Overview
- The National Hurricane Center tallied 13 named storms, five hurricanes and four major hurricanes, including three that reached Category 5 strength, tying for the second-most on record after 2005.
- Overall activity measured by Accumulated Cyclone Energy was about 133, slightly above average, reflecting fewer storms but greater intensity and more major-hurricane days than normal.
- Hurricane Melissa made Category 5 landfall in southwestern Jamaica on Oct. 28 with sustained winds of 185 mph, and a Hurricane Hunter dropsonde measured a record 252 mph gust in the eyewall.
- Local officials in Jamaica reported at least 45 deaths from Melissa, with some outlets citing higher aggregated counts across the Caribbean.
- It was the first season since 2015 without a U.S. hurricane landfall, as an unusually persistent East Coast trough and a Fujiwhara interaction between Imelda and Humberto helped deflect tracks; coastal erosion and dangerous surf still affected parts of the East Coast.