2017 Atlantic hurricane season (Gift Season - HHW Users)

The 2017 Atlantic hurricane season was a hyperactive, record-breaking time in which tropical cyclones form in the North Atlantic Ocean. This year tied for the most active on record alongside 2005, and had the most hurricanes and major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-simpson scale) ever recorded. 2017 was also the first tropical cyclone season anywhere in which the first hypercane appeared - having been the final storm of the season, and ultimately the strongest and most destructive tropical cyclone in history; the system being named Thomas. Dates that conventionally delimit tropical cyclone formation in the North Atlantic Ocean are from June 1st to November 30th, however, the season effectively ran year-round due to persistent storm activity. An unusually record high number of pre-season storms formed - at least sixteen tropical cyclones were assigned a name, and a further ten attained hurricane status during this time. The reason for such activity cannot be adequately and fully explained. According to the United States National Hurricane Center of Miami, Florida, a strong La Niña formed in the Eastern Pacific in the latter half of 2016, and persisted well into 2017. Typically, a La Niña lessens wind shear over the North Atlantic, thus improving conditions for tropical cyclone development. In addition, sea-surface temperatures were said to have reached an all-time high, with waters of at least 52 degrees Celsius in the Caribbean Sea. In addition, the Gulf of Mexico, Main Development Region, Gulf Stream, and subtropical Atlantic were all reported to have well above-average SSTs. Finally, in the latter half of 2016, the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) was found to be positive, thus contributing to the record-warm waters all across the Atlantic. These factors are likely heavy contributors to the record activity across the Atlantic. 2017 is also the only Atlantic hurricane season on record alongside 2005 and 2010 to surpass the Western Pacific in terms of activity - typically the West Pacific averages 26 named storms per year while the Atlantic averages only 12. The year's typhoon season saw above-average activity, with the Atlantic surpassing the West Pacific by only two named storms.

January
Janaury was exceptionally active, featuring a record number of storms forming in the month: four. The first was Hurricane Anthony, which is the earliest known tropical cyclone formation on record in the Atlantic. In addition, Anthony was the earliest major hurricane on record, and earliest known occurrence of a Category 2, Category 3, Category 4, and Category 5 hurricane. The final records Anthony set were for intensity and longevity. Upon attaining a minimum pressure of 880 millibars at peak, Anthony was the strongest Atlantic hurricane on record, surpassing the record set in 2005 by Hurricane Wilma by only 2 millibars. However, this record would be eclipsed by Hurricane Bob only three days later. Anthony was also the third-longest lived Atlantic tropical cyclone on record, persisting for 22.5 days, in turn making it the longest-lived pre-season tropical cyclone on record. Throughout the path it carved across the Atlantic, Anthony devastated multiple countries as a major hurricane, sometimes just days after Hurricane Bob struck a certain area. Cutting across the Caribbean as a Category 5 hurricane, most severely affected was the island of Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, Cozumel, Quintana Roo, and the United States Gulf Coast, especially Louisiana and Texas. Only hours after Anthony's formation, leftover energy spawned a new tropical disturbance west of Cape Verde. The same day, it rapidly intensified to Tropical Storm Akio. Akio did not significantly intensify thereafter due to wind shear of 30 knots left in the wake of Hurricane Anthony. Initially predicted to follow a general westerly course along its predecessor, Akio gradually turned to the northwest along the periphery of the subtropical ridge. Attaining a peak intensity of 65 miles per hour, Akio made landfall in Bermuda at this intensity on January 8. Cooler waters induced a post-tropical transtion the following day.

Only a day after the formation of Akio and Anthony, a rare, late-season tropical wave east of the Leeward Islands began to slowly organize. This system later became known as Hurricane Bob, an extremely powerful Category 5 hurricane. At peak, Bob attained a minimum pressure of 879 millibars with winds of 195 miles per hour, shattering the record set by Hurricane Anthony only three days prior. In addition, Bob's peak wind speeds were the fastest ever recorded in the Atlantic, though both records would be eclipsed by Hurricane Ryne in September. Bob rapidly intensified to a hurricane only a day after forming, plowing through the Leeward Islands at this intensity. Favorable conditions and record-warm SSTs in the Caribbean Sea provided conditions very favorable for rapid intensification. Continuing on a track westward, Bob attained its record peak intensity just off the coast of Belize. On January 10, Bob made landfall in Belize with winds of approximately 180 miles per hour. Within hours of landfall, Bob's core of convection collapsed completely, resulting in explosive weakening to a tropical storm at a rate faster than it intensified. The heavily weakened cyclone emerged over the Bay of Campeche the subsequent day and a experienced a brief burst of re-intensification, attaining a secondary peak intensity of 60 miles per hour. The following day, the system turned subtropical, making landfall in Veracruz with winds of 45 miles per hour. Bob dissipated early the next day over the mountains of Central Mexico. On January 11, a non-tropical area of low-pressure gradually began to organize and produce deep convection. The same day, it gradually attained subtropical characteristics and became a subtropical depression east of the Turks & Caicos. This system, better known as Tropical Storm Billy, later became January's fourth and final named storm. Billy peaked in intensity over the Bahamas, where strong winds and heavy rainfall was reported. Shelving gradually weakened the storm due to land interaction, and it made landfall in southeastern Florida as a disheveled, weak tropical storm with maximum winds of 40 miles per hour. Land interaction further degraded Billy as it turned extratropical and emerged over the Gulf of Mexico. Warm waters fueled re-intensification as Billy attained peak wind speeds of 60 miles per hour, despite remaining a post-tropical cyclone. Turning northwest, Billy then made landfall as a strong extratropical cyclone over New Orleans, Louisiana, bringing torrential rainfall, tornadoes, and severe thunderstorms to the state. This area would be heavily affected by Hurricane Anthony only days later.

February
Genesis began once again following the emergence of an unusually rare February tropical wave off the coast of Africa.

Storm Names
The following names were used in the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season. The original list was discarded and replaced with the names of all users at Hypothetical Hurricanes Wiki. Names are based on a user's real or given name.