Impact of the 2016 Atlantic hurricane season

The ubiquitous and ruinous impact of the 2016 Atlantic hurricane season resulted in it being ranked as the costliest and deadliest Atlantic hurricane season, surpassing 2005. Part of the reason why 2016 was so cataclysmic had to do with the fact three storms made landfall at Category 5 intensity (Hermine, Matthew, Otto) - the highest categorization for tropical cyclones according to the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale. Throughout the season, nine hurricanes and eight additional tropical systems made landfall, resulting in destruction that surpassed 2005. Most of the season's deaths and damage can be attributed to Hurricane Hermine, which caused over $200 billion (2016 USD) in damage and at least 15,000 fatalities after making landfall in Florida as a Category 5 hurricane. Individualized impacts by region are listed below.

Azores
The Azores, situated in the far northeastern Atlantic near Portugal, are fairly safe from the destructive impacts of hurricanes. However, only four years after Hurricane Gordon struck the region in 2012, Hurricane Alex slammed the archipelago in mid-January as a minimal hurricane. Landfalling directly on Terceira Island, many residents were caught off guard by the 85 mph winds as they had never experienced a hurricane before. As Alex tore through the island chain, the winds ripped the roofs off houses and littered streets with debris. Trees were defoliated and light posts were blown into buildings. Landslides were also reported in some regions due to heavy rain. At least 3 fatalities exacted from Alex, and damage around $1.4 million was reported - the costliest tropical cyclone in Azores history.

In early September, Hurricane Gaston was threatening to strike the western islands of Flores and Corvo as a minimal hurricane - the first storm to do so in over 40 years. However, Gaston quickly weakened as it approached and passed east of the aforementioned islands, producing sustained winds of marginal tropical storm-force. Damage was isolated; sporadic power outages across Flores resulted from gusty winds, while ponding was observed from the steady rainfall. Shipping in the island chain was also disrupted due to the hurricane. However, any and all effects from Gaston were minimal. Later that month, Tropical Storm Lisa struck the São Miguel Island shortly after regeneration on September 28. Winds of tropical storm-force were experienced there, knocking down trees and inhibiting outdoor activities. However, like Gaston, Lisa's impacts in the Azores were minimal due to it turning extratropical as it passed through the region.