NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information
North Atlantic
September marks a continuation of a record-long major hurricane (Category 3 or stronger) landfall drought in the United States. The last major hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. was Wilma on October 24, 2005. This major hurricane drought surpassed the length of the eight-years from 1861-1868 when no major hurricane struck the United States' coast. On average, a major hurricane makes landfall in the U.S. about once every three years. The reliable record of landfalling hurricanes in the U.S. dates back to 1851.
| Storm Type | September 2015 | September 1981-2010 Average | Record Most for September Period of Record: 1851-2015 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical Storm (Winds > 39 mph) |
5 | 4.0 | 8 (2002, 2007, 2010) |
| Hurricane (Winds > 74 mph) |
2 | 2.6 |
5 (1955, 1969, 1981, 1998, 2000, 2005) |
| Major Hurricane (Winds > 111 mph) |
1 | 1.3 | 4 (1953, 1961) |
| Name | Dates of winds >39 mph |
Maximum Sustained Winds |
Minimum Central Pressure |
Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Fred (Cat. 1) | August 30th–September 6th | 85 mph | 986 mb | Landfall on the Cape Verde Islands – September 31st |
| Tropical Storm Grace | September 5th–9 th | 50 mph | 1002 mb | N/A |
| Tropical Storm Henri | September 9th–11th | 40 mph | 1008 mb | N/A — remnant low brought heavy precipitation to western Europe |
| Tropical Storm Ida | September 18th–27th | 50 mph | 1003 mb | N/A |
| Hurricane Joaquin (Cat. 4) | September 28th– Octoberth | 155 mph | 931 mb | Landfall in the Bahamas in early October with impacts in the southeastern U.S. and Bermuda |
A complete summary of the impacts from Hurricane Joaquin will be available in the October 2015 report, released in November.
East Pacific
During the East Pacific hurricane season through September 30th, there have been eleven tropical storms and hurricanes in the Central North Pacific portion of the basin (140°W-180°W), the most on record. This year's eleven tropical systems included five tropical storms and two hurricanes that actually formed between 140°W and the International Date Line, as well as four hurricanes that originated in the eastern North Pacific and moved into the Central North Pacific. There were also eleven tropical cyclones, when including tropical depressions, in the basin in 1992 and 1994. The 1992 hurricane season was noteworthy because that year Hurricane Iniki caused substantial damage in Hawaii.
| Storm Type | September 2015 | September 1981-2010 Average | Record Most for September Period of Record: 1949-2015 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical Storm (Winds >39 mph) |
5 | 3.6 | 6 (1966, 1992, 1994, 1997, 2001, 2005) |
| Hurricane (Winds >74 mph) |
2 | 2.2 |
6 (1992) |
| Major Hurricane (Winds >111 mph) |
1 | 1.1 | 4 (1972, 1993) |
| Name | Dates of winds >39 mph |
Maximum Sustained Winds |
Minimum Central Pressure |
Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical Storm Kevin | August 31st– September 5th | 60 mph | 998 mb | N/A — remnants brought precipitation to western Mexico and the southwestern U.S. |
| Hurricane Linda (Cat. 3) | September 6th–10th | 125 mph | 951 mb | N/A — remnants brought precipitation to western Mexico and the southwestern U.S. |
| Tropical Storm Malia | September 19th–22nd | 40 mph | 1001 mb | N/A — remnants brought precipitation to Hawaii |
| Tropical Storm Niala | September 25th–29th | 65 mph | 992 mb | N/A — remnants brought precipitation to Hawaii |
| Hurricane Marty (Cat.1) | September 26th–October 1st | 80 mph | 986 mb | N/A — remnants brought precipitation to western Mexico |