2019 Atlantic hurricane season
Jun 1, 2019 – Nov 30, 2019 · Season ended
The 2019 Atlantic hurricane season produced 18 named storms, 6 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 14.4, 7.2 and 3.2. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 132, 108% of the average.
2019 season at a glance
- Named storms: 18 (1991–2020 average 14.4).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 6 (average 7.2).
- Major, 96 kt+: 3, including 2 at Category 5 strength (average 3.2).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 132.3, 108% of the 123 average.
- Named-storm days: 70.0, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Andrea, May 20.
- First hurricane: Barry, July 13.
- First major storm: Dorian, August 30.
- Last storm to dissipate: Sebastien, November 27.
- All systems tracked: 20, 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 2019 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrea | – | TS | 1006 mb | — |
| Barry | – | C1 | 993 mb | Abbeville, United States |
| TD 3L | – | TD | 1013 mb | San Andros, Bahamas |
| Chantal | – | TS | 1007 mb | — |
| Dorian | – | C5 | 910 mb | Bridgetown, Barbados |
| Erin | – | TS | 1002 mb | — |
| Gabrielle | – | TS | 995 mb | — |
| Fernand | – | TS | 1000 mb | Soto la Marina, Mexico |
| Humberto | – | C3 | 950 mb | — |
| Jerry | – | C2 | 976 mb | — |
| Imelda | – | TS | 1003 mb | Freeport, United States |
| Karen | – | TS | 1003 mb | Isabel Segunda, Puerto Rico |
| Lorenzo | – | C5 | 925 mb | — |
| Melissa | – | TS | 994 mb | — |
| TD 15L | – | TD | 1006 mb | — |
| Nestor | – | TS | 996 mb | — |
| Pablo | – | C1 | 977 mb | — |
| Olga | – | TS | 992 mb | — |
| Rebekah | – | TS | 965 mb | — |
| Sebastien | – | TS | 970 mb | — |
- Andrea: Andrea formed in the Atlantic in May 2019 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1006 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Barry: Barry formed in the Atlantic in July 2019 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 993 mb. It made landfall near Abbeville, United States. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- TD 3L: This system formed in the Atlantic in July 2019 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1013 mb. It made landfall near San Andros, Bahamas. The system was tracked for 1 day.
- Chantal: Chantal formed in the Atlantic in August 2019 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 6 days.
- Dorian: Dorian formed in the Atlantic in August 2019 and peaked as a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 185 mph (295 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 910 mb. It made 7 landfalls, first near Bridgetown, Barbados and last near Kill Devil Hills, United States. The system was tracked for 16 days.
- Erin: Erin formed in the Atlantic in August 2019 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1002 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Gabrielle: Gabrielle formed in the Atlantic in September 2019 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 9 days.
- Fernand: Fernand formed in the Atlantic in September 2019 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1000 mb. It made landfall near Soto la Marina, Mexico. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Humberto: Humberto formed in the Atlantic in September 2019 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 950 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Jerry: Jerry formed in the Atlantic in September 2019 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 976 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 11 days.
- Imelda: Imelda formed in the Atlantic in September 2019 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1003 mb. It made landfall near Freeport, United States. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Karen: Karen formed in the Atlantic in September 2019 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1003 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Isabel Segunda, Puerto Rico and last near Isabel Segunda, Puerto Rico. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Lorenzo: Lorenzo formed in the Atlantic in September 2019 and peaked as a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 925 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 12 days.
- Melissa: Melissa formed in the Atlantic in October 2019 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 994 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- TD 15L: This system formed in the Atlantic in October 2019 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 3 days.
- Nestor: Nestor formed in the Atlantic in October 2019 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 996 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Pablo: Pablo formed in the Atlantic in October 2019 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 977 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Olga: Olga formed in the Atlantic in October 2019 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 992 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Rebekah: Rebekah formed in the Atlantic in October 2019 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 965 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Sebastien: Sebastien formed in the Atlantic in November 2019 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 970 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 2019
Hurricane Dorian was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 185 mph (295 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 910 mb, on September 1. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
2 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 2 matched it. It produced 37% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 2019
6 of the season’s 20 systems made landfall, 2 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- July 13: Barry near Abbeville, United States, 75 mph (Category 1)
- July 22: TD 3L near San Andros, Bahamas, 30 mph (tropical depression)
- August 27: Dorian near Bridgetown, Barbados, 50 mph (tropical storm)
- August 27: Dorian near Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, 50 mph (tropical storm)
- August 28: Dorian near Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, 75 mph (Category 1)
- August 28: Dorian near Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands, 80 mph (Category 1)
- September 1: Dorian near Marsh Harbour, Bahamas, 185 mph (Category 5)
- September 2: Dorian near Cooper’s Town, Bahamas, 180 mph (Category 5)
- September 4: Fernand near Soto la Marina, Mexico, 45 mph (tropical storm)
- September 6: Dorian near Kill Devil Hills, United States, 100 mph (Category 2)
- September 17: Imelda near Freeport, United States, 45 mph (tropical storm)
- September 24: Karen near Isabel Segunda, Puerto Rico, 45 mph (tropical storm)
- September 24: Karen near Isabel Segunda, Puerto Rico, 45 mph (tropical storm)
How 2019 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 9th of 47 Atlantic seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 2 other seasons), 27th for hurricanes (tied with 2 other seasons) and 20th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 30 named storms, in 2020, and the highest ACE is 250, in 2005.
2019 storm names
The 2019 season used 18 names: Andrea, Barry, Chantal, Dorian, Erin, Gabrielle, Fernand, Humberto, Jerry, Imelda, Karen, Lorenzo, Melissa, Nestor, Pablo, Olga, Rebekah, Sebastien.
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 name Dorian, so it will not be used again.
2019 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 2019?
The 2019 Atlantic hurricane season had 18 named storms, 6 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes, from 20 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 Andrea and the last was Sebastien.
What was the strongest storm of 2019?
Hurricane Dorian. It peaked at 185 mph (295 km/h, 160 kt) with a lowest pressure of 910 mb on September 1. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 2 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 37% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 2019 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 2019, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Sebastien, dissipated on November 27. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 6 Atlantic storms since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.