1998 Atlantic hurricane season (Nova)

The 1998 Atlantic hurricane season was the first below-average season since the 1994 Atlantic hurricane season which happened four years prior. The season featured thirteen tropical depressions, nine tropical storms, four hurricanes, and one major hurricane. The strongest storm of the season was Hurricane Earl, which had peak winds of 120 mph (195 km/h), and a pressure of 959 millibars (28.32 inHg).

The season featured some costly and deadly storms, especially Hurricane Georges that made landfall on Belize, and was the worst hurricane to struck the country since Hurricane Allison of the 1989 Atlantic hurricane season. Another significant storm was Hurricane Ivan, which ravaged the island of Hispaniola and Puerto Rico, as well as Georgia. The name Georges and Ivan were retired later on.

Tropical Depression One, the first system of the season, formed on June 27, 1998, almost 27 days after the season officially started. While the last storm of the season, Hurricane Ivan, dissipated on November 2, 1998, 28 days before the season officially ended. The first storm of the season formed on July 31, which was Tropical Storm Allen. Allen formed on July 29, and reached its tropical storm intensity on July 31. Shortly thereafter, Allen made landfall on Veracruz, Mexico.

The season was expected to be near normal and above-average by many, but a Weak El Niño formed on the spring of 1998, days after the retirements for 1997 were held. After the end of the season, a non-tropical system formed near New England, ravaging the coast of New York and New Jersey.