Hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean is fast approaching, with experts predicting 13 named storms including two major events that could cause significant damage.
According to Colorado State University’s hurricane research team, the upcoming season - which traditionally begins on 1 June - will bring a total of five hurricanes, of which a couple will be Category 3 or stronger.
Under the Saffir/Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, the categories are ranked:
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
- Category 1 – winds speeds of 74-95 miles per hour
- Category 2 – 96-110 mph
- Category 3 (classed as major) – 111-129 mph
- Category 4 (major) – 130-165 mph
- Category 5 (major) – 157 mph or higher
The 2019 outlook “is similar to what’s considered an average season: 12 named storms, six hurricanes and three major hurricanes”, says The Washington Post.
The US National Hurricane Center has been tracking all occurrences of the weather phenomenon since 1851 and recording them on its hurricane database, known as Hurdat.
The deadliest hurricane predating modern meteorological technology occurred in 1780 and resulted in the deaths of an estimated 20,000 people. The violent storm made landfall in Barbados on 10 October before sweeping much of the rest of the eastern Caribbean over the following week. Barbados, Martinique and St. Lucia “were among the locations hardest hit, and there were thousands of casualties on these islands, along with significant property damage”, says History.com.
Here are the deadliest hurricanes that followed that tragedy, in the Hurdat era:
-
Appetites now: 2025 in food trendsFeature From dining alone to matcha mania to milk’s comeback
-
Political cartoons for December 19Cartoons Friday’s political cartoons include unemployment rates, taunts and prayers, and more
-
Who is paying for Europe’s €90bn EU loan?Today’s Big Question Kyiv secures crucial funding but the EU ‘blinked’ at the chance to strike a bold blow against Russia
-
How Bulgaria’s government fell amid mass protestsThe Explainer The country’s prime minister resigned as part of the fallout
-
Femicide: Italy’s newest crimeThe Explainer Landmark law to criminalise murder of a woman as an ‘act of hatred’ or ‘subjugation’ but critics say Italy is still deeply patriarchal
-
Brazil’s Bolsonaro behind bars after appeals run outSpeed Read He will serve 27 years in prison
-
Americans traveling abroad face renewed criticism in the Trump eraThe Explainer Some of Trump’s behavior has Americans being questioned
-
Jamaicans reeling from Hurricane MelissaSpeed Read The Category 5 storm caused destruction across the country
-
Nigeria confused by Trump invasion threatSpeed Read Trump has claimed the country is persecuting Christians
-
Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s Iron Lady set to be the country’s first woman prime ministerIn the Spotlight Takaichi is a member of Japan’s conservative, nationalist Liberal Democratic Party
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
