2020 Atlantic hurricane season (HurricaneJon487)

The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season was the second most active Atlantic hurricane season, and set two records: highest wind speed of an Atlantic storm, and the lowest pressure of an Atlantic storm. This season was also the 6th year in a row where a tropical or subtropical cyclone formed before the official start of the season.

Predictions:

Due to the anticipated presence of La Nina conditions, the NHC predicted an above-average season, with 19 named storms, 10 hurricanes, and 4 major hurricanes.

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Tropical Depression One
Tropical Depression One was a short lived tropical depression that formed from a tropical wave off the coast of Africa on April 29. The system was designated as Tropical Depression One just before midnight on April 29 and peaked as a high-end tropical depression on April 30. It followed a generally western path and dissipated late on May 1.

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Tropical Storm Arthur
An area of disturbed weather came off the coast of Georgia on May 13 and the NHC began monitoring the disturbance. Early on May 15, the disturbance became Tropical Depression Two. Later, on May 16, the depression became a tropical storm and received the name Arthur. Arthur peaked on May 18 at 45 mph and then began weakening due to wind shear in the area. Arthur dissipated on May 19.

Tropical Storm Bertha
Early on June 6, the NHC began monitoring an area of disturbed weather emerging off the coast of Africa. The disturbance was designated as a tropical storm on June 7 and received the name Bertha. Bertha continued going west as a tropical storm and on June 10, weakened to a tropical depression and dissipated later that day.

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Hurricane Cristobal
Early on July 10, the NHC began monitoring a tropical wave over Puerto Rico. The tropical wave was designated as a tropical depression as it passed over the Turks and Caicos islands, and became a tropical storm later that day and received the name Cristobal. On July 13, Cristobal did minimal damage as it passed over the Bahamas and turned towards the north. The next day, Cristobal was designated as a Category 1 hurricane and it made landfall in North Carolina on July 15, killing 3. Cristobal then turned towards the northeast as it got caught in the Gulf Stream. Cristobal then weakened to a tropical storm before making another landfall in Newfoundland, killing 1. Cristobal then turned extratropical on July 18 and dissipated.

Major Hurricane Dolly
Early on August 2, the NHC began monitoring a tropical wave off the coast of Africa. The next day, the disturbance was designated as Tropical Depression Five. The system tracked to the west-northwest and became Tropical Storm Dolly. The tropical storm then tracked towards the Leeward Islands and became a category 1 hurricane on August 5. The next day Dolly then became a category 2 as it passed north of Puerto Rico. Dolly made landfall as a category 2 on the Dominican Republic on August 8, killing 2. The hurricane then tracked a bit to the north and became a major hurricane over the Bahamas. Dolly made landfall in Florida on August 9, killing 17. It weakened to category 1 status and turned north after it crossed Florida, making another landfall in Florida on August 11 as a category 1, killing another 5. Dolly tracked north as it quickly weakened, transitioned to extratropical, and dissipated on August 12.

Hurricane Edouard
On August 7, the NHC began monitoring an area of disturbed weather off the coast of Africa. The disturbance turned to the north and formed into Tropical Depression Six. The depression began showing signs of intensification and was classified as Tropical Storm Edouard on August 9. Edouard then began to turn to the northeast and reached hurricane status. Hurricane Edouard slowly intensified and reached its peak as a mid category 2 on August 11. It then was ripped apart by wind shear and steadily weakened. It made landfall in Scotland as a tropical depression on August 14, causing minimal damage. Edouard then turned post-tropical and dissipated.

Major Hurricane Fay
On August 14, the NHC began monitoring a tropical wave off the coast of Africa. The wave was designated as Tropical Depression Seven later that day. The depression began intensifying and became a tropical storm on August 15, receiving the name Fay. Fay then slowly moved west and became a hurricane two days later. It then began rapidly intensifying in the Caribbean, and was a category 4 by the end of August 18. The next day, Fay was a monstrous Category 5 and was the strongest Atlantic storm on record, having both the highest wind speed and the lowest pressure of an Atlantic storm. Fay made landfall on the Yucatan peninsula, killing almost 1,850 people, and doing $136B in damage. Fay weakened to a Category 2 before crossing Yucatan, and turned to the south. There, Fay made landfall in southern Mexico as a category 2 and crossed into the Eastern Pacific. Fay then went on to dissipate after being absorbed by major hurricane Genevieve on September 7.

Hurricane Gonzalo
On August 17, the NHC began monitoring a disturbance in the central Caribbean left behind by Fay. The disturbance was designated as Tropical Storm Gonzalo on August 20, and it took a northwestern path. It made landfall in Yucatan but did not lose tropical storm status. The tropical storm then intensified into a hurricane on August 22, and was a category 2 by the end of the day. Gonzalo then weakened due to wind shear and made landfall in Texas as a category 1 on August 23, killing 5. Gonzalo fell to a tropical storm the next day, and on August 25, Gonzalo dissipated.

Tropical Storm Hanna
On August 29, the NHC began monitoring a disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico near Yucatan. The same day, the disturbance became a tropical storm and received the name Hanna. Hanna went in a northern direction and made landfall in the Florida panhandle on August 30, doing minimal damage and killing nobody. The system became extratropical and dissipated over Tennessee on August 31.

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Major Hurricane Isaias
On August 29, the NHC began monitoring a disturbance over Cape Verde. The disturbance was designated as Tropical Storm Isaias on September 1 as it moved west-northwest. Isaias became a hurricane on September 4 over the open Atlantic and steadily intensified. Isaias was a high-end category 2 by the end of September 6, and on September 7, became a major hurricane over the central Atlantic. Isaias peaked as a mid category 4 near Bermuda and did $600M of damages there and killed 3. Isaias then slowly weakened due to wind shear and turned southwest. It made landfall in Florida on September 10 as a category 3 hurricane, killing 70 and doing $12.7B in damages. Isaias then turned north and on September 12, turned post tropical as a tropical storm, and dissipated the next day.

Major Hurricane Josephine
On September 3, the NHC began monitoring a disturbance in the open Atlantic. The next day, it was designated as Subtropical Storm Josephine. It remained relatively weak until it reached the Virgin Islands and became fully tropical on September 7. Later that day, it began rapidly intensifying.

It then stalled over the Turks and Caicos Islands and continued to slowly intensify, killing 14. After it became a category 4 on September 10, it then began moving towards Florida. It made landfall in Florida as a category 4, killing 78 and turned to the north, then it began to turn post tropical over Tennessee. Josephine dissipated on September 15.

Subtropical Storm Kyle
On September 15, the NHC began monitoring a disturbance near Bermuda. The next day, it was designated as Subtropical Storm Kyle. Kyle headed west towards Florida, and on September 19, made landfall on the eastern coast, killing 1. Kyle dissipated later that day.

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Major Hurricane Laura
On September 17, the NHC began monitoring a disturbance in the eastern Atlantic. The disturbance was designated as Tropical Storm Laura the next day, and it was moving to the west. Laura reached hurricane status in the open Atlantic and was steadily intensifying. It was a category 3 by the time it had reached the Leeward Islands. Then Laura’s intensification grew faster. The next day, Laura was a category 5 with winds of 165 mph and a pressure of 914 mb. Category 5 Laura peaked southwest of Naples, Florida at 170 mph and 910 mbars. Laura then started weakening. It also turned to the north at this time. Laura made landfall in Louisiana as a high end category 4, killing 65. Laura then turned extratropical as a category 1 the next day, and dissipated on September 28.

Subtropical Depression Fourteen
The NHC began monitoring a tropical wave in the Gulf of Mexico on September 22. Later that day, it was classified as Subtropical Depression Fourteen. The depression went in a westward direction and made landfall in Mexico. Early the next day, it dissipated.

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Major Hurricane Marco
On September 23, the NHC began monitoring a disturbance in the open central Atlantic. Two days later, the system was designated as Tropical Depression Fifteen. The depression was showing signs of intensification, and the next day, it became Tropical Storm Marco as it headed slowly west. Marco then became a hurricane as it passed north of the Leeward Islands on September 29, and it began intensifying quicker. The next day, Marco was a mid category 3 and its quick intensification had stopped. Marco made landfall in Florida on October 1 as a category 3, killing 42 and doing $1.45B in damages. Marco then turned to the north where it dissipated over West Virginia as a post-tropical cyclone on October 4.

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Hurricane Nana
On September 28, the NHC began monitoring a disturbance in the central Atlantic. The next day, the disturbance formed into Tropical Storm Nana. Nana then slowly tracked towards the southwest. On October 1, Nana became a hurricane and started to weaken due to nearby Hurricane Omar absorbing it. On October 3, Nana was completely absorbed into Omar.

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Hurricane Omar
On September 29, the NHC began monitoring a disturbance in the Caribbean. 2 days later, it formed into Tropical Storm Omar. On October 2, Omar became a hurricane due to warm waters in the area. The next day, Omar absorbed Tropical Storm Nana and entered the Gulf of Mexico. There, it peaked as a high-end category 1 and made landfall in Louisiana. Then, Omar turned to the northwest on October 5. Omar turned post tropical the next day and dissipated on October 7.

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Hurricane Paulette
On October 3, the NHC began monitoring a disturbance in the western Caribbean left behind by Omar. The next day, the disturbance formed into Tropical Storm Paulette. Paulette then tracked slowly to the north. It became a hurricane near Cuba on October 6, and reached Category 2 status just before making landfall in the Florida panhandle on October 9, killing 23 and doing $785M in damages. Paulette then turned towards the northeast, where it turned post tropical over North Carolina on October 11, and dissipating over the north Atlantic the next day.

Tropical Storm Rene
On October 6, the NHC began monitoring a disturbance in the far north Atlantic Ocean. The next day, it formed near Newfoundland, even farther north than Chantal of 2019. The tropical storm peaked on October 9 and dissipated the next day as it headed east.

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Major Hurricane Sally
On October 7, the NHC began monitoring a disturbance far east of Bermuda. Two days later it became Tropical Storm Sally. Sally headed northeast and quickly intensified into a major hurricane as it inched closer to Europe. Sally then left the warm waters of the Gulf Stream and weakened. It made landfall in Portugal as a category 1 on October 12, still tropical, killing 42 and doing $1.1B in damages. As it entered the Mediterranean Sea as a tropical depression, it regained tropical storm status and made a second landfall in Sardinia on October 14. The next day, it dissipated.

Tropical Storm Teddy
On October 13, the NHC began monitoring a disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico. The disturbance became Tropical Storm Teddy and tracked northeast. It reached its peak shortly before landfall near Tampa, in Florida on October 15. The next day, it dissipated east of Florida.

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Tropical Storm Vicky
A dying cold front along the East Coast caught the NHC's attention on October 15 as there was a bit of circulation in it. Later that day, the cold front formed Tropical Storm Vicky, marking the second time the letter V was used in a season. Vicky took a northeastern track, similar to Arthur back in May. Arthur made landfall in North Carolina on October 17, killing 1, and dissipated the next day.

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Tropical Storm Wilfred
On October 29, the NHC began monitoring a disturbance in the southern Gulf of Mexico. The next day, the disturbance was designated as Tropical Storm Wilfred, marking the second time the letter W was used in a season. Wilfred headed west-northwest as it reached its peak as a high-end tropical storm. Wilfred then made landfall in Mexico on Halloween, killing 1. Wilfred dissipated the next day.

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Hurricane Alpha
On November 15, the NHC began monitoring a disturbance in the Caribbean. Later that day, the disturbance formed into Tropical Storm Alpha and tracked to the west, marking the second time Greek letters were used in the season. On November 17, Alpha became a hurricane and made landfall in Yucatan. There, it fell to tropical storm status and continued to track west. On November 19, it made another landfall in Mexico and dissipated later that day.

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Tropical Storm Beta
On December 28, the NHC began monitoring an off-season disturbance in the open Atlantic. The next day, the disturbance became Tropical Storm Beta and it tracked slowly west. On New Year's Eve, it reached its peak when it absorbed Tropical Depression Twenty-six and slowly weakened. On January 3, it fell to tropical depression status and dissipated the next day.

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Tropical Depression Twenty-six
Tropical Depression Twenty-six originated from a low pressure system left behind by Beta, and was a short lived tropical depression that was absorbed by Beta on New Year's Eve.

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Naming
Every name of the alphabetical list was used up in 2020, so the backup plan was to use Greek letters. In 2021, the WMO retired the names Dolly, Fay, Isaias, Josephine, Laura, Marco, Paulette, and Sally. They will be replaced by Dora, Francesca, Ingram, Julia, Lucy, Miles, Priscilla, and Samantha.

This is the naming list for the 2026 season:

Arthur, Bertha, Cristobal, Dora, Edouard, Francesca, Hanna, Ingram, Julia, Kyle, Lucy, Miles. Nana, Omar, Priscilla, Rene, Samantha, Teddy, Vicky, Wilfred.