Season of Inactivity
The 2013 Atlantic hurricane season has come to a close. Let's look back at the season by the numbers.
Hurricane Season by the Numbers:1968
The 2013 Atlantic hurricane season ended with something that hasn't happened in 45 years.
No hurricanes were rated Category 2 or greater in the Atlantic,Caribbean or Gulf of Mexico,the first year without a Category 2 or stronger hurricane in the Atlantic basin since 1968.
The season's lone two hurricanes,Humberto and Ingrid,only reached Category 1 strength.
NEXT> 1994
Hurricane Season by the Numbers:1994
The 2013 Atlantic hurricane season was the first since 1994 to not have a single major (Category 3 or stronger) hurricane in the Atlantic,Caribbean or Gulf of Mexico.
Since the satellite era began in 1960,only four years have had no Category 3 or stronger hurricanes (1968,1972,1986 and 1994). That's an average of about once every 13 years that we see an Atlantic hurricane season with no majors.
NEXT> 1982
Hurricane Season by the Numbers:1982
As mentioned before, Humberto and Ingrid were the only two hurricanes to form during the 2013 Atlantic hurricane season.
This was the first time since 1982 with two or less Atlantic hurricanes,thanks to the dominance of sinking,dry air and wind shear in the Atlantic Basin.
NEXT> 3 Hours
Hurricane Season by the Numbers:3 Hours
Hurricane Humberto became the first hurricane of the 2013 Atlantic season at 5 a.m. on Sept. 11.
Humberto was just three hours short of being the latest in the season that the first hurricane has developed. That record is still held by Hurricane Gustav in 2002,pending a later scientific review of 2013 hurricane track and intensity data after the season ends.
NEXT> 2005
Hurricane Season by the Numbers:2005
Miami
Above:Photos of the damage caused by Hurricane Wilma
The 2013 season was the eighth consecutive hurricane season without a major hurricane landfall in the United States. A major hurricane is classified as a Category 3 or stronger hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
Hurricane Wilma's landfall in southern Florida as a Category 3 on Oct. 24,2005 was the last time that a major hurricane hit the U.S.
But as we've seen in recent years, Category 1 or 2 hurricanes and even tropical storms can cause extreme damage. This is illustrated by Hurricane Sandy (2012),Hurricane Irene (2011) and Hurricane Ike (2008).
NEXT> 8 Years
Hurricane Season by the Numbers:8 Years
Hurricane Wilma was also the last hurricane to make landfall in the state of Florida. The anniversary of Wilma's landfall on Oct. 24,2013 marked eight years since the Sunshine State was last hit by a hurricane.
This is the longest stretch of consecutive years since 1851 that no hurricanes have hit the state.
Although Florida hasn't seen any hurricanes since October 2005,it has had quite a few encounters with tropical storms.
Eight tropical storms have made landfall in Florida since 2006. Another tropical storm,Barry in 2007,approached the Tampa area as tropical storm but officially made landfall as a tropical depression.
NEXT> 13 Storms
Hurricane Season by the Numbers:13 Storms
The 2013 Atlantic hurricane season spawned 13 named storms.
This number exceeds the 30-year average number of named storms per season from 1981 to 2010 (12 named storms). However,many of the storms in 2013 did not hang around long due to dry air,wind shear or a combination of the two.
When examining the number of hurricanes,this season's total of two is well below the 30-year average of six.
NEXT> 1 Landfall
Hurricane Season by the Numbers:1 Landfall
Miami,Fla.
Above:Photos from Tropical Storm Andrea
Only one named storm made landfall in the United States during the 2013 hurricane season.
The first storm of the season,Tropical Storm Andrea,moved inland near Steinhatchee,Fla. on June 6,2013.
Andrea brought heavy rain to Florida and spawned around 10 tornadoes in the state. From there,Andrea moved northward near the East Coast while transitioning to a post-tropical cyclone. This resulted in a swath of heavy rainfall from eastern North Carolina to Maine.
According to the National Hurricane Center report,property damage from Andrea was minor overall.
NEXT> 8 Landfalls
Hurricane Season by the Numbers:8 Landfalls
Above:Photos of Hurricane Raymond's impacts on some of the same areas hit by Manuel
Although 2013 was a mostly quiet hurricane season in the U.S.,the same cannot be said for Mexico.
Mexico's Gulf of Mexico coastline was hit by Hurricane Ingrid,Tropical Storm Barry,Tropical Storm Fernand and Tropical Depression Eight in 2013.
The Pacific coast of Mexico was also hard hit.
Five named storms,Barbara,Juliette,Manuel,Octave and Sonia made landfall in Mexico from the eastern Pacific Ocean.
That's a combined total of eight named storms that made landfall in Mexico in 2013. If you add in the tropical depression,the total number of landfalls is nine.
In addition,Raymond and Erick did not make landfall,but produced significant impacts along Mexico's Pacific coast.
Several of these storms caused deadly flooding and mudslides. According to the Associated Press,Manuel alone killed about 120 people.
IMAGES:Hurricanes From Space
