Looking Back: The Record Setting 2005 Hurricane Season

To say the 2005 Atlantic Hurricane Season was a record setter just doesn't do it any justice. Words that come to mind are horrific, grueling, and strenuous.

This hurricane season truly touched the life of every living American in some form or fashion. There were weeks of mentally draining emotional trauma for the millions in harms way, and weeks of feeling helpless for those fortunate to not live in the hurricane ravaged regions. The entire nation felt sympathy for those living among the devastation, in addition to a strain on the pocketbook with the out-of-control gas prices.

Early warnings came on April 1, 2005, when Dr. William Gray and his colleagues of Colorado State University released their official hurricane forecast for the 2005 Atlantic Season. They called for above-average activity with above-average probability for landfalling major hurricanes. (Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Scale).

Hurricane Season officially begins on June 1st each year in the Atlantic Basin. In 2005, it didn't take but one week for the action to begin, with the formation of Tropical Storm Arlene on June 8th. Just after Father's Day, forecasters began tracking a disturbance that would eventually become Tropical Storm Bret over the Bay of Campeche.

FACT: There have only been twelve previous years since 1851 with two or more tropical systems reported during the month of June.

The last time this happened was in 1986. Typically, the first named storm doesn't come until around July 11.

As temperatures heated up during the month of July across much of the nation, so did the activity in the tropics.

Forecasters spent the Fourth of July Holiday Weekend tracking Cindy and Dennis, with Emily joining in the action the following week.

The end of July kept forecasters busy tracking Franklin and Gert.

FACT: 27 out of 31 days in July had one or more active tropical systems in the Atlantic Basin. No July until 2005 had ever seen five named tropical systems.

The previous record number of named storms for a July was four.

Dennis and Emily both reached major hurricane status, tying a record that was set in 1916. Now with seven named storms on the record books, 2005 was off to the busiest start since record keeping began in 1851.

The average date for the first hurricane is August 14th, and the first major hurricane usually doesn't form until around September 4th.

After a brief lull, the tropics heated up with Harvey, Irene, and Tropical Depression #10, which briefly spun-up about 1,000 miles east of the Lesser Antilles. The circulation of Tropical Depression #10 was torn apart by strong wind shear over the Atlantic Ocean, and the remains later helped spawn what would become Hurricane Katrina.

By the end of the month, we were up to the L's with Tropical Storm Lee.

Five different hurricanes kept the waters of the Atlantic Basin churned during the month of September.

FACT: By the end of September, the number of named storms for the season stood at 17, tied only with the year 1933.

The records continued to fall with the month of October, which brought two more tropical storms, four hurricanes, and a sub-tropical depression.

FACT: The six named storms in October ties a record last set in 1950.

The month began with a disturbance that would become Hurricane Stan over the Bay of Campeche on the 4th, followed by Tropical Storm Tammy forming east of Florida on the 5th.

The middle of the month brought about a very unique hurricane and an extremely powerful hurricane.

Hurricane Vince was unique in that it was the first tropical system ever recorded to make a landfall along the coast of Spain. Hurricane Wilma all but devastated the Mexico Resorts of Cozumel and Cancun after barreling toward Florida.

And then there were no more names...or were there?

On October 22nd, a new system developed south of Puerto Rico and quickly gained tropical storm status. With all names for the season now exhausted, we had to break-out the Greek Alphabet, beginning with Alpha. The month ended with Hurricane Beta lashing portions of Central America.

November is the last month of the Atlantic Hurricane Season, and while extremely quiet compared to the previous five months, still spun up a few areas of disturbed weather.

One such area became Tropical Storm Gamma the week before Thanksgiving, making those with travel plans to the Caribbean or Florida extremely uneasy. Tropical Storm Delta formed in the open Atlantic on November 22, posing no threat to the United States...and eventually making a rare landfall on the African continent.

And just when you thought the season was finally over...Tropical Storm Epsilon formed on Tuesday, November 29th in the central Atlantic. Epsilon is forecast to move out to sea as we head into December, but may bring heavy surf to Bermuda.

With such a historical weather event now behind us, we thought it would be of public interest to compile an in-depth recap of the 2005 Atlantic Hurricane Season. In the sidebar at the top of this page, you can get an individual recap for each named storm. You will also find additional hurricane resources.

As we move into 2006 and the official forecasts are issued, we'll update this section of theDENVERchannel. Please check back with us for further updates, and feel free to email comments and suggestions to us. This story will live under the Weather News section of our weather page.