2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season Most Active On Record: NOAA

ACROSS FLORIDA — With less than a month remaining in the Atlantic hurricane season, the formation of Subtropical Storm Theta on Tuesday over the northeastern Atlantic Ocean made the 2020 season the most active on record.

Theta — the 29th named storm of the Atlantic season — breaks the record for the largest number of tropical/subtropical storms in a single year. The previous record of 28 storms was set in 2005. Official records date to 1851.

Subtropical Storm Theta is nearing hurricane strength as it continues heading eastward over the Eastern Atlantic. It has maximum sustained winds of around 70 mph with higher gusts.

Theta is about 875 miles southwest of the Azores, and is moving at 16 mph.

“After the historic Atlantic hurricane season of 2005, it's remarkable to have another season during my career that would reach this extreme level of activity,” said Louis W. Uccellini, director of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. “NOAA’s sustained investment in computer forecast models, technology, observing systems and our skilled workforce have paid off over the last 15 years, with exponentially improved hurricane forecasts.”

With the formation of Theta, the 2020 Atlantic season has surpassed 2005 as the busiest on record with 29 named storms so far. The season ends Nov. 30.

Uccellini said the National Weather Service provides the advanced lead time decision-makers need to evacuate vulnerable areas and stage resources ahead of landfalling storms and the impacts of strong winds, storm surge and heavy rainfall.

“We continue to evolve to meet society’s growing needs for more weather information and better forecasts increasingly used to ensure communities are ready, responsive and resilient in the face of oncoming storms,” he said.

2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season

The 2020 season began early when Arthur formed on May 16. The extremely active season quickly went through the pre-determined list of 21 names, ending with Wilfred on Sept. 18. Then, for only the second time in history, the Greek alphabet was used for the remainder of the season, with Alpha forming the same day.

Courtesy NOAA

The Atlantic hurricane season officially ends Nov. 30, but additional storms could develop beyond that date. Forecasters at NOAA’s National Hurricane Center continuously monitor the tropics for storm development and activity.

Weather Service forecasters at NOAA's Climate Prediction Center issued an outlook in May for an above-average hurricane season and later upgraded that outlook to a rare, extremely active season in August, ahead of the season's peak in the fall.

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