1995 WMHB Atlantic hurricane season

The 1995 Atlantic hurricane season was hyperactive, and is generally considered to be the start of the high-activity era in the north Atlantic. It featured a total of 21 named storms, 12 hurricanes, and 6 major hurricanes. Activity in the 1995 season was increased by a strong La Nina, which also influenced the inactive 1995 Pacific hurricane season. The season officially began on June 1st, with its first storm, Hurricane Allison, forming on June 14th. The season ended on November 30th although the last storm, Hurricane Wendy, dissipated 5 days earlier.

Hurricane Opal was the strongest storm of 1995. A Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, Opal caused extensive damage in the United States, particularly in Mississippi and Alabama. Severe damage and destruction was also caused by 3 of the season's other major hurricanes: Alicia, Marilyn, and Roxanne, as well as the weaker, but deadly Luis. Overall, damage caused by the season's storms was extensive and severe, with more than $25 billion (1995 USD) in damages being inflicted and more than 2,100 deaths were attributed to the storms that formed in the catastrophic 1995 season.

Hurricane Alicia
A tropical wave was present over the tropical Atlantic Ocean in early June. Due to the rapid movement of the wave and strong westerly wind shear, development was not anticipated. However, favorable conditions returned with the development of a La Nina, and the wave began to strengthen and organize under favorable conditions. On June 14th, the wave was classified as Tropical Depression One. Strengthening continued despite the depression moving over Cuba, and it intensified into Tropical Storm Alicia shortly after leaving the island. Unusually warm water conditions allowed Alicia to rapidly intensify over the Gulf of Mexico.

By June 17th, Alicia had strengthened into a hurricane and continued to strengthen. While initially expected to make landfall in Mexico, interaction with a trough turned Alicia northwards towards the Gulf Coast of the United States, although it also began to weaken. Alicia quickly resumed strengthening, however, and it became a major hurricane with a defined eye on June 19th. Briefly weakening to a Category 2 hurricane, Alicia continued northward and made landfall in Biloxi, MS at 22:00 EST. Over 22 inches of rain fell combined with Alicia's powerful storm surge to create major flooding by the Mississippi Delta. Alicia rapidly weakened over land and eventually dissipated on June 23rd after becoming post-tropical, but left behind $2.3 billion (1995 USD) in damages from flooding and caused 8 fatalities.