2018 Atlantic hurricane season
Jun 1, 2018 – Nov 30, 2018 · Season ended
The 2018 Atlantic hurricane season produced 15 named storms, 8 hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 14.4, 7.2 and 3.2. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 133, 108% of the average.
2018 season at a glance
- Named storms: 15 (1991–2020 average 14.4).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 8 (average 7.2).
- Major, 96 kt+: 2, including 1 at Category 5 strength (average 3.2).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 132.6, 108% of the 123 average.
- Named-storm days: 86.8, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Alberto, May 26.
- First hurricane: Beryl, July 6.
- First major storm: Florence, September 5.
- Last storm to dissipate: Oscar, November 4.
- 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 2018 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alberto | – | TS | 990 mb | Santa Rosa Beach, United States |
| Beryl | – | C1 | 991 mb | — |
| Chris | – | C2 | 969 mb | — |
| Debby | – | TS | 998 mb | — |
| Ernesto | – | TS | 999 mb | — |
| Florence | – | C4 | 937 mb | Masonboro, United States |
| Gordon | – | TS | 996 mb | Key Largo, United States |
| Isaac | – | C1 | 995 mb | — |
| Helene | – | C2 | 967 mb | — |
| Joyce | – | TS | 995 mb | — |
| TD 11L | – | TD | 1007 mb | — |
| Leslie | – | C1 | 968 mb | — |
| Kirk | – | TS | 998 mb | Laborie, Saint Lucia |
| Michael | – | C5 | 919 mb | Callaway, United States |
| Nadine | – | TS | 995 mb | — |
| Oscar | – | C2 | 952 mb | — |
- Alberto: Alberto formed in the Atlantic in May 2018 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 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.
- Beryl: Beryl formed in the Atlantic in July 2018 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 991 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 13 days.
- Chris: Chris formed in the Atlantic in July 2018 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 969 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 12 days.
- Debby: Debby formed in the Atlantic in August 2018 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 8 days.
- Ernesto: Ernesto formed in the Atlantic in August 2018 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 999 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Florence: Florence formed in the Atlantic in August 2018 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 937 mb. It made landfall near Masonboro, United States. The system was tracked for 19 days.
- Gordon: Gordon formed in the Atlantic in September 2018 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 996 mb. It made 3 landfalls, first near Key Largo, United States and last near Moss Point, United States. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Isaac: Isaac formed in the Atlantic in September 2018 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 995 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Helene: Helene formed in the Atlantic in September 2018 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 967 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Joyce: Joyce formed in the Atlantic in September 2018 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 995 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- TD 11L: This system formed in the Atlantic in September 2018 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 1 day.
- Leslie: Leslie formed in the Atlantic in September 2018 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 968 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 22 days.
- Kirk: Kirk formed in the Atlantic in September 2018 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 998 mb. It made landfall near Laborie, Saint Lucia. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Michael: Michael formed in the Atlantic in October 2018 and peaked as a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 919 mb. It made landfall near Callaway, United States. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Nadine: Nadine formed in the Atlantic in October 2018 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 995 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Oscar: Oscar formed in the Atlantic in October 2018 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 952 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 2018
Hurricane Michael was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 160 mph (260 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 919 mb, on October 10. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
19 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 6 matched it. It produced 9% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 2018
5 of the season’s 16 systems made landfall, 2 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- May 28: Alberto near Santa Rosa Beach, United States, 45 mph (tropical storm)
- September 3: Gordon near Key Largo, United States, 50 mph (tropical storm)
- September 3: Gordon near Islamorada, United States, 50 mph (tropical storm)
- September 5: Gordon near Moss Point, United States, 70 mph (tropical storm)
- September 14: Florence near Masonboro, United States, 90 mph (Category 1)
- September 28: Kirk near Laborie, Saint Lucia, 50 mph (tropical storm)
- October 10: Michael near Callaway, United States, 160 mph (Category 5)
How 2018 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 14th of 47 Atlantic seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 5 other seasons), 14th for hurricanes (tied with 4 other seasons) and 19th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 30 named storms, in 2020, and the highest ACE is 250, in 2005.
2018 storm names
The 2018 season used 15 names: Alberto, Beryl, Chris, Debby, Ernesto, Florence, Gordon, Isaac, Helene, Joyce, Leslie, Kirk, Michael, Nadine, Oscar.
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 Florence and Michael, so they will not be used again.
2018 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 2018?
The 2018 Atlantic hurricane season had 15 named storms, 8 hurricanes and 2 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 Alberto and the last was Oscar.
What was the strongest storm of 2018?
Hurricane Michael. It peaked at 160 mph (260 km/h, 140 kt) with a lowest pressure of 919 mb on October 10. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 19 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 9% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 2018 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 2018, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Oscar, dissipated on November 4. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 6 Atlantic storms since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.