The 2005 Hurricane Season

NOAA Visualizations

The Year of 2005 was quite the year for hurricanes. It is recorded as the most active Atlantic hurricane season in history. 28 tropical and subtropical storms formed. 15 of those storms reached hurricane strength. This season's impact estimated almost 4,000 deaths and recorded just under $160 billion. While these numbers are astounding, Hurricane Dennis, Emily, Katrina, Rita, and Wilma are to blame for most of the destruction.

National Hurricane Center

These are the tracks of the storms that occurred in 2005. If you notice the dates of these storms, the season started as early as June and did not end until January of 2006!

NOAA

Many of you remember the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, but it was actually Hurricane Wilma that was recorded as the strongest not only for the 2005 hurricane season, but in all of history as well. Hurricane Wilma recorded a low pressure of 882 millibars, and the highest winds topped out at 185 miles per hour. The picture above shows Wilma's track originating in the Caribbean Sea and dying in the North Atlantic Ocean.

National Hurricane Center 

(Hurricane Rita's Storm Track)

NOAA

(Hurricane Rita)

Now, you are probably wondering why am I telling you about the 2005 hurricane season, but it was six years ago today that Hurricane Rita reached category-5 strength. It was the first time in history that two hurricanes in one season reached category-5 intensity in the Gulf of Mexico. Rita also had the fourth lowest central pressure recorded in the Atlantic basin. Although she weakened before it made landfall near the Texas/Louisiana border, Rita produced devastating storm surge that reached as far as the Florida Keys.

NOAA

(Hurricane Rita)

Quick fun fact: 2005 was the last year to use the same set of names as our current hurricane season. Are we in for another strong season?



-Meteorologist Heather Brinkmann