days.
- Otto: Otto formed in the Atlantic in November 2016 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 975 mb. It made landfall near Guápiles, Costa Rica. The system was tracked for 9 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 2016
Hurricane Matthew was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 165 mph (270 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 934 mb, on October 1. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
14 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 4 matched it. It produced 36% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 2016
9 of the season’s 16 systems made landfall, 4 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- January 15: Alex near Praia da Vitória, Portugal, 65 mph (tropical storm)
- May 29: Bonnie near Mount Pleasant, United States, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- June 7: Colin near Perry, United States, 50 mph (tropical storm)
- June 20: Danielle near Tamiahua, Mexico, 40 mph (tropical storm)
- August 4: Earl near Belize City, Belize, 85 mph (Category 1)
- August 4: Earl near Belize City, Belize, 85 mph (Category 1)
- August 6: Earl near Antón Lizardo, Mexico, 60 mph (tropical storm)
- September 2: Hermine near Tallahassee, United States, 80 mph (Category 1)
- September 13: Julia near Hutchinson Island South, United States, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- October 4: Matthew near Les Anglais, Haiti, 150 mph (Category 4)
- October 5: Matthew near Maisí, Cuba, 130 mph (Category 4)
- October 7: Matthew near West End, Bahamas, 130 mph (Category 4)
- October 8: Matthew near Mount Pleasant, United States, 85 mph (Category 1)
- November 24: Otto near Guápiles, Costa Rica, 115 mph (Category 3)
How 2016 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 14th of 47 Atlantic seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 5 other seasons), 19th for hurricanes (tied with 7 other seasons) and 16th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 30 named storms, in 2020, and the highest ACE is 250, in 2005.
2016 storm names
The 2016 season used 15 names: Alex, Bonnie, Colin, Danielle, Earl, Fiona, Gaston, Hermine, Ian, Karl, Julia, Lisa, Matthew, Nicole, Otto.
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 Matthew and Otto, so they will not be used again.
2016 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 2016?
The 2016 Atlantic hurricane season had 15 named storms, 7 hurricanes and 4 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 Alex and the last was Otto.
What was the strongest storm of 2016?
Hurricane Matthew. It peaked at 165 mph (270 km/h, 145 kt) with a lowest pressure of 934 mb on October 1. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 14 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 36% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 2016 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 2016, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Otto, dissipated on November 26. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 6 Atlantic storms since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.