Timeline of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season

Timeline of the
2008 Atlantic hurricane season
Timeline of the; 2008 Atlantic hurricane season
	Season summary map
Season boundaries
First system formed	May 31, 2008
Last system dissipated	November 10, 2008
Strongest system
By maximum sustained winds	Gustav
Maximum winds	155 mph (250 km/h); (1-minute sustained)
Lowest pressure	941 mbar (hPa; 27.79 inHg)
By central pressure	Ike
Maximum winds	145 mph (230 km/h); (1-minute sustained)
Lowest pressure	935 mbar (hPa; 27.61 inHg)
Longest lasting system
Name	Bertha
Duration	17 days
Storm articles
	Tropical Storm Arthur (2008); Hurricane Bertha (2008); Tropical Storm Cristobal (2008); Hurricane Dolly (2008); Tropical Storm Edouard (2008); Tropical Storm Fay (2008); Hurricane Gustav; Hurricane Hanna (2008); Hurricane Ike; Hurricane Kyle (2008); Tropical Storm Laura (2008); Tropical Storm Marco (2008); Hurricane Omar; Hurricane Paloma; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
	Other years ; 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

The 2008 Atlantic hurricane season was an event in the annual tropical cyclone season in the north Atlantic Ocean. An above-average Atlantic hurricane season season,^{[nb 1]} it was the first on record to have a major hurricane in every month from July to November.^[2]

The season officially began on June 1, 2008, and ended on November 30, 2008, dates that conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones develop in the Atlantic basin.^[3] The season's first storm, Tropical Storm Arthur, formed on May 30, and the last, Hurricane Paloma, dissipated on November 10. Pre-season forecasts noted a high possibility for an above average number of tropical cyclones, primarily due to lingering La Niña effects and abnormally warm sea surface temperatures across the Atlantic basin.^[2] Altogether, 16 of the 17 tropical cyclones observed during the season developed into tropical storms. Of these, eight became hurricanes with five intensifying further into major hurricanes.^{[nb 2]} With the exception of Tropical Storm Nana, every tropical cyclone during the season affected land to an extent.

This timeline includes information that was not operationally released, meaning that data from post-storm reviews by the National Hurricane Center, such as a storm that was not operationally warned upon, has been included. This timeline documents tropical cyclone formations, strengthening, weakening, landfalls, extratropical transitions, and dissipations during the season.

By convention, meteorologists use one time zone when issuing forecasts and making observations: Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), and also use the 24-hour clock (where 00:00 = midnight UTC).^[5] The National Hurricane Center uses both UTC and the time zone where the center of the tropical cyclone is currently located. The time zones utilized (east to west) prior to 2020 were: Atlantic, Eastern, and Central.^[6] In this timeline, all information is listed by UTC first with the respective regional time included in parentheses. Additionally, figures for maximum sustained winds and position estimates are rounded to the nearest 5 units (knots, miles, or kilometers), following the convention used in the National Hurricane Center's products. Direct wind observations are rounded to the nearest whole number. Atmospheric pressures are listed to the nearest millibar and nearest hundredth of an inch of mercury.

^ Climate Prediction Center Internet Team (August 4, 2011). "Background Information: The North Atlantic Hurricane Season". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Climate Prediction Center. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
^ ^a ^b "Atlantic Hurricane Season Sets Records". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 6, 2011.
^ Dorst, Neal (June 1, 2018). "Hurricane Season Information". Frequently Asked Questions About Hurricanes. Miami, Florida: NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
^ "Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
^ "Understanding the Date/Time Stamps". Miami, Florida: NOAA National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
^ "Update on National Hurricane Center Products and Services for 2020" (PDF). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. April 20, 2020. Retrieved May 17, 2020.

Cite error: There are <ref group=nb> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=nb}} template (see the help page).

[1] Climate Prediction Center Internet Team (August 4, 2011). "Background Information: The North Atlantic Hurricane Season". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Climate Prediction Center. Retrieved January 5, 2013.

[2008record-3] "Atlantic Hurricane Season Sets Records". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 6, 2011.

[SeasonDates-4] Dorst, Neal (June 1, 2018). "Hurricane Season Information". Frequently Asked Questions About Hurricanes. Miami, Florida: NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. Retrieved June 29, 2020.

[5] "Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved June 29, 2020.

[7] "Understanding the Date/Time Stamps". Miami, Florida: NOAA National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 10, 2020.

[8] "Update on National Hurricane Center Products and Services for 2020" (PDF). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. April 20, 2020. Retrieved May 17, 2020.

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