2023 Atlantic hurricane season
Jun 1, 2023 – Nov 30, 2023 · Season ended
The 2023 Atlantic hurricane season produced 20 named storms, 7 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 14.4, 7.2 and 3.2. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 148, 121% of the average.
2023 season at a glance
- Named storms: 20 (1991–2020 average 14.4).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 7 (average 7.2).
- Major, 96 kt+: 3, including 1 at Category 5 strength (average 3.2).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 148.0, 121% of the 123 average.
- Named-storm days: 100.5, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Tropical Storm 1L, January 16.
- First hurricane: Don, July 22.
- First major storm: Franklin, August 28.
- Last storm to dissipate: Tropical Depression 22L, November 18.
- All systems tracked: 22, 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 2023 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD 1L | – | TS | 976 mb | Sydney, Canada |
| Arlene | – | TS | 998 mb | — |
| Bret | – | TS | 996 mb | Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
| Cindy | – | TS | 1004 mb | — |
| Don | – | C1 | 986 mb | — |
| Emily | – | TS | 998 mb | — |
| Gert | – | TS | 998 mb | — |
| Franklin | – | C4 | 926 mb | Enriquillo, Dominican Republic |
| Harold | – | TS | 995 mb | Kingsville, United States |
| Idalia | – | C4 | 942 mb | Cozumel, Mexico |
| Jose | – | TS | 996 mb | — |
| Katia | – | TS | 998 mb | — |
| Lee | – | C5 | 926 mb | Yarmouth, Canada |
| Margot | – | C1 | 969 mb | — |
| Nigel | – | C2 | 958 mb | — |
| Ophelia | – | TS | 981 mb | Piney Green, United States |
| Philippe | – | TS | 998 mb | Saint John’s, Antigua and Barbuda |
| Rina | – | TS | 999 mb | — |
| Sean | – | TS | 1005 mb | — |
| Tammy | – | C2 | 965 mb | Saint John’s, Antigua and Barbuda |
| TD 21L | – | TD | 1007 mb | Pearl City, Nicaragua |
| TD 22L | – | TD | 1004 mb | — |
- TD 1L: This system formed in the Atlantic in January 2023 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 976 mb. It made landfall near Sydney, Canada. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Arlene: Arlene formed in the Atlantic in May 2023 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 998 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Bret: Bret formed in the Atlantic in June 2023 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 landfall near Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Cindy: Cindy formed in the Atlantic in June 2023 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1004 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Don: Don formed in the Atlantic in July 2023 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 986 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 14 days.
- Emily: Emily formed in the Atlantic in August 2023 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 7 days.
- Gert: Gert formed in the Atlantic in August 2023 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 998 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 17 days.
- Franklin: Franklin formed in the Atlantic in August 2023 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 926 mb. It made landfall near Enriquillo, Dominican Republic. The system was tracked for 21 days.
- Harold: Harold formed in the Atlantic in August 2023 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 995 mb. It made landfall near Kingsville, United States. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Idalia: Idalia formed in the Atlantic in August 2023 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 942 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Cozumel, Mexico and last near Perry, United States. The system was tracked for 13 days.
- Jose: Jose formed in the Atlantic in August 2023 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 996 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Katia: Katia formed in the Atlantic in August 2023 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 998 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 17 days.
- Lee: Lee formed in the Atlantic in September 2023 and peaked as a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 165 mph (270 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 926 mb. It made landfall near Yarmouth, Canada. The system was tracked for 13 days.
- Margot: Margot formed in the Atlantic in September 2023 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 969 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 11 days.
- Nigel: Nigel formed in the Atlantic in September 2023 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (155 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 958 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 11 days.
- Ophelia: Ophelia formed in the Atlantic in September 2023 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 981 mb. It made landfall near Piney Green, United States. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Philippe: Philippe formed in the Atlantic in September 2023 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 Saint John’s, Antigua and Barbuda. The system was tracked for 13 days.
- Rina: Rina formed in the Atlantic in September 2023 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 4 days.
- Sean: Sean formed in the Atlantic in October 2023 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1005 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Tammy: Tammy formed in the Atlantic in October 2023 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 965 mb. It made landfall near Saint John’s, Antigua and Barbuda. The system was tracked for 13 days.
- TD 21L: This system formed in the Atlantic in October 2023 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 30 mph (45 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1007 mb. It made landfall near Pearl City, Nicaragua. The system was tracked for 1 day.
- TD 22L: This system formed in the Atlantic in November 2023 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1004 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 1 day.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 2023
Hurricane Lee was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 165 mph (270 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 926 mb, on September 8. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
14 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 4 matched it. It produced 25% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 2023
10 of the season’s 22 systems made landfall, 2 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- January 17: TD 1L near Sydney, Canada, 50 mph (tropical storm)
- June 23: Bret near Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, 65 mph (tropical storm)
- August 22: Harold near Kingsville, United States, 60 mph (tropical storm)
- August 23: Franklin near Enriquillo, Dominican Republic, 45 mph (tropical storm)
- August 27: Idalia near Cozumel, Mexico, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- August 30: Idalia near Perry, United States, 115 mph (Category 3)
- September 16: Lee near Yarmouth, Canada, 65 mph (tropical storm)
- September 23: Ophelia near Piney Green, United States, 70 mph (tropical storm)
- October 2: Philippe near Saint John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, 50 mph (tropical storm)
- October 22: Tammy near Saint John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, 90 mph (Category 1)
- October 24: TD 21L near Pearl City, Nicaragua, 30 mph (tropical depression)
How 2023 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 4th of 47 Atlantic seasons since 1980 for named storms, 19th for hurricanes (tied with 7 other seasons) and 13th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 30 named storms, in 2020, and the highest ACE is 250, in 2005.
2023 storm names
The 2023 season used 19 names: Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Don, Emily, Gert, Franklin, Harold, Idalia, Jose, Katia, Lee, Margot, Nigel, Ophelia, Philippe, Rina, Sean, Tammy.
3 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.
2023 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 2023?
The 2023 Atlantic hurricane season had 20 named storms, 7 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes, from 22 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 Tropical Storm 1L and the last was Tammy.
What was the strongest storm of 2023?
Hurricane Lee. It peaked at 165 mph (270 km/h, 145 kt) with a lowest pressure of 926 mb on September 8. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 14 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 25% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 2023 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 2023, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Tropical Depression 22L, dissipated on November 18. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 6 Atlantic storms since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.