Gordon and Helene - 955 mbar, 120 mph (1-minute sustained)
Total depressions
10
Total storms
10
Hurricanes
5
Major hurricanes
2
ACE index
79
Total fatalities
7 Direct, 7 Indirect
Total damage
$504.42 million (2006 USD)
The 2006 Atlantic hurricane season was a below average season, especially when compared to the previous season, this was a result of an rapidly forming and strong El Niño. This season featured a total of 10 tropical cyclones, 9 of which getting a name, 1 getting recognized as a storm in post-analysis, 5 hurricanes, and 2 major hurricanes. This season was the least active since 1997. The strongest storm title was tied with Hurricanes Gordon and Helene, they both caused minimal damage.
As part of its routine post-season review, the Tropical Prediction Center/National Hurricane Center (TPC/NHC) occasionally identifies a previously undesignated tropical or subtropical cyclone based on new data or meteorological interpretation. The TPC/NHC reanalysis of 2006 has re-classified a short-lived system as a tropical storm. The storm remained offshore of the northeastern United States and Nova Scotia and dissipated as a tropical cyclone before moving across Newfoundland.[2]
Chris was a tropical storm whose center remained north of the Lesser Antilles before the cyclone weakened and moved across the Turks and Caicos and the southeastern Bahamas as a tropical depression. Chris had little impact on these areas.[4]
Debby was a tropical storm that passed just south of the Cape Verde Islands as a tropical depression, and eventually dissipated over the north-central Atlantic without striking land.[5]
Ernesto was briefly a marginal category 1 hurricane (on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale) over the central Caribbean Sea, and it was a strong tropical storm over the extreme western Atlantic Ocean, including at its final landfall in North Carolina. While impacts from landfalls in Florida and Cuba were limited, the storm produced torrential rainfall and floods in portions of Hispaniola and eastern North Carolina. Gale-force winds and heavy rains associated with Ernesto also impacted portions of Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey. Ernesto was directly responsible for five fatalities in Haiti.[6]
Florence was a category 1 hurricane (on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale) that brought hurricane conditions to Bermuda. As an extratropical low, it brought hurricane-force winds to portions of Newfoundland.[7]
Gordon was a category 3 hurricane (on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale) that affected the Azores as a hurricane, causing minimal damage. As an extratropical system it brought heavy rains and high winds to parts of western Europe, causing substantial power outages and at least five injuries.[8]
Isaac was a category 1 hurricane (on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale) that developed over the central Atlantic Ocean. Even though Isaac did not make landfall, it produced tropical storm force winds over portions of southeastern Newfoundland.[10]
