|
NOTEWORTHY RECORDS OF THE 2005 ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON
Most Numerous
- 26 Named
Storms (previous record: 21 in 1933)
- 13
Hurricanes (previous record: 12 in 1969)
- Four major
hurricanes hitting the U.S. (previous record: three in 2004)
- Three
Category 5 Hurricanes (previous record: two in 1960 and 1961)
- Seven
Tropical Storms before August 1 (previous record: five in 1997)
- Two-Year
Consecutive Total of Tropical Storms: 41
(previous record: 32 most recently in 1995-96)
- Two-Year
Consecutive Total of Hurricanes: 24
(previous record: 21 in 1886-87)
- Two-Year
Consecutive Total of Major Hurricanes: 13
(ties record in 1950-51)
- Two-Year
Consecutive Major Hurricane Landfalls: Seven
(previous record: five in 1954-55)
- Two -Year
Consecutive Florida Major Hurricane Landfalls: Five
(previous record: three in 1949-50)
- Three-Year
Consecutive Total of Tropical Storms: 57
(previous record: 43 most recently in 2002-04)
- Three-Year
Consecutive Total of Hurricanes: 30
(previous record: 27 in 1886-88)
- Three-Year
Consecutive Total of Major Hurricanes: 16
(ties record in 1949-51 and 1950-52)
Costliest
Hurricane: Katrina (at least $80 billion)
(previous record Andrew, $26.5 billion - 1992 dollars)
Deadliest
U.S. Hurricane since 1928: Katrina (at least 1,300)
Strongest
- Hurricane in
the Atlantic Basin: Wilma 882 millibars (mb)
(previous record: Gilbert at 888 mb)
- Three of the
six strongest hurricanes on record: Wilma 882 mb (1st), Rita
897 mb (4th), Katrina 902 mb (6th)
July hurricane: Emily (155 mph top sustained winds)
(previous record: Dennis (150 mph) in 2005; Hurricane #1 (140 mph) in 1926
Information from NOAA Commerce Dept November 2005
| Fast Facts: Nine out of ten hurricane
fatalities are caused by the storm surge. |
| Fast Facts: As of
August 30th 2005, the National Hurricane Center lists Hurricane Andrew
in 1992, as the most destructive storm to hit the United States. It
caused damage estimated at $26.5 billion and was a category five
hurricane. Katrina...............$$$$$$$$$$$ |
| Fast Facts: What is the "Eye" The "eye" is a
roughly circular area of comparatively light winds and fair weather
found at the center of a severe tropical cyclone. Although the winds are
calm at the axis of rotation, strong winds may extend well into the eye.
Credit NOAA NHC |
Saffir/Simpson Hurricane Scale
Courtesy of National Hurricane Center
| Category |
Definition |
Effects |
| One |
Winds 74-95 mph |
No real damage to building structures. Damage primarily to
unanchored mobile homes, shrubbery, and trees. Also, some
coastal road flooding and minor pier da mage |
| Two |
Winds 96-110 mph |
Some roofing material, door, and window damage to buildings.
Considerable damage to vegetation, mobile homes, and piers.
Coastal and low-lying escape routes flood 2-4 hours before
arrival of center. Small craft in unprotected anchorages break
moorings. |
| Three |
Winds 111-130 mph |
Some structural damage to small residences and utility
buildings with a minor amount of curtainwall failures. Mobile
homes are destroyed. Flooding near the coast destroys smaller
structures with larger structures damaged by floating debris.
Terrain continuously lower than 5 feet ASL may be flooded inland
8 miles or more. |
| Four |
Winds 131-155 mph |
More extensive curtainwall failures with some complete roof
structure failure on small residences. Major erosion of beach.
Major damage to lower floors of structures near the shore.
Terrain continuously lower than 10 feet ASL may be flooded
requiring massive evacuation of residential areas inland as far
as 6 miles. |
| Five |
Winds greater than 155 mph |
Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial
buildings. Some complete building failures with small utility
buildings blown over or away. Major damage to lower floors of
all structures located less than 15 feet ASL and within 500
yards of the shoreline.Massive evacuation of residential areas
on low ground within 5 to 10 miles of the shoreline may be
required.
|
|
The 30 costliest tropical cyclones to strike the U.S.
mainland Updated by Tornado Tim
| Rank |
Hurricane |
Year |
Category |
Damage |
| 1 |
Katrina LA, MS, AL, FL |
2005 |
4 |
+80,000,000,000 |
| 2 |
Andrew (SE FL, SE LA) |
1992 |
5a |
26,500,000,000 |
| 3 |
Hugo (SC) |
1989 |
4 |
7,000,000,000 |
| 4 |
Floyd (Mid Atlantic & NE U.S.) |
1999 |
2 |
4,500,000,000 |
| 5 |
Fran (NC) |
1996 |
3 |
3,200,000,000 |
| 6 |
Opal (NW FL, AL) |
1995 |
3 |
3,000,000,000 |
| 7 |
Georges (FL Keys, MS, AL) |
1998 |
2 |
2,310,000,000 |
| 8 |
Frederic (AL, MS) |
1979 |
3 |
2,300,000,000 |
| 9 |
Agnes (FL, NE U.S.) |
1972 |
1 |
2,100,000,000 |
| 10 |
Alicia (N TX) |
1983 |
3 |
2,000,000,000 |
| 11 |
Bob (NC, NE U.S.) |
1991 |
2 |
1,500,000,000 |
| 12 |
Juan (LA) |
1985 |
1 |
1,500,000,000 |
| 13 |
Camille (MS, SE LA, VA) |
1969 |
5 |
1,420,700,000 |
| 14 |
Betsy (SE FL, SE LA) |
1965 |
3 |
1,420,500,000 |
| 15 |
Elena (MS, AL, NW FL) |
1985 |
3 |
1,250,000,000 |
| 16 |
Gloria (Eastern US) |
1985 |
3b |
900,000,000 |
| 17 |
Diane (NE U.S.) |
1955 |
1 |
831,700,000 |
| 18 |
Bonnie (NC, VA) |
1998 |
2 |
720,000,000 |
| 19 |
Erin (NW FL) |
1995 |
2 |
700,000,000 |
| 20 |
Allison (N TX) |
1989 |
TSc |
500,000,000 |
| 21 |
Alberto (NW FL, GA, AL) |
1994 |
TSc |
500,000,000 |
| 22 |
Frances (TX) |
1998 |
TSc |
500,000,000 |
| 23 |
Eloise (NW FL) |
1975 |
3 |
490,000,000 |
| 24 |
Carol (NE U.S.) |
1954 |
3b |
461,000,000 |
| 25 |
Celia (S TX) |
1970 |
3 |
453,000,000 |
| 26 |
Carla (N & Central TX) |
1961 |
4 |
408,000,000 |
| 27 |
Claudette (N TX) |
1979 |
TSc |
400,000,000 |
| 28 |
Gordon (S & Central FL, NC) |
1994 |
TSc |
400,000,000 |
| 29 |
Donna (FL, Eastern U.S.) |
1960 |
4 |
387,000,000 |
| 30 |
David (FL, Eastern U.S.) |
1979 |
2 |
320,000,000 |
| 31 |
Unnamed (New England) |
1938 |
3b |
306,000,000 |
Credit (AOML)
and
National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Updated by Tornado Tim Posted Dec. 2005
|
