2016 Atlantic hurricane season

2016 Atlantic hurricane season
Season summary map
Seasonal boundaries
First system formed	January 12, 2016
Last system dissipated	November 25, 2016[a]
Strongest storm
Name	Matthew
• Maximum winds	165 mph (270 km/h) (1-minute sustained)
• Lowest pressure	934 mbar (hPa; 27.58 inHg)
Seasonal statistics
Total depressions	16, 1 unofficial
Total storms	15, 1 unofficial
Hurricanes	7
Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+)	4
Total fatalities	736 total
Total damage	≥ $17.485 billion (2016 USD)
Related articles
Timeline of the 2016 Atlantic hurricane season 2016 Pacific hurricane season 2016 Pacific typhoon season 2016 North Indian Ocean cyclone season
Atlantic hurricane seasons 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018

The 2016 Atlantic hurricane season was the first above-average hurricane season since 2012, producing 15 named storms, 7 hurricanes and 4 major hurricanes. The season officially started on June 1 and ended on November 30, though the first storm, Hurricane Alex which formed in the Northeastern Atlantic, developed on January 12, being the first hurricane to develop in January since 1938. The final storm, Otto, crossed into the Eastern Pacific on November 25, a few days before the official end. Following Alex, Tropical Storm Bonnie brought flooding to South Carolina and portions of North Carolina. Tropical Storm Colin in early June brought minor flooding and wind damage to parts of the Southeastern United States, especially Florida. Hurricane Earl left 94 fatalities in the Dominican Republic and Mexico, 81 of which occurred in the latter. In early September, Hurricane Hermine, the first hurricane to make landfall in Florida since Hurricane Wilma in 2005, brought extensive coastal flooding damage especially to the Forgotten and Nature coasts of Florida. Hermine was responsible for five fatalities and about $550 million (2016 USD) in damage.^[b]

The strongest, costliest, and deadliest storm of the season was Hurricane Matthew, the southernmost Category 5 Atlantic hurricane on record and the first to reach that intensity since Felix in 2007, ending the longest streak of seasons without a hurricane of such intensity in the Satellite Era. With at least 603 deaths attributed to it, Matthew was the deadliest Atlantic hurricane since Stan of 2005. Furthermore, damage from Matthew is estimated to be at least $16.5 billion, making it the ninth costliest Atlantic hurricane on record at the time. Hurricane Nicole became the first major hurricane to directly impact Bermuda since Hurricane Fabian in 2003, leaving widespread but relatively moderate damage on the island. The final tropical cyclone of the season – Hurricane Otto – brought severe flooding to Central America in November, particularly in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Otto left 23 deaths and about $190 million in damage. On November 25, the storm emerged into the Eastern Pacific basin, the first such occurrence since Hurricane Cesar–Douglas in 1996. Most of the season's tropical cyclones impacted land, and nine of those storms caused loss of life. Collectively, the storms left at least 736 fatalities and $17.49 billion in damage, making the season the costliest since 2012.

Most forecasting groups predicted above average activity in anticipation of a dissipating El Niño event and the development of a La Niña, as well as warmer than normal sea surface temperatures. Overall, the forecasts were fairly accurate.
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