Many events were canceled in 2020. The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season was not one of them. The long, record-breaking, and unusual 2020 Atlantic hurricane season officially ended November 30. The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season broke 2005’s record of 28 with 30 named storms. The season also featured 13 hurricanes (the second-most on record) and 6 major hurricanes (tied for the second-most on record). The season also featured a record-breaking 12 tropical storm or greater landfalls over the United States, and a record-tying 6 United States hurricane landfalls. The U.S. landfall season was long-lasting, with at least one named storm making landfall in the United States between May and November, and at least one hurricane making landfall in the United States every month between July and October. It is interesting to note, however, that despite the record number of named storms, the Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) value was only the 11th-highest on record. It is also unusual that four of 2020’s six major hurricanes formed in October and November – the first occurrence of such an event on record. Regardless, 2020 still qualifies as an extremely active season by nearly all metrics.

Season Statistics

• 31 total tropical/subtropical cyclones (record tied with 2005)
• 30 named tropical/subtropical storms (record set in 2020)
• 13 hurricanes (second highest total on record)
• 6 major hurricanes (second highest total on record, tied with many seasons, most recently 2017)
• 180 Accumulated Cyclone Energy Units (11th highest total on record)
• 12 United States landfalling tropical storms (record set in 2020)
• 6 United States landfalling hurricanes (record tied with 1985)

Storm Name	NHC Classification	Formed (UTC)	Dissipated (UTC)	Maximum 1-minute sustained winds (mph)	Minimum pressure (mbar)
Arthur	Tropical Storm	May 16	May 19	60	990
Bertha	Tropical Storm	May 27	May 28	50	1005
Cristobal*	Tropical Storm	June 1	June 10	60	992
Dolly*	Tropical Storm	June 22	June 24	45	1002
Edouard*	Tropical Storm	July 4	July 6	45	1007
Fay*	Tropical Storm	July 9	July 11	60	998
Gonzalo*	Tropical Storm	July 21	July 25	65	997
Hanna*	Category 1 Hurricane	July 23	July 27	90	973
Isaias*	Category 1 Hurricane	July 30	August 5	85	987
Ten*	Tropical Depression	July 31	August 2	35	1007
Josephine*	Tropical Storm	August 11	August 16	45	1004
Kyle*	Tropical Storm	August 14	August 16	50	1000
Laura*	Category 4 Hurricane	August 20	August 29	150	937
Marco*	Category 1 Hurricane	August 20	August 25	75	991
Omar*	Tropical Storm	August 31	September 5	40	1003
Nana*	Category 1 Hurricane	September 1	September 4	75	994
Paulette*	Category 2 Hurricane	September 7	September 23	105	965
Rene*	Tropical Storm	September 7	September 14	50	1000
Sally*	Category 2 Hurricane	September 11	September 18	105	965
Teddy*	Category 4 Hurricane	September 12	September 13	140	945
Vicky*	Tropical Storm	September 14	September 17	50	1000
Beta*	Tropical Storm	September 17	September 23	60	994
Wilfred*	Tropical Storm	September 18	September 21	40	1007
Alpha*	Subtropical Storm	September 18	September 19	50	996
Gamma*	Tropical Storm	October 2	October 6	70	980
Delta*	Category 4 Hurricane	October 5	October 10	145	953
Epsilon*	Category 3 Hurricane	October 19	October 26	115	951
Zeta*	Category 2 Hurricane	October 24	October 29	110	970
Eta*	Category 4 Hurricane	October 31	November 13	150	923
Theta*	Tropical Storm	November 10	November 15	70	989
Iota*	Category 5 Hurricane	November 13	November 18	160	917

Why was the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season so active?

The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season was extremely active due to a combination of factors. Wind shear over the deep tropical Atlantic was at near record-lows during the peak of the season (August-September-October). This was likely a result of La Niña, the cool phase of the El Nino Southern Oscillation. Sea level pressures over the Atlantic basin were also much lower than normal. In addition, sea surface temperatures over the tropical Atlantic were warmer than normal, though not the warmest on record.

My forecast correctly anticipated that the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season would be more active than normal, though the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season did end up significantly more active than I anticipated. Cyclonic Fury’s March forecast predicted 13-18 named storms, 6-10 hurricanes, 2-5 major hurricanes, and an Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) value of 140 +/- 50 units. Of those, only the ACE value was in my predicted range. In May, Cyclonic Fury raised its numbers to 15-19 named storms, 7-10 hurricanes, 3-5 major hurricanes and an ACE value of 150 +/- 40 units. Once again, only the ACE index was within the forecasted range. In August, Cyclonic Fury raised its numbers further, predicting 18-22 named storms, 8-11 hurricanes, and 4-6 major hurricanes with an ACE index of 180 +/- 40 units. This forecast was closer than the March and May forecasts, and was spot on with the ACE value, but the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season saw significantly more named storms and hurricanes than I predicted. Aside from the ACE value, only the major hurricane total (6) verified within my forecast range.

May

Although the Atlantic hurricane season officially does not begin until June 1, the Atlantic saw activity begin before the official start for the fifth straight year, when Tropical Storm Arthur formed off the southeastern United States coast on May 16. Arthur passed just offshore the Outer Banks of North Carolina, losing tropical characteristics early on May 19. On May 27, Tropical Storm Bertha rapidly formed and made landfall in central South Carolina, the first United States landfalling storm of the season.

June

June featured the development of two named storms: Cristobal and Dolly, after June had no tropical cyclones develop in 2018 or 2019. On June 1, the first day of the defined bounds of hurricane season, Tropical Depression Three formed over the eastern Bay of Campeche. The depression intensified into Tropical Storm Cristobal the following day. After intensifying into a moderately strong tropical storm, Cristobal made landfall over the Mexican state of Campeche early on June 3. Cristobal then weakened to a tropical depression as it initially moved southward into Mexico, before turning northward and accelerating. Cristobal regained tropical storm strength on June 5 just prior to reemerging over the Gulf of Mexico. Cristobal then continued moving northward and strengthened slightly. Cristobal made landfall over southeastern Louisiana late on June 7 as a moderate tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph. Cristobal continued moving northward over the central United States, before losing tropical characteristics early on June 10 over Wisconsin. After a brief lull, Subtropical Depression Four formed over the northwestern Atlantic on June 22. The subtropical depression transitioned into a fully tropical storm the next day and was named Dolly. Dolly was no threat to land, and became a post-tropical cyclone on June 24.

July

While the month of July is often a quiet month in the Atlantic basin that typically only sees one or two named storm formations, July 2020 was very active, and tied July 2005’s record with five named storms forming in the month. Tropical Storm Edouard formed on July 4, and passed close to Bermuda as a tropical depression with minimal impacts. Tropical Storm Fay formed off the Outer Banks of North Carolina on July 9, and made landfall in New Jersey as a moderate tropical storm the next day. Tropical Storm Gonzalo formed over the deep tropical Atlantic on July 21, and failed to strengthen significantly before dissipating over the southeastern Caribbean Sea. Tropical Storm Hanna formed over the central Gulf of Mexico on July 23, and eventually intensified into the season’s first hurricane on July 25 prior to making landfall in southern Texas. On July 30, Tropical Storm Isaias formed over the eastern Caribbean Sea, and unexpectedly strengthened into a hurricane just after moving offshore of Hispaniola.

August

While much of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season featured above-average activity, the month of August featured near-average activity. Hurricane Isaias fluctuated in intensity between hurricane and tropical storm status, before making landfall near Ocean Isle Beach as a Category 1 hurricane early on August 4. Tropical Storm Josephine formed over the eastern tropical Atlantic on August 11, and posed no threat to land. Tropical Storm Kyle formed off the United States East Coast on August 14, and also did not cause significant impacts. On August 20, Laura (over the central tropical Atlantic) and Marco (over the western Caribbean) formed. Marco became a hurricane on August 23 before weakening significantly before landfall over southeastern Louisiana the next day. Laura passed over Puerto Rico and Hispaniola as a disorganized tropical storm before rapidly intensifying into a Category 4 hurricane over the Gulf of Mexico on August 26. Laura then made landfall as a high-end Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph over southwestern Louisiana, the strongest United States landfalling storm of the season. On the last day of August, Tropical Depression Fifteen formed off the Southeastern United States coast, becoming Tropical Storm Omar the next day.

September

The month of September saw a record-breaking 10 named storm formations (including Omar, which formed as a tropical depression in August). The 10 named storms forming in September set the all-time record for any month in the Atlantic basin. Despite this, the month was only near to slightly above average in hurricanes, major hurricanes and Accumulated Cyclone Energy. On September 1, Tropical Storm Nana formed over the central Caribbean Sea, and barely reached hurricane strength early on September 3 just before making landfall in Belize. Tropical Storm Omar persisted as a tropical depression for a few days away from land before eventually becoming a remnant low on September 5. Tropical Storms Paulette and Rene formed on September 7, both over the tropical Atlantic. Paulette persisted despite strong wind shear, while Rene struggled to intensify over the eastern tropical Atlantic. On September 11, Tropical Depression Nineteen formed near the Bahamas, being named Sally the next day over the Gulf of Mexico. On September 12, Tropical Depression Twenty formed over the eastern tropical Atlantic. Paulette became the season’s sixth hurricane on September 13, making landfall in Bermuda as a Category 1 hurricane the next day. On September 14, Twenty intensified into Tropical Storm Teddy, and Tropical Storm Vicky formed over the far eastern tropical Atlantic, which meant that the Atlantic had five simultaneously active tropical cyclones for the first time since 1995. That same day, Sally became a hurricane, making it the seventh hurricane of the season. Sally intensified into a Category 2 hurricane and made landfall on September 16 near Gulf Shores, Alabama at this intensity. Paulette became an extratropical cyclone on September 16, but persisted over the northern Atlantic. Teddy eventually reached Category 4 status over the central Atlantic on September 17, making it the second major hurricane of the season. September 18 was unusual in that it saw the formation of three named storms on the same date: Wilfred (over the central tropical Atlantic), Subtropical Storm Alpha (over the eastern subtropical Atlantic near Portugal), and Tropical Storm Beta (over the western Gulf of Mexico). Alpha made landfall that same day as a subtropical storm over Portugal, the first (sub)tropical cyclone on record to do so. Beta made landfall over southeastern Texas as a minimal tropical storm early on September 22. Teddy affected Nova Scotia as a post-tropical cyclone on September 23. Following the dissipation of Beta, Teddy and Paulette, there were no tropical cyclones active over the Atlantic for the final six days of September.

October

The month of October was an active one with four named storms forming. Tropical Storm Gamma formed over the northwestern Caribbean Sea on October 2, and rapidly intensified to just below hurricane strength prior to making landfall over the northern Yucatan Peninsula the next day. Early on October 5, Tropical Storm Delta formed over the central Caribbean Sea, and explosively intensified into a Category 4 hurricane the following day. Delta was the season’s third major hurricane, and made landfall over the northern Yucatan Peninsula as a Category 2 hurricane early on October 7. After weakening to a Category 1 hurricane, Delta eventually restrengthened to a Category 3 hurricane over the western Gulf of Mexico. Delta then made landfall as a low-end Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph late on October 9 near Creole, Louisiana. Delta then dissipated the next day. After a lull in activity, Tropical Storm Epsilon formed over the central Atlantic away from land on October 19, and unexpectedly intensified into the season’s fourth major hurricane two days later. Epsilon became post-tropical on October 25, while Tropical Storm Zeta formed over the northwestern Caribbean Sea. Zeta became a Category 1 hurricane prior to making landfall over the northwestern Yucatan Peninsula, the same region affected by Gamma and Delta earlier in the month. Zeta then weakened to a tropical storm over the Yucatan Pensinsula, and reemerged into the Gulf of Mexico on October 27. Zeta then rapidly intensified to a high-end Category 2 hurricane just prior to making landfall over southeastern Louisiana the following day. Zeta brought gusty winds to the southeastern United States before transitioning into an extratropical cyclone on October 29. Late on October 31, Tropical Depression Twenty-Nine formed over the central Caribbean Sea.

November

The month of November saw record-breaking activity, with three named storms and two major hurricanes forming. November’s Accumulated Cyclone Energy value of 38 was the highest in the satellite era. While the month of November occasionally has no tropical cyclogenesis in the Atlantic basin at all, November 2020 was very memorable. Tropical Depression Twenty-Nine strengthened into Tropical Storm Eta early on November 1, making 2020 tied with 2005 as the most active Atlantic hurricane season on record. This was also the first usage of the Greek letter name Eta. Eta underwent a period of rapid intensification on November 2, rapidly intensifying into a high-end Category 4 hurricane late that day. Although Eta’s satellite presentation was extremely impressive with very cold cloud tops, there is no convincing reconnaissance aircraft evidence that it attained Category 5 strength. Eta, at the time, was the second most-intense November Atlantic tropical cyclone by central pressure, only to be surpassed by Iota less than two weeks later. Eta then made landfall over central Nicaragua late on November 3 with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph. Eta then weakened significantly and became a tropical depression over central America, before accelerating northeastward and regaining tropical storm strength by November 7. Eta then made landfall over central Cuba early on November 8, prior to turning to the northwest. Eta then turned back towards the west and made landfall over the Florida Keys early on November 9. This made Eta the first November tropical cyclone to make landfall in the United States since Tropical Storm Mitch in 1998. Eta then moved erratically before turning back north on November 10. That same day, Subtropical Storm Theta formed over the eastern subtropical Atlantic, and quickly intensified into just below hurricane strength prior to transitioning into a tropical cyclone. Early on November 11, Eta briefly regained minimal hurricane strength over the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Increasing shear started a weakening trend, and Eta then made landfall near Cedar Key, Florida as a moderate tropical storm early on November 12. Eta then emerged over the western Atlantic, and became an extratropical cyclone the following day. Meanwhile, Theta changed little in intensity before becoming a post-tropical remnant low south of Madeira on November 15. On November 13, Tropical Storm Iota formed over the central Caribbean Sea, becoming a hurricane two days later. Initial intensification was gradual, but Iota underwent a period of rapid intensification early on November 16, attaining Category 5 status at 15:00 UTC. This made Iota the Atlantic’s first November Category 5 hurricane in 88 years, as well as the second-most intense November Atlantic hurricane on record (surpassing Eta from just two weeks prior). It is very unusual that the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season featured its strongest and second-strongest storm in November, as most seasons feature their strongest storm some time between August and October. Iota then made landfall over Nicaragua, very close to where Eta made landfall, as a high-end Category 4 hurricane early on November 17. Iota rapidly weakened over the mountainous terrain of central America, and dissipated early on November 18, potentially ending the record-breaking 2020 Atlantic hurricane season.

Since Invest 90L over the eastern Atlantic, it appears unlikely the Atlantic will have another named storm. If one does form, though, it would be named Kappa. It is likely that the hyperactive 2020 Atlantic hurricane season has ended.