2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season

The 2022 Atlantic hurricane season was the first season since 1997 in which no tropical cyclones formed in August, and the first season on record to do so during a La Niña year. It was a fairly average hurricane season with an average number of named storms, a slightly above-average number of hurricanes, a slightly below-average number of major hurricanes (category 3 or higher on the 5-level Saffir–Simpson wind speed scale), and a near-normal accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) index. Despite this, it became one of the costliest Atlantic hurricane seasons on record. There were fourteen named storms during the season. Eight of them strengthened into a hurricane, and two reached major hurricane intensity. The season officially began on June 1, and ended on November 30. These dates, adopted by convention, historically describe the period in each year when most subtropical or tropical cyclogenesis occurs in the Atlantic Ocean. This year's first named storm, Tropical Storm Alex, developed five days after the start of the season, making this the first season since 2014 not to have a pre-season named storm.

Two systems developed on July 1. Tropical Storm Bonnie formed and made landfall near the Costa Rica–Nicaragua border. It then crossed over into the Pacific basin, becoming the first to survive the crossover from the Atlantic to the Pacific since Hurricane Otto in 2016. Also, Tropical Storm Colin formed abruptly and made landfall in South Carolina. It quickly weakened and dissipated the next day. Following this activity, tropical cyclogenesis was suppressed across the basin for several weeks by a combination of high wind shear, drier air, and the presence of the Saharan Air Layer. After a 60-day lull in tropical cyclone activity, Hurricanes Danielle and Earl formed on September 1 and 3 respectively, with Danielle becoming the season's first hurricane. The last season to have its first hurricane develop this late was 2013.

Activity then increased tremendously towards the end of the month as four named storms formed in quick succession. Among them, Hurricane Fiona became the season's first major hurricane on September 20, which is about three weeks later than when the first one typically forms. As an extratropical cyclone it became the strongest storm in Canadian history, as measured by central pressure, and caused significant damage in Atlantic Canada. Hurricane Ian became the second major hurricane of the season on September 27, before inflicting major to catastrophic damage upon Western Cuba, Southwestern and Central Florida, and the Carolinas. Hurricane Julia formed in early October and became the second storm of the season to cross over into the Pacific basin intact after traversing Nicaragua, making the 2022 season one of the three to have more than one crossover system. The last storm in the season, Hurricane Nicole, made landfall on the coasts of the Bahamas and Florida. It was the first November hurricane to make landfall in Florida since Kate in 1985, and caused heavy damage in areas devastated by Ian six weeks earlier.

Seasonal forecasts

In advance of, and during, each hurricane season, several forecasts of hurricane activity are issued by national meteorological services, scientific agencies, and noted hurricane experts. These include forecasters from the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s Climate Prediction Center, Tropical Storm Risk (TSR), the United Kingdom's Met Office (UKMO), and Philip J. Klotzbach, William M. Gray and their associates at Colorado State University (CSU). The forecasts include weekly and monthly changes in significant factors that help determine the number of tropical storms, hurricanes, and major hurricanes within a particular year. According to NOAA and CSU, the average Atlantic hurricane season between 1991 and 2020 contained roughly 14 tropical storms, seven hurricanes, three major hurricanes, and an accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) index of 74–126 units. Broadly speaking, ACE is a measure of the power of a tropical or subtropical storm multiplied by the length of time it existed. It is only calculated for full advisories on specific tropical and subtropical systems reaching or exceeding wind speeds of . NOAA typically categorizes a season as above-average, average, or below-average based on the cumulative ACE index, but the number of tropical storms, hurricanes, and major hurricanes within a hurricane season is sometimes also considered.

Pre-season forecasts

On December 9, 2021, CSU issued an extended range forecast for the 2022 hurricane season, giving a 40% chance of near-average activity with 13–16 named storms, 6–8 hurricanes, 2–3 major hurricanes, and an ACE index of about 130 units. The forecast also gave a 25% chance that the ACE Index would end up being around 170 units, and a 25% likelihood the likelihood that the index would end up around 80. TSR also issued an extended range forecast on December 10, 2021. It predicted overall near-average tropical activity with its ACE index, anticipating 18 tropical storms, 8 hurricanes and 3 intense hurricanes to form during the season. One of their factors was the expectation of a neutral El Niño-Southern Oscillation condition by the third quarter of 2022. This outlook had "large uncertainties".

On April 7, CSU issued their first extended range seasonal forecast for the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season, predicting well above-average activity, with 19 named storms, 9 hurricanes, 4 major hurricanes and an ACE index of 160 units. Their factors supporting an active hurricane season included above average-sea surface temperatures in the subtropical Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, and a cool neutral ENSO or weak La Niña pattern, corresponding to a low chance of an El Niño. On April 14, 2022, University of Arizona (UA) issued its seasonal prediction for a slightly above-average hurricane season, with 14 named storms, seven hurricanes, three major hurricanes, and an ACE index of 129 units. North Carolina State University (NCSU) made its prediction for the season on April 20, calling for an above-average season with 17 to 21 named storms, 7 to 9 hurricanes, and 3 to 5 major hurricanes.

On May 23, UKMO issued their own forecast for the 2022 season, predicting an above average season with 18 named storms, 9 hurricanes, and 4 major hurricanes, with a 70% chance that each of these statistics will fall between 13 and 23, 6 and 12, and 2 and 6, respectively. The following day, NOAA's Climate Prediction Center issued their forecasts for the season, predicting a 65% chance of above-average activity and 25% chance for below-average activity, with 14–21 named storms, 6–10 hurricanes, and 3–6 major hurricanes.

Mid-season forecasts

On June 2, CSU updated their extended range seasonal forecast, increasing the amount of tropical cyclones to 20 named storms, 10 hurricanes, 5 major hurricanes, and an overall ACE index of 180 units. This was done after later analysis of lower chances of an El Niño during the season, as well as a warmer than average tropical Atlantic. On June 20, 2022, University of Arizona (UA) updated its seasonal prediction, which is very similar to its April prediction, with 15 named storms, seven hurricanes, three major hurricanes, and an ACE index of 131 units. On July 5, TSR released their third forecast for the season, slightly increasing their numbers to 18 named storms, 9 hurricanes, and 4 major hurricanes. This prediction was largely based on the persistence of the weak La Niña into the third quarter of the year. On July 7, CSU did not make changes to their updated prediction of 20 named storms, 10 hurricanes, and 5 major hurricanes. UKMO's updated forecast on August 2 called for 16 named storms, 6 hurricanes, and 4 major hurricanes. Two days later, NOAA and CSU each revised their activity outlook slightly downward, though both still predicted that the season would end up being busier than the 30-year average. The revisions were made in part because of the relative slow start to the season (as compared to the past couple), with only three short-lived named storms as of the start of August.

Seasonal summary

The 2022 season was the first season since 2014 to not have a pre-season named storm. It was also the first season not to have above-average activity overall since 2015. Activity began with the formation of Tropical Storm Alex on June 5, after several days of slow development while traversing the Gulf of Mexico and then moving over Central Florida. The storm peaked at near-hurricane strength before becoming extratropical over the Central North Atlantic. On July 1, Tropical Storm Bonnie formed in the Southern Caribbean Sea and made landfall shortly thereafter near the Costa Rica–Nicaragua border. It then crossed over into the Pacific basin a day later, the first storm to do so since Hurricane Otto in 2016, where it would become a Category 3 hurricane. Also on July 1, a low-pressure system off the U.S. Atlantic coast near Savannah, Georgia abruptly organized into Tropical Storm Colin, a short-lived storm that dissipated the next day inland over northeastern South Carolina. Tropical activity then ceased, with no tropical cyclones forming for almost two months. 2022 became the first season since 1997 to not have a tropical cyclone form in August, . One disturbance over the Gulf of Mexico during the middle of the month was briefly designated as a ''potential tropical cyclone'', but it did not organize into a tropical cyclone before moving inland over Northeastern Mexico.

Tropical activity ultimately resumed with the formation of Tropical Storm Danielle over the central Atlantic on September 1. The storm intensified into a hurricane the following day, the latest "first hurricane of the season" since 2013. It remained nearly stationary far to the west of the Azores for several days before moving northeastward and becoming extratropical on September 8 without affecting any land areas. Additionally, a slow-developing disturbance east of the Lesser Antilles became organized and developed into Tropical Storm Earl late on It strengthened into a hurricane, tracked east of Bermuda, fluctuating between Category 1 and 2 intensity, and then became extratropical near Newfoundland on September 10. Four days later, Tropical Storm Fiona formed in the Central Atlantic. Fiona eventually became a hurricane, striking both Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic before becoming the season's first major hurricane as it passed by the Turks and Caicos Islands on September 20. That same day, Tropical Storm Gaston formed over the Central Atlantic and moved through the Western Azores. Fiona strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane as it passed west of Bermuda and transitioned into a powerful extratropical cyclone on September 23, just before striking Nova Scotia. That same day, Tropical Depression Nine formed in the Caribbean Sea and Tropical Depression Ten formed in the eastern tropical Atlantic, marking the first time since 2020 that four tropical cyclones were active simultaneously in the Atlantic basin.

Tropical Depression Nine became Hurricane Ian, the most destructive storm of the season. It made landfall in western Cuba as a high-end Category 3 hurricane, southwestern Florida as a high-end Category 4 hurricane, and in South Carolina as a Category 1. Tropical Depression Ten attained tropical storm strength first, becoming Tropical Storm Hermine. It was one of the easternmost Atlantic tropical storms on record, and brought heavy rainfall to the Canary Islands. Next, Tropical Depression Eleven formed during the last week in September, and then Tropical Depression Twelve formed one week later. Ultimately, neither cyclone strengthened into a tropical storm. Soon thereafter, Hurricane Julia formed just off the coast of Venezuela. After traversing Nicaragua intact, Julia entered the Pacific basin. Not since 1996 has more than one storm crossed between the Atlantic and Pacific basins intact during a single season. On October 11, Tropical Storm Karl formed in the Bay of Campeche, moved erratically over open waters, before degenerating into a remnant low offshore of Mexico. Two systems were at hurricane strength on November 2: Lisa, in the Caribbean, and Martin, in the central Atlantic. Thus, for the first time since Michelle and Noel in 2001, two Atlantic hurricanes were at hurricane strength simultaneously during November. Soon thereafter, Hurricane Nicole formed and impacted the Greater Antilles, The Bahamas, and the Southeastern United States.

This season's ACE index, as calculated by Colorado State University using data from the NHC, was approximately 95.1 units, which was 80% of the long-term (30-year) average. The ACE number represents the sum of the squares of the maximum sustained wind speed (knots) for all named storms while they are at least tropical storm intensity, divided by 10,000. Therefore, tropical depressions are not included.

Systems

Tropical Storm Alex

On May 31, a large low-pressure area developed near the Yucatán Peninsula, partially related to the Pacific basin remnants of Hurricane Agatha interacting with an upper-level trough over the Gulf of Mexico. The low moved eastward over the Yucatán Peninsula, producing a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms over the peninsula and northwestern Caribbean Sea on Due to the threat the developing system posed to Cuba, the Florida Keys and South Florida, the National Hurricane Center initiated advisories on it, designating it as ''Potential Tropical Cyclone One'' at 21:00 UTC on June 2. As it proceeded northeastward over the Gulf of Mexico, the disturbance was being buffeted by southwesterly shear, which limited its ability to intensify. On June 3, two Hurricane Hunters missions into the system found deep convection ongoing near and to the east of the estimated center, but no conclusive evidence of a closed circulation. Early the following day, the broad and poorly-defined center of the disturbance moved over southwestern Florida. Then, after moving into the Atlantic later that same day, a well-defined center formed with sufficient convection, resulting in it being upgraded to Tropical Storm Alex at 06:00 UTC on June 5. The storm intensified some later that same day, attaining sustained winds of as it passed west of Bermuda. Soon thereafter, Alex began its extra-tropical transition, a process that was complete by 21:00 UTC on June 6.

While a potential tropical cyclone, what would later become Alex produced significant rainfall across western Cuba and South Florida, which resulted in flash flooding across both regions. During a 30-hour period on June 2–3, Paso Real de San Diego in the province of Pinar del Río recorded about of rain, and Playa Girón in Matanzas received over . There were four storm-related deaths in Cuba, and numerous homes and bridges were damaged by the flooding. Between 7:00 a.m. local time on June 3, and 10:00 p.m. the following day, Miami saw just over of rain, while Hollywood had just over . Naples, near where the storm's estimated center came onshore, also had close to . Across Broward County and Miami-Dade County, there were a combined 3,543 power outages.

Tropical Storm Bonnie

A tropical wave moved off the northwest coast of Africa south of 10°N on June 23, producing a large but disorganized area of showers and thunderstorms. The low-level wind circulation associated with the system became better defined and thunderstorm activity increased on June 25–26, as it moved along a west to west-northwesterly track toward the southernmost Windward Islands. A NOAA Hurricane Hunters mission on June 27, reported tropical-storm-strength winds on the north side of the disturbance but indicated that it had not yet shown a well-defined closed circulation. Although it could not yet be classified as a tropical cyclone, due to the threat the system posed to the Lesser Antilles, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) initiated advisories on it as ''Potential Tropical Cyclone Two'' later that same day. Later, after moving through the southern Windward Islands late on June 28, the disturbance sped west at toward the coast of South America. Over the next couple of days, the system passed just to the north of Venezuela, where it was hindered from developing a distinct low-level circulation due to its fast forward speed and its interaction with land. Yet all the while it generated sustained winds of tropical-storm strength. As the disturbance moved toward Central America on the morning of July 1, it became sufficiently organized to be classified as a tropical storm and was given the name ''Bonnie''. Embedded in a low-shear and warm SST environment, Bonnie started to steadily intensify. At 03:00 UTC on July 2, Bonnie made landfall near the Costa Rica–Nicaragua border at its peak intensity within the Atlantic with sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h). Bonnie then crossed Central America and exited into the Eastern Pacific basin 12 hours later.

Bonnie and its precursor disturbance produced gusty winds and heavy rainfall as it tracked through the southern Caribbean Sea. In Nicaragua, authorities reported four deaths in relation to the storm.

Tropical Storm Colin

An area of low pressure formed along a surface trough offshore of Savannah, Georgia, on the morning of July 1. During this time the system unexpectedly developed and quickly became well organized. At 18:00 UTC that day, a tropical depression formed, and strengthened into Tropical Storm Colin a few hours later as it made landfall near Hunting Island, South Carolina, while simultaneously reaching peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of . The center of the storm remained just inland over coastal South Carolina on July 2, though most of its heavy rains and strong winds remained out over the Atlantic due to its proximity to the coast and northwesterly shear of around . Colin became increasingly disorganized later that day, with its circulation becoming elongated due to the wind shear and continued land interaction. By 18:00 UTC on July 2, Colin's winds had decreased to 35 mph (55 km/h) and the storm was downgraded to a tropical depression. It continued to weaken rapidly, and its low-level circulation dissipated over northeastern South Carolina by the end of that day.

Rainfall totals ranged from in parts of the Midlands of South Carolina to near near Charleston, South Carolina. A Fourth of July weekend event in Charleston was cancelled because of flooding at the event site, as was a festival in Southport, North Carolina. One person drowned on July 3, off the coast of Oak Island, North Carolina, due to rip currents.

Hurricane Danielle

On August 30, an area of low pressure formed along a decaying frontal zone over the central subtropical Atlantic. The disturbance quickly organized and developed into Tropical Depression Five early on September 1 before strengthening into Tropical Storm Danielle later that evening. The storm continued to strengthen and became a Category 1 hurricane on September 2. It stalled the following day, caught south of a blocking high, and weakened back into a tropical storm due to upwelling of cooler waters and some dry air. Later, the storm began drifting toward the west, where it again strengthened into a hurricane overnight After turning northwestward, Danielle reached its peak intensity with sustained winds of early on September 5, It then moved over a relatively cool part of the Gulf Stream and weakened to a low-end Category 1 hurricane. Danielle briefly re-intensified when it moved over marginally warm waters on September 7, but resumed a weakening trend shortly afterwards. Danielle weakened to a tropical storm on September 8 before transitioning into an extratropical cyclone later that day.

Large waves and heavy rain hit the Azores. Danielle made landfall in Portugal as an extratropical cyclone, bringing heavy rain to the country. Between September 12–13, 644 accidents were reported throughout the country. Many downed trees and flash floods were reported. In Manteigas, floods and landslides caused major damage. Four vehicles were dragged into the Zêzere River. Heavy rain extended to as far out as Braga. Covilhã saw 67.2mm of rain while Viseu saw 62mm of rain. Minor wind and flooding damage was reported in both Lisbon and Setúbal. The Portuguese government issued a "state of calamity" after Danielle passed by. Spain saw heavy rain when Danielle hit.

Hurricane Earl

A tropical wave producing widespread disorganized showers and thunderstorms moved off the west coast of Africa on August 25. After moving across the eastern and central tropical Atlantic, the disturbance encountered environmental conditions east of the Leeward Islands that were only marginally conducive for tropical cyclone development. After struggling against high wind shear for several days, the disturbance was finally able to become better organized and developed into Tropical Storm Earl early on September 3. A burst of deep convection occurred near Earl's center during the evening of September 5, and a Hurricane Hunters mission into the storm later that night reported that it briefly strengthened to very near hurricane strength. Earl's intensity continued to fluctuate throughout much of the next day due to continued effects of westerly deep-layer shear. Later that day, the shear began to quickly diminish, and Earl became better organized, strengthening into a hurricane around 00:00 UTC on September 7. By 03:00 UTC on September 8, Earl reached Category 2 strength while moving northward; Hurricane Hunters data showed it to have an eye of almost 60 mi (90 km) and a fairly symmetric wind field. Three hours later the hurricane attained peak sustained winds of . Despite being forecasted to continue strengthening into a Category 4 hurricane, Earl's inner core was repeatedly interrupted due to dry air entrainment and it fluctuated in strength the following day while passing well to the east of Bermuda despite being over very warm sea surface temperatures of around 84–86 °F (28–29 °C). It briefly weakened to Category 1 strength early on September 9, before rebounding to Category 2 strength with a peak intensity of sustained winds and a minimum barometric pressure of . At this time, Earl had become a large hurricane, with hurricane-force winds extending outward up to 80 miles (130 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extending outward up to 275 miles (445 km). After maintaining this intensity for several hours, Earl weakened to a Category 1 hurricane again at 15:00 UTC on September 10, then transitioned into an extratropical low south of Cape Race, Newfoundland six hours later.

Two people died on September 4 in Salinas, Puerto Rico, after being struck by lightning while riding a jet ski. Bermuda was buffeted with sustained winds of as Hurricane Earl passed within about of the island's eastern coast; higher gusts were reported, including one of at the National Museum of Bermuda. There were localized power outages across the archipelago but no large-scale damage was observed. During a period of rain fell in the St. Johns area, causing overflowing along the Waterford River which led to urban flooding. Similar rainfall amounts were also reported in communities throughout the Avalon Peninsula. Additionally, the cyclone caused rough surf which damaged the breakwater on the coast in the area of Trepassey, Newfoundland and Labrador, causing localized flooding.

Hurricane Fiona

Early on September 12, the NHC began to monitor a tropical wave over the central tropical Atlantic for gradual development, though environmental conditions for development were assessed as only marginally favorable. Even so, shower and thunderstorm activity within the disturbance began to become more concentrated later that same day, then increased and became better organized during the next day. The circulation associated with the system became more defined and persisted overnight and into the morning of September 14, attaining sufficient organization to designated as Tropical Depression Seven later that day. Despite the continued effects of moderate westerly shear and dry mid-level air flow, new satellite imagery indicated the depression had strengthened, thus at 01:45 UTC on September 15, it became Tropical Storm Fiona. The storm moved over Guadeloupe as a 50 mph (85 km/h) tropical storm around 00:00 UTC on September 16 and then entered the eastern Caribbean. Early on September 18, the storm strengthened into a hurricane as it approached Puerto Rico, before making landfall there that afternoon about south-southeast of Mayaguez, with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h). It then emerged over the Mona Passage, and strengthened slightly further before making landfall near Boca de Yuma, Dominican Republic, with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h). Fiona weakened slightly as it moved overland, but began to rapidly strengthen once back over water, becoming a Category 2 hurricane by 21:00 UTC on September 19, and then a Category 3 major hurricane early the next morning near Grand Turk Island. Further intensification resulted in it reaching Category 4 strength with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (210 km/h) at 06:00 UTC on September 21, while moving northward across very warm waters with surface temperatures of .

Fiona's winds then held steady for a couple of days while its central pressure dropped to at 00:00 UTC on September 22, the hurricane's peak intensity as a tropical cyclone. Fiona's wind field also began to grow in size and tropical storm-strength winds impacted Bermuda for several hours on September 23, despite Fiona passing well west of the island. Fiona weakened to a Category 3 hurricane that morning, but briefly rebounded to Category 4 strength several hours later as it moved northeastward at about , before weakening once more to a Category 3 strength late that same day. Shortly thereafter, Fiona weakened again before turning northward and quickly transitioning into a large and powerful post-tropical cyclone as it approached the coast of Nova Scotia at 03:00 UTC on September 24. Soon thereafter, the system made landfall in eastern Nova Scotia 07:00 UTC with winds and a pressure of , slowing rapidly as it did so. It then moved over Cape Breton Island with hurricane strength winds, although it continued to weaken as it moved northward. When the NHC issued its final advisory on Fiona at 21:00 UTC that same day, it was centered about 80 mi (130 km) northwest of Port aux Basques, Newfoundland, and had maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h). Fiona would continue to weaken as it moved erratically northward into the northwestern Atlantic before dissipating west of Greenland over Baffin Bay on September 28.

Altogether, 31 deaths have been attributed to Fiona: 1 in Guadeloupe, 25 in Puerto Rico, 2 in the Dominican Republic and 3 in Canada. Still recovering from the effects of Hurricane Maria in 2017, torrential rains fell island-wide on Puerto Rico on up to in some regions, causing destructive flash flooding that washed out roads and bridges. In addition, the effects of the storm resulted in an island-wide power grid failure. Damage to public infrastructure alone in Puerto Rico exceeds $5 billion. In Canada, homes and businesses across Atlantic Canada and Quebec's North Coast were destroyed, and several hundred thousand people were left without power in Fiona's wake. Insured damages in the region total more than $495 million (USD), making Fiona the costliest storm on record Atlantic Canada.

Tropical Storm Gaston

A tropical wave moved off the coast of West Africa into the tropical Atlantic on September 12, producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms, but doing so in an environment just marginally favorable for development. By September 15, the wave had moved generally westward to about midway between Africa and the Lesser Antilles. There the showers and thunderstorms continued within the northern portion of the wave. The disturbance then transitioned into a trough of low pressure on September 17, as it moved slowly northward. After showing little signs of development over the next two days, a low-pressure formed within the trough and convection began to organize around it. Upon producing a well-defined center and persistent deep convection, became Tropical Depression Eight at 15:00 UTC on September 20. The depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Gaston six hours later while it was located about 990 mi (1595 km) west of the Azores. Gaston quickly intensified, attaining peak sustained winds of the following day, just 18 hours after formation. However, additional strengthening was prevented as dry air became entrained into the eastern portion of the circulation. Gaston then maintained its intensity for two days as it accelerated northeastward toward the western Azores despite being in an environment of moderate to strong shear, relatively dry air, and cool sea surface temperatures. On September 23, Gaston began to interact with a shortwave trough/baroclinic zone, which shunted all of its the deep convection to the northeastern portion of the storm and it weakened slightly as it slowed down and began an anticyclonic loop through the central Azores along the southern side of a mid-level ridge. However, Gaston restrenghtened later that day as convection reformed over northern and western sides of its circulation and it reached its peak intensity with sustained winds of and a minimum barometric pressure of at 15:00 UTC. Relentless wind shear then stripped Gaston of its deep convection and the storm began to weaken again early the next morning as it continued its loop, which it completed later that day as it passed just west of the central Azores. Now moving westward away from the Azores, Gaston dropped to minimal tropical storm strength, but restrengthened for a third time as a large burst of convection developed over the northern portion of the circulation as it interacted with an upper-level trough. Its winds increased to on the morning of September 25 and it maintained this intensity for most of the day as it center reformed under the convective mass. However, Gaston soon moved away from the trough and wind shear quickly removed the remaining deep convection from the storm late that afternoon. Convection did not reform over Gaston and it weakened for the final time before being declared a post-tropical cyclone at 03:00 UTC on September 26.

Heavy rainfall and tropical storm force winds were reported across the Azores, especially in the western and central islands. A weather station at Horta on Faial Island measured a wind gust to 41 mph (66 km/h) as Gaston passed through.

Hurricane Ian

On September 19, the NHC began tracking a tropical wave to the east of the Windward Islands for possible gradual development. Two days later, the disturbance passed over Trinidad and Tobago as it entered the southeast Caribbean, and then near to the ABC Islands and the northern coast of South America. On September 22, while moving west-northwestward, it showed signs of increasing organization, though strong wind shear of generated by the upper-level outflow from Hurricane Fiona was inhibiting the development of a tropical depression. Even so, a well-defined circulation was able to form within the disturbance that day; its convection then increased and became persistent over night into the next day, resulting in it being designated Tropical Depression Nine early on September 23. The organization of the depression improved slowly over the course of that day, and it became Tropical Storm Ian at 03:00 UTC on September 24. The high wind shear from Fiona was gone completely by the next day, as the storm entered the central Caribbean where it encountered wind, water and atmosphere conditions favorable for intensification: light wind shear, warm 86 °F (30 °C) sea surface temperatures and a mid-level relative humidity of 70%. In this environment, Ian quickly become better organized and strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane at 09:00 UTC on September 26. Twelve hours later, it intensified into a Category 2 hurricane as it approached the western tip of Cuba. At 08:30 UTC on September 27, Ian made landfall near La Coloma, in Pinar del Río Province, Cuba, as a high-end Category 3 hurricane, with sustained winds of 125 mph (205 km/h). After about six hours over land, Ian emerged off the north coast of Cuba into the Gulf of Mexico, still a major hurricanethough a slightly weaker one.

Later, overnight the hurricane moved directly over Dry Tortugas National Park in the Florida Keys with sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h), as it was undergoing an eye replacement cycle. Once that cycle was complete, Ian rapidly strengthened, reaching Category 4 intensity on the morning of September 28, according to data from a Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft, with its maximum sustained winds rising to a high-end Category 4 speed of near 155 mph (250 km/h) by 10:35 UTC. Later, at 19:05 UTC, Ian made landfall at Cayo Costa Island, with winds of 150 mph (240 km/h), and then, an hour and a half later, on the Florida mainland, just south of Punta Gorda, with maximum sustained winds of . It then proceeded across Central Florida before moving offshore into the Atlantic Ocean at 15:00 UTC near Cape Canaveral as a strong tropical storm. At the time, the storm was exhibiting some extratropical characteristics, such as a comma pattern and some frontal features in its outer circulation. Even so, it remained a hybrid tropical cyclone as it maintained a warm core. Later that day, while making a turn to the north-northeast, Ian reintensified into a hurricane as it moved over the Gulf Stream. The system turned northward on the morning of September 30, and accelerated. During this time, deep convection re-developed near the center of the storm and the frontal features moved away from its core. An eyewall also began to form around a portion of its circulation. At 18:05 UTC that same day, Ian made its third landfall near Georgetown, South Carolina, with sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h). Ian began to weaken inland, and transitioned into a post-tropical cyclone over coastal South Carolina three hours after landfall. The cyclone later dissipated over southern Virginia late on October 1.

While in the early stages of developing, the system brought gusty winds and heavy rain to Trinidad and Tobago, the ABC Islands and to the northern coast of South America on Ian killed five people in Cuba. It also caused extensive damage to homes, factories, roads and tobacco farms throughout the region. Power was initially knocked out throughout three provinces, but later the nation's entire electrical grid collapsed. The highest 24-hour rainfall total recorded was at a weather station on Isla de la Juventud. Significant storm surge inundation occurred along the coasts of the Gulf of Guanahacabibes and Isla de la Juventud.

It is estimated that at least 114 people have died in Florida as a result of the hurricane, including 49 in Lee County where it made landfall. It also includes 7 Cuban migrants who drowned when their boat capsized off Stock Island as Ian moved through the Florida Keys; 11 others were still missing. 14 tornadoes touched down in Florida on September 27-28, as Ian approached, including one tornado that impacted Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton before strengthening to high-end EF2 strength in Kings Point, causing significant damage and two injuries. Ian inflicted catastrophic damage in Southwest Florida, washing out roads and bridges, toppling trees, and destroying homes and businesses. Hardest hit was Lee County, where damage from the hurricane's winds was exacerbated by a storm surge which peaked at at Fort Myers. Inland, where significant flooding occurred, Orlando recorded a record-breaking 24-hour rainfall total of ; and further east on the Atlantic coast, an amateur weather observer near New Smyrna Beach reported of rain in 27 hours. Later, in South Carolina, Ian caused far less property damage, and there were no reports of casualties from the storm there. Five storm-related deaths were, however, reported in North Carolina; two tornadoes were also confirmed in the state. Ian's remnants also contributed to coastal flooding along the Mid-Atlantic coast.

Tropical Storm Hermine

On September 22, a tropical wave being monitored by the NHC emerged off the coast of West Africa into the tropical Atlantic east of Cabo Verde. It quickly organized, becoming Tropical Depression Ten at 15:00 UTC on September 23, and then strengthened into Tropical Storm Hermine six hours later. It is one of few tropical cyclones on record (going back to 1851) to form this far east, and to track between the Cabo Verde Islands and the coast of Africa. Development beyond a weak tropical storm was stymied by southwesterly shear into the next day, as it moved northward. On account of the shear, Hermine weakened into a tropical depression at 21:00 UTC on September 24, and then degenerated into a post-tropical low the next day.

Offshore, several migrant boats from the Western Sahara ran into the storm. One carrying 34 people became stranded and 33 of the occupants were lost while one was rescued. Hermine brought heavy rainfall to the Canary Islands, causing localized flooding and downed trees. More than 140 flights were cancelled across the archipelago. Damage across the archipelago exceeded 10 million euro (US$9.8 million).

Tropical Depression Eleven

On September 17, a tropical wave emerged into the Atlantic from the west coast of Africa. After producing disorganized convective activity for the next few days as the wave headed westward, showers and thunderstorms consolidated enough on September 20 that a low-pressure area formed. The system then moved northward due to a break in a mid-level ridge and eastward by September 27 due to a nearby broad trough. Around 00:00 UTC on September 28, the low organized into Tropical Depression Eleven approximately west of the Cabo Verde Islands. The depression resumed a general northward motion due to the aforementioned ridge. Despite periodic bursts in deep convection, the depression remained poorly organized due to increasing wind shear. Centered about west of the Cabo Verde Islands, the system degenerated into a remnant low by 12:00 UTC on September 29, which soon transitioned into a trough of low pressure.

Tropical Depression Twelve

Early on September 29, the NHC began to monitor a tropical wave moving off the west coast of Africa which was producing a broad area of showers and thunderstorms and moving into and into an environment conducive for gradual development. The disturbance remained disorganized for the next few days as it moved over the eastern tropical Atlantic to the south of the Cabo Verde Islands. It became better organized on October 3, as the convection around the center of it began to expand and the upper-level outflow increased. The next day, a small circulation around a well-defined center developed within the disturbance, resulting in it being designated Tropical Depression Twelve. The cyclone struggled to maintain organized deep convection throughout the day on October 5, due to persistent southwesterly shear. The depression deteriorated further the following day, degenerating into a surface trough by 03:00 UTC on October 7.

Hurricane Julia

On October 2, the NHC began monitoring a tropical wave over the central tropical Atlantic for possible gradual development. A broad area of low pressure with an ill-defined center formed within the wave on October 4, as it approached the southern Windward Islands. A hurricane hunter mission into the disturbance the following day found tropical storm-strength surface winds, but determined that it did not have a well-defined circulation center. Due to the threat the developing system posed to land areas in the southern Caribbean, the NHC initiated advisories on it as ''Potential Tropical Cyclone Thirteen'' on October 6. Later that day, after satellite imagery and radar data indicated that the disturbance had attained sufficient circulation and organized convection, and after hurricane hunter survey data showed the presence of winds north of the center, it was designated as a tropical depression. A strong burst of deep convection developed near the center of the depression as it moved across the Guajira Peninsula in the early morning of October 7, and soon afterwards, it strengthened into Tropical Storm Julia over the adjacent southwestern Caribbean. Afterward, the morning burst of deep convection was stripped away by northwesterly shear, and the storm's low-level center was exposed for the next several hours. Even so, Julia retained tropical storm intensity. When the shear diminished there was an increase in persistent and deep convection over the center, and the storm began to gain strength. Julia became a hurricane at 23:00 UTC on October 8, and, about eight hours later made landfall near Laguna de Perlas, Nicaragua, with estimated sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h). The system then gradually weakened to a tropical storm as it moved westward across the rugged terrain of Nicaragua, though it maintained a well-defined circulation and deep convection persisted near the center. Still intact, Tropical Storm Julia crossed into the Eastern Pacific basin at 21:00 UTC on October 9.

On October 5, the disturbance brought heavy thunderstorms to several of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean coast of South America. More than of rain fell in Trinidad and Tobago in less than a half hour, causing significant flash flooding. A few days later in Venezuela, the heavy rain caused widespread flooding and landslides. In Las Tejerías, in north-central Venezuela, at least 54 people died and 50 went missing when mud and debris inundated the town. In Central America, flooding and landslides caused widespread damage along with numerous fatalities, resulting in the deaths of four people, with three in Honduras and one in Panama. Altogether, at least 91 deaths are being attributed to Julia. In addition to the 54 deaths in Venezuela, it is blamed for 14 deaths in Guatemala, 10 in El Salvador, 1 in Trinidad and Tobago, 5 in Nicaragua, 2 in Panama, 4 in Honduras, and 1 in Mexico.

Tropical Storm Karl

On October 10, the NHC began to monitor an area of disturbed weather over the Caribbean coast of Southern Mexico to the north of the dissipating Tropical Storm Julia. The low later moved over the Bay of Campeche, where conditions were conducive for further development. There it became organized and rapidly strengthened into Tropical Storm Karl at 21:00 UTC on October 11. A Hurricane Hunters mission into the storm the following morning found that Karl's sustained winds had increased to as it moved slowly northward. However, increased wind shear began to weaken the storm early on October 13, and it stalled over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico. Nonetheless, Karl's central pressure began to fall slightly after it began moving south-southeastward as the day progressed. Moderate northwesterly shear and drier mid-level air continued to inhibit Karl from strengthening on October 14, as it moved toward the coast of southern Mexico. Satellite images that morning showed that the dense overcast around the storm's low-level center had become more symmetric overnight, with its heavy thunderstorms concentrated to the southeast of the center. By that afternoon, the dry air and wind shear had taken their toll, snuffing out Karl's last burst of deep convection, after which it weakened to a tropical depression, and then deteriorated into a remnant low at 09:00 UTC on October 15.

Karl caused significant flooding in southern Mexico, which damaged homes, businesses, and bridges throughout the region. The heaviest rainfall occurred in Tabasco and neighboring Chiapas; Camoapa, Tabasco, recorded of rain in 24 hours on October while Río de Janeiro, Chiapas, recorded during that same period. Numerous families had to be evacuated from their homes because of the flooding, which also forced the evacuation of more than a thousand people attending a religious event in Pichucalco, Chiapas. Additionally, three storm-related fatalities were reported in Chiapas: one in Pichucalco and two in Juárez.

Hurricane Lisa

On October 28, a broad area of low pressure developed over the southeastern Caribbean causing rain and thunderstorms. Early on October 30, data from two Hurricane Hunter aircraft missions into the disturbance showed that the low's center of circulation was becoming better defined and that it was producing winds of to the north of its center. As a result, and due to the threat the developing system posed to land areas in the central Caribbean, the NHC initiated advisories on it as ''Potential Tropical Cyclone Fifteen'' later that day. The disturbance became organized as Tropical Storm Lisa at 15:00 UTC on October 31, south of Jamaica. At the time, most of the storm's heavy thunderstorm activity was occurring to the east and south sides of the center as a result of westerly wind shear. Later that day the shear winds began to decrease, allowing Lisa to become better organized. The storm began to form more convection to the northwest of the center and data from a hurricane hunters mission indicated that the low-level circulation was becoming less elongated. The storm strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane on the morning of November 2, as it approached the coast of Belize, which it crossed later that day, near of the Sibun River, with sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h), Lisa weakened inland as it moved over northern Guatemala and then southern Mexico, where it became a tropical depression on the morning of November 3. The cyclone then moved over the Bay of Campeche early the following day, where its deep convection increased, though confined primarily to the north of its center by strong winds. On November 5, the cyclone was downgraded to into a remnant low.

There were no reports of fatalities connected with Lisa. Passing over Belize City as it made landfall on November 2, High winds knocked down trees and electric poles, and damaged several homes; some structures collapsed completely. Altogether, the 12 shelters set up in the city housed 1,221 people. In Guatemala, Lisa caused flooding and a landslide, which damaged homes and property. About 143 people in the municipalities of Melchor de Mencos and San José were evacuated to shelters. Lisa also brought heavy rains to southern Mexico.

Hurricane Martin

On October 31, the NHC began monitoring a non-tropical area of low pressure located in the central subtropical Atlantic that, although attached to a frontal boundary, had a small core with gale-force winds and a concentrated area of convection near its center. Early on November 1, deep convection developed near the center, which had become separated from the frontal boundary. At the same time the system developed a non-frontal warm core, resulting in the formation of Tropical Storm Martin. The storm continued to organize into the next day, as a better-defined eye developed, with a tight banding pattern wrapping around the center, which resulted in Martin strengthening into a Category 1 hurricane. While maintaining hurricane strength, Martin transitioned into a post-tropical cyclone on November 3, over the open North Atlantic. A few days later, the cyclone approached Ireland as a large and intense European windstorm.

Hurricane Nicole

On November 4, the NHC began monitoring the northeastern Caribbean Sea and southwestern Atlantic where a large non-tropical low pressure system was expected to develop within a few days. On November 5, an area of low pressure producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms developed just north of Puerto Rico. Benefiting from the inflow of tropical moisture from the Caribbean and very warm sea surface temperatures, the disturbance was soon exhibiting some subtropical characteristics, and gradually becoming better organized. This trend continued, and it was classified as Subtropical Storm Nicole at 09:00 UTC on November 7. The following morning, inner-core convection within the system improved and the radius of its maximum winds contracted, indicating that Nicole had transitioned into a tropical cyclone. At 16:55 UTC on November 9, Nicole made landfall at Marsh Harbour, Great Abaco Island, Bahamas, with sustained winds of . Several hours later, the storm strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane while simultaneously making landfall on Grand Bahama with sustained winds of . At 08:00 UTC on November 10, Nicole made land fall on North Hutchinson Island, near Vero Beach, Florida, with sustained winds. Nicole then weakened to a tropical storm inland, as it moved across Central Florida. Later that day, its center briefly emerged over the Gulf of Mexico, north of Tampa, before moving onshore again northwest of Cedar Key in Florida's Big Bend region. Inland, the storm weakened to a depression, as it moved into southwestern Georgia. Later, on the afternoon of November 11, Nicole become post-tropical while over West Virginia.

Despite being relatively weak, Nicole's large size produced widespread heavy rainfall and strong winds across the Greater Antilles, the Bahamas, and Florida, knocking out power and inflicting significant damage in many areas. Days of strong on-shore wind flow onto the east coast of Florida produced severe beach erosion, especially in Volusia, St. Johns, and Flagler counties. Eleven deaths altogether were connected to the storm, six in the Dominican Republic and five in Florida.

Other system

On August 15, the NHC first noted the potential for tropical cyclone development in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico from a tropical wave that was located over the central Caribbean Sea. The low emerged over the Gulf early on August 19 producing disorganized showers. Due to the threat the developing system posed to northeastern Mexico and South Texas, the NHC initiated advisories on it as ''Potential Tropical Cyclone Four'' at 21:00 UTC that same day. As the disturbance moved northwestward toward the Gulf coast of Mexico on August 20, a Hurricane Hunters mission found that it was still a surface trough. Later that day, it moved inland, crossing the coast about southwest of the mouth of the Rio Grande. With that, the window of opportunity for tropical development closed, and the NHC issued its last advisory on the system at 03:00 UTC on August 21. The disturbance brought heavy rain to coastal Tamaulipas and coastal South Texas, but no significant impacts associated with the disturbance were reported.

Storm names

The following list of names was used for named storms that form in the North Atlantic in 2022. Retired names, if any, will be announced by the World Meteorological Organization in the spring of 2023. The names not retired from this list will be used again in the 2028 season. This is the same list used in the 2016 season, with the exceptions of ''Martin'' and ''Owen'', which replaced ''Matthew'' and ''Otto'', respectively. The name ''Martin'' was used for the first time this season.

Season effects

This is a table of all of the storms that formed in the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season. It includes their duration (within the basin), names, areas affected, damages, and death totals. Deaths in parentheses are additional and indirect (an example of an indirect death would be a traffic accident), but were still related to that storm. Damage and deaths include totals while the storm was extratropical, a wave, or a low, and all of the damage figures are in 2022 USD.

See also

* Weather of 2022
* Tropical cyclones in 2022
* Atlantic hurricane season
* 2022 Pacific hurricane season
* 2022 Pacific typhoon season
* 2022 North Indian Ocean cyclone season
* South-West Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 2021–22, 2022–23
* Australian region cyclone seasons: 2021–22, 2022–23
* South Pacific cyclone seasons: 2021–22, 2022–23

Notes

References

External links

National Hurricane Center Website

National Hurricane Center's Atlantic Tropical Weather Outlook

{{Tropical cyclone season, 2022

Atlantic hurricane seasons
Tropical cyclones in 2022