1988 Atlantic hurricane season

Infobox hurricane season
Basin=Atl
Year=1988
Track=1988 Atlantic hurricane season summary.jpg
First storm formed=May 30, 1988
Last storm dissipated=November 24, 1988
Strongest storm name=Gilbert
Strongest storm pressure=888
Strongest storm winds=160
Average wind speed=
Total depressions=19
Total storms=12
Total hurricanes=5
Total intense=3
Fatalities=550
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Inflated=1
five seasons=1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990The 1988 Atlantic hurricane season was a moderately active season that proved costly and deadly, with 15 tropical cyclones directly affecting land. The season officially began on June 1, 1988, and lasted until November 30, 1988, although activity began on May 30 when a tropical depression developed in the Caribbean Sea. The June through November dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. The first cyclone to attain tropical storm status was Alberto on August 8, nearly a month later than usual.cite web|author=National Hurricane Center|year=2006|title=Tropical Cyclone Climatology|accessdate=2007-11-24|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pastprofile.shtml] The final storm of the year, Tropical Storm Keith, became extratropical on November 24.

The season produced 19 tropical depressions of which 12 attained tropical storm status. One tropical storm was operationally classified as a tropical depression but was reclassified in post-analysis. Five tropical cyclones reached hurricane status of which three became major hurricanes reaching Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale.

The most notable cyclone of the season was Hurricane Gilbert, which at the time was the strongest Atlantic hurricane on record. The hurricane tracked through the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico and caused devastation in Mexico and many island nations, particularly Jamaica. Its passage caused US$5 billion in damage (equivalent to about US$9 billion in 2007) and more than 300 deaths, mostly in Mexico. Hurricane Joan, striking Nicaragua as a Category 4 hurricane, caused about US$2 billion in damage (US$3.5 billion in 2007) and more than 200 deaths. The hurricane crossed into the eastern Pacific Ocean and was reclassified as Tropical Storm Miriam.

eason summary

Preseason forecasts

Retirement

The World Meteorological Organization retired two names in the spring of 1989: Gilbert and Joan. They were replaced in the 1994 season by Gordon and Joyce. Though Joyce was not used until the 2000 season.

See also

*List of Atlantic hurricanes
*List of wettest tropical cyclones in Cuba since 1963
*List of Atlantic hurricane seasons
*1988 Pacific hurricane season
*1988 Pacific typhoon season
*1987–88 Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone season
*1985–90 Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone seasons
*1985–89 North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons

References

External links

* [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1988.pdf Monthly Weather Review]
* [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1988-prelim/ Detailed information on all storms from 1988]
* [http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/1988.html Information concerning U.S. rainfall from tropical cyclones in 1988]
* [http://ams.allenpress.com/archive/1520-0493/117/10/pdf/i1520-0493-117-10-2260.pdf MWR article on Atlantic Tropical Systems of 1988 (including unnamed ones)]
* [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/1988.htm HURDAT archive on 1988 season]