| Disclaimer: This season is not based of models of real 1996 Storms. All of these storms are based of my own thought but there is relation in real storms and Force Thirteen's WMHB seasons, but not exact tracks, categories, wind speeds, and pressure. |
|---|
The 1996 Atlantic Hurricane Season is a very active season, with 20 storms forming. The season officially began on June 1, 1996, and lasted until November 30, 1996.
It has a high number of major hurricanes, but not enough to beat 1995. It is slightly less active than the last year, but still made the way up to Beta. The season's first tropical cyclone, Hurricane Arthur, developed on June 17, while the final cyclone, Hurricane Beta dissipated on November 28. The most intense hurricane, Klaus, was a powerful Cape Verde-type hurricane that affected portions of the Mid-Atlantic states and New England.
The five notable hurricanes of the season are Cesar, Edouard, Josephine, Lili and Alpha. Hurricane Cesar ravaged the East Coast causing $5.6 billion (1996 USD) damage and 36 deaths. Edouard is also strong like Cesar, and hits Nicaragua as a Category 4 and crossed to EPAC and renamed Genevieve. Edouard caused causing $4 billion (1996 USD) damage and 193 deaths, which is kind a deadly hurricane. Josephine is also a destructive storm, but not as previous two. It hits Texas-Mexico boarder causing $300 million (1996 USD) damage and 12 deaths. Lili is an unusual hurricane, with not striking as major hurricane but still destructive at it hits Maryland as a category 1, causing heavy damage. Even though not directly affecting Florida, it still trigger mass evacuations. Lili instead become destructive in Bahamas and North Carolina. Overall, it causes $3 billion (1996 USD) damage and 48 deaths. And Alpha, which hits Florida as a category 3, causes $8 billion (1996 USD) damage and 120 deaths.
Seasonal Forecasts[]
| Source | Date | Named storms |
Hurricanes | Major hurricanes |
| CSU | December 1995 | 15 | 8 | 4 |
| WRC | February | 18 | 10 | 4 |
| CSU | April | 20 | 13 | 5 |
| CSU | June | 22 | 15 | 6 |
| Actual activity | 25 | 16 | 9 | |
Forecasts of hurricane activity are issued before each hurricane season by noted hurricane experts such as Dr. William M. Gray and his associates at Colorado State University (CSU) and the Weather Research Center (WRC). In December 1995, CSU predicted that only 15 named storms would form and 8 of those would become hurricanes and 4 would become major hurricane. However, in April 1996, CSU revised their forecast, stating that 20 named storms would develop, with 13 of those intensifying into a hurricane, and 5 reaching major hurricane intensity. In June, CSU predicted 22 named storms, 15 hurricanes, and 6 major hurricanes.[2] The forecast by the WRC in February 1996 was 18 named storms, 10 hurricanes, and 4 major hurricanes. The revise of prediction of the activity is affected by increasing favorable conditions like in the last year.
Season Summary[]
Seasonal Activity[]
The 1996 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, but the first named storm did not form until 17 days later. It was an hyper-active season in which 25 tropical cyclones formed, with all cyclones attaining tropical storm status. Sixteen attained hurricane status and nine of those reached major hurricane status. Although there was neither an El Niño or a La Niña, the above average activity in the season was likely due to abnormally warm sea surface temperatures and favorable conditions.
Tropical cyclogenesis in the 1996 Atlantic hurricane season began with the development of Hurricane Arthur on June 17. In the month of July, five tropical cyclones formed, three of which later attained hurricane status. August was the most active month of the season, with a total of eight storms developing in that period of time. The month of August also featured the strongest and destructive tropical cyclones of the season, Hurricane Klaus and Hurricane Lili, respectively. Although September is the climatological peak of hurricane season, only three tropical cyclones developed in that month. Despite this, two reached major hurricane status. Three tropical cyclones formed in October, with all attaining hurricane status and one being costliest of the season. Finally, one tropical cyclone developed in November, Hurricane Beta. The storm lasted 13 days before dissipating on November 28.
Storm Summary[]
June and July[]
A tropical wave was spotted near Cuba and Hurricane Arthur is formed on June 17. It strengthened into category 1 hurricane, but never makes landfall. It caused heavy winds and rainfall along the North Carolina coastline causing 4 fatalities.
Cesar making landfall
Eight days after Arthur forms, Tropical Storm Betty formed in Gulf of Mexico, and makes landfall on June 25. Betty caused minimal damage.
On July 3, a tropical wave was spotted and Hurricane Cesar forms. It continued to strengthen, tracking towards North Carolina. Cesar was upgraded into category 4 and evacuations and preparations were observed. it makes landfall on North Carolina as a Category 3, causing $5.3 billion (1996 USD) damage and 37 fatalities. Cesar also caused impact in other states, like New Jersey, New York, Maryland and Delaware.
Tropical Storm Diana forms two days after Cesar formed, and moved northeast. It become extratropical four days after forming. The storm does not cause any impact.
Edouard while making landfall
Hurricane Edouard is formed on July 19 from a tropical wave. The storm continued to intensify, and also avoided South American landfall. Edouard further intensified into Category 4, and makes landfall on Nicaragua on that intensity. It weakened but crossed into EPAC, renamed Genevieve and intensified again. It intensified into category 4 before weakening. Edouard causes $4 billion (1996 USD) damage and 193 deaths, with most of it is in Nicaragua.
Tropical Storm Fran forms on July 22 and has peak winds of 75 kph. It makes landfall as a tropical storm causing $20 million (1996 USD) damage and 3 deaths.
Hurricane Gustav forms on July 24 and strengthened into tropical storm. It become a category 1 hurricane and moved northwest away from landmass. It weakened again and become extratropical. Gustav only caused minimal damage.
August[]
Josephine before making landfall
Hurricane Hanna forms on August 2 and never forecast to make landfall. It moves northeast and becomes a hurricane. It eventually become extratropical afterwards. Like Gustav, Hanna causes minimal damage.
Tropical Storm Ike forms on August 11 and makes landfall two days later. Ike caused $30 million (1996 USD) damage and 8 deaths
Klaus at peak intensity
A tropical wave as spotted and Hurricane Josephine formed. It makes landfall on Yucatan Peninsula as a category 1. It strengthened again into category 3 and makes landfall in Texas-Mexico boarder. The storm caused $300 million (1996 USD) damage and 12 deaths.
Hurricane Klaus formed on August 19. At that time, the waters were warm and there is very low wind shear allowing it to intensify into category 5. It reached the max winds of 280 kph and pressure of 915 mabr, making it the strongest 1996 Atlantic Hurricane. Klaus weakened after that and becomes extratropical. Despite not making any landfalls, Klaus caused $230 million (1996 USD) damage and 18 deaths with most of it in Bermuda and Caribbean. Klaus also caused damage in Nova Scotia.
.jpg){kind=link}
Lili as a category 3
A tropical wave was spotted and Hurricane Lili formed. Lili moves west while strengthening. Lili strengthened into category 4 and aiming for Florida. It was predicted that Florida will get another category 5 landfall from Lili. However, Florida was slightly saved when Lili heads north and also weakens. It heads for North Carolina while weakening, but it also makes landfall on Maryland before becoming extratropical. Lili caused $3 billion (1996 USD) damage and 48 deaths in it's path.
In August 26, a tropical wave was spotted and Hurricane Marco forms. It moves westward and strengthened. It become category 4 and reached it's peak intensity. It moves north again and become extratropical. It caused no damage.
.JPG){kind=link}
Hurricane Omar at category 1
A tropical wave was spotted and Tropical Storm Nana forms. It makes landfall on Florida and causes minimal damage.
Hurricane Omar forms on August 28. It strengthened into category 1 and moves into Cuba. It strengthened again in the Gulf before weakening. It caused $120 million damage (1996 USD) and 18 deaths.
Tropical Storm Paloma formed again and makes landfall on Mexico. It caused $20 million (1996 USD) and 3 deaths
September[]
A tropical wave was spotted and Hurricane Ralph formed on September 4. It moves west while strengthening, and moves northwest and becomes category 4. It moves northeast fast and weakened. It becomes extratropical on September 15. It caused $13 million damage (1996 USD) and 18 deaths, mostly in Bermuda.
Hurricane Sheila while strengthening
Another tropical wave was spotted and Hurricane Sheila formed. Due to low wind shear and favorable conditions, It strengthened into a hurricane. It become a category 4 hurricane in open waters, and weakened again. It caused no damage and deaths in it's path.
Tropical Storm Theodore forms on September 27. It strengthened into tropical storm and reached max winds of 100 kph and 990 mbar. Theodore caused $15 million (1996 USD) and 8 deaths on it's path, mostly in Caribbean where huge waves are observed.
October and November[]
Vicky at peak intensity
Hurricane Vicky formed on October 4 and moves northwest. It become category 2 and makes landfall on Florida. It becomes extratropical on October 9. It caused $115 million (1996 USD) damage and 22 deaths, mostly on Florida and Alabama.
Hurricane Wilfred formed in Caribbean sea and only reached peak winds of 130 kph and pressure of 980 mbar. It crossed into East Pacific and renamed Lowell. It caused $35 million damage (1996 USD) and 8 deaths, mostly on Honduras.
Alpha nearing Florida
Hurricane Alpha forms in October 13 and favorable conditions in Gulf was expected. It hits Florida as a category 3 hurricane, causing $8 billion (1996 USD) damage and 120 deaths. It also affects Bahamas as a category 4 and finally moving away northeast.
Hurricane Beta forms in November 15 an makes a loop. It makes landfall in Puerto Rico as a category 1. It causes $75 million (1996 USD) damage and 12 deaths.
Systems[]
Hurricane Arthur[]
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | June 17 – June 22 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 75 mph (120 km/h) (1-min) 983 mbar (hPa) |
Tropical Storm Betty[]
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | June 25 – June 29 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min) 998 mbar (hPa) |
Hurricane Cesar[]
| Category 4 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | July 3 – July 13 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 145 mph (230 km/h) (1-min) 930 mbar (hPa) |
Tropical Storm Diana[]
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | July 5 – July 9 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min) 997 mbar (hPa) |
Hurricane Edouard[]
| Category 4 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | July 19 – July 29 (Out of Basin) |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 130 mph (215 km/h) (1-min) 949 mbar (hPa) |
Tropical Storm Fran[]
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | July 22 – July 25 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min) 1003 mbar (hPa) |
Hurricane Gustav[]
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | July 24 – August 3 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 85 mph (140 km/h) (1-min) 965 mbar (hPa) |
Hurricane Hanna[]
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | August 2 – August 9 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 85 mph (140 km/h) (1-min) 972 mbar (hPa) |
Tropical Storm Ike[]
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | August 11 – August 15 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 65 mph (100 km/h) (1-min) 995 mbar (hPa) |
Hurricane Josephine[]
| Category 3 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
 | |
| Duration | August 17 – August 25 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 115 mph (185 km/h) (1-min) 970 mbar (hPa) |
Hurricane Klaus[]
| Category 5 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | August 19 – September 2 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 175 mph (280 km/h) (1-min) 915 mbar (hPa) |
Hurricane Lili[]
| Category 4 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | August 22 – September 6 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 145 mph (230 km/h) (1-min) 927 mbar (hPa) |
Hurricane Marco[]
| Category 4 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | August 26 – September 4 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 150 mph (240 km/h) (1-min) 935 mbar (hPa) |
Tropical Storm Nana[]
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | August 28 – September 1 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min) 1003 mbar (hPa) |
Hurricane Omar[]
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | August 28 – September 5 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 75 mph (120 km/h) (1-min) 985 mbar (hPa) |
Tropical Storm Paloma[]
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | August 30 – September 1 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 40 mph (65 km/h) (1-min) 1003 mbar (hPa) |
Hurricane Ralph[]
| Category 4 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | September 4 – September 15 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 150 mph (240 km/h) (1-min) 928 mbar (hPa) |
Hurricane Sheila[]
| Category 4 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | September 24 – October 2 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 140 mph (220 km/h) (1-min) 938 mbar (hPa) |
Tropical Storm Theodore[]
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | September 27 – October 1 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 65 mph (100 km/h) (1-min) 990 mbar (hPa) |
Hurricane Vicky[]
| Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
 | |
| Duration | October 4 – October 9 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 100 mph (155 km/h) (1-min) 981 mbar (hPa) |
.
Hurricane Wilfred[]
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | October 10 – October 13 (Exited Basin) |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 80 mph (130 km/h) (1-min) 980 mbar (hPa) |
.
Hurricane Alpha[]
| Category 4 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | October 13 – October 26 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 140 mph (220 km/h) (1-min) 942 mbar (hPa) |
.
Hurricane Beta[]
| Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | November 15 – November 28 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 100 mph (155 km/h) (1-min) 975 mbar (hPa) |
.
Storm Names[]
Here are the storm names used in the 1996 season. The names not retired will be used again in the 2002 season. This is the same list used in 1986 except for Betty, Hanna, Ralph and Theodore, which replaces Bertha, Hortense, Rene and Teddy. The names Betty, Hanna, Ralph and Theodore and Wilfred were used for the first time. Also, the main list was exhausted and two Greek names; Alpha and Beta, are used.
|
|
|
Greek Names
|
Retirement[]
In the spring of 1997, the World Meteorological Organization retired four names: Cesar, Edouard, Lili, and Alpha due to loss of life and damage caused by these storms. These are replaced by Cristobal, Edmund, and Laura for 2002 Season.
In 1996, the World Meteorological Organization determined that a Greek name can be retired in a particular season, but will be reused if needed in the future.
Season Effects[]
| Storm name |
Dates active | Storm category at peak intensity |
Max 1-min wind mph (km/h) |
Min. press. (mbar) |
Areas affected | Damage (USD) |
Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arthur | June 17 - June 22 | Category 1 hurricane | 75 mph (120 kph) | 983 | East Coast, Hispaniola | 45 | 4 |
| Betty | June 22 - June 29 | Tropical storm | 50 mph (85 kph) | 998 | Mexico and Texas | Minimal | 2 |
| Cesar | July 3 - July 13 | Category 4 hurricane | 145 mph (230 kph) | 930 mbar | Georgia, South Carolina, North East Coast, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland | 5300 | 37 |
| Diana | July 5 - July 9 | Tropical storm | 50 mph (85 kph) | 997 | None | Minimal | None |
| Edouard | July 19 - July 29 | Category 4 hurricane | 130 mph (215 kph) | 949 | Southern Caribbean, Extreme North South Africa, Costa Rica, Nicaragua | 4000 | 193 |
| Fran | July 22 - July 25 | Tropical storm | 45 mph (75 kph) | 1003 | Cuba, Mexico, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama | 20 | 3 |
| Gustav | July 24 - August 3 | Category 2 hurricane | 85 mph (140 kph) | 965 | Bermuda | Minimal | None |
| Hanna | August 2 - August 9 | Category 1 hurricane | 85 mph (140 kph) | 972 | Bermuda, Newfoundland | Minimal | 2 |
| Ike | August 11 - August 15 | Tropical storm | 65 mph (100 kph) | 995 | Mexico, Nicaragua, Honduras, Belize, Guatemala | 30 | 8 |
| Josephine | August 17 - August 25 | Category 3 hurricane | 115 mph (185 kph) | 970 | Jamaica, Texas, Mexico | 300 | 12 |
| Klaus | August 19 - September 2 | Category 5 hurricane | 175 mph (280 kph) | 915 | {{{areas}}} | 230 | 18 |
| Lili | August 22 - September 6 | Category 4 hurricane | 145 mph (230 kph) | 927 | East Coast, Bahamas | 3000 | 48 |
| Marco | August 26 - September 4 | Category 4 hurricane | 150 mph (240 kph) | 935 | Newfoundland | None | None |
| Nana | August 28 - September 1 | Tropical storm | 50 mph (85 kph) | 1003 | Florida | Minimal | None |
| Omar | August 28 - September 5 | Category 1 hurricane | 75 mph (120 kph) | 985 | Caribbean, Florida | 120 | 18 |
| Paloma | August 30 - September 1 | Tropical storm | 40 mph (65 kph) | 1003 | Mexico | 20 | 3 |
| Ralph | September 4 - September 15 | Category 4 hurricane | 150 mph (240 kph) | 928 | Bermuda, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland | 13 | 18 |
| Sheila | September 24 - October 2 | Category 4 hurricane | 140 mph (220 kph) | 938 | Cape Verde | None | None |
| Theodore | September 27 - October 1 | Tropical storm | 65 mph (100 kph) | 990 | Lesser Antilles | 15 | 8 |
| Vicky | October 4 - October 9 | Category 2 hurricane | 100 mph(155 kph) | 981 | Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina | 115 | 22 |
| Wilfred | October 10 - October 13 | Category 1 hurricane | 80 mph (130 kph) | 980 | Nicaragua, Honduras, Belize | 35 | 8 |
| Alpha | October 13 - October 26 | Category 4 hurricane | 140 mph (220 kph) | 942 | Florida, Bermuda, Cuba, Yucatan | 8000 | 120 |
| Beta | November 15 - November 28 | Category 2 hurricane | 100 mph (155 kph) | 975 | Texas, Mexico, Florida, Hispaniola, Jamaica | 75 | 12 |