We can be thankful this Thanksgiving weekend that the busy 2019 Atlantic hurricane season is finally coming to an end.  November 30 marks the official end to the season each year.

Eighteen named storms formed in the Atlantic basin this year.  The last storm to form was Sebastian.

 

 

Six of the named storms became hurricanes, and three of those were considered to be major hurricanes, or those that reached at least category 3 strength.

The three major hurricanes were Dorian, Humberto, and Lorenzo.

Hurricane Dorian is tied for the second strongest hurricane recorded in the Atlantic basin based on wind speed.  Dorian's maximum sustained winds of 185mph tied the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane, Hurricane Gilbert from 1988, and Hurricane Wilma from 2005.  

Dorian slowly moved across the Bahamas when it was at its strongest as a category 5 hurricane.   Damage has been estimated at $7 billion.  Reports indicate there were at least 65 deaths, but almost 300 were reported as missing.  At least 70,000 were left homeless.

Dorian then weakened as it approached the southeast coast of the United States.  It eventually made landfall again as a category 1 storm at Cape Hatteras.  

 

 

Ocracoke Island along North Carolina's Outer Banks was the hardest hit location along the U.S. East Coast.  The island, which is only accessible by ferry, has been closed to visitors since the hurricane hit.   It is scheduled to reopen to tourists December 2.

Barry, Imelda, and Nestor were the other named storms to make landfall in the United States this year.

This year is the fourth year in a row for above normal activity in the Atlantic.  An average season has 12 named storms.