2005 Atlantic hurricane season

2005 Atlantic hurricane season
Season summary map
Seasonal boundaries
First system formed	June 8, 2005
Last system dissipated	January 6, 2006 (record latest, tied with 1954)
Strongest storm
Name	Wilma (Most intense hurricane in the Atlantic basin)
• Maximum winds	185 mph (295 km/h) (1-minute sustained)
• Lowest pressure	882 mbar (hPa; 26.05 inHg)
Seasonal statistics
Total depressions	31 (record high, tied with 2020)
Total storms	28
Hurricanes	15 (record high)
Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+)	7 (record high, tied with 2020)
Total fatalities	3,468 total
Total damage	$172.297 billion (2005 USD) (Second-costliest tropical cyclone season on record)
Related articles
Timeline of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season 2005 Pacific hurricane season 2005 Pacific typhoon season 2005 North Indian Ocean cyclone season
Atlantic hurricane seasons 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007

The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was the most active year on record until surpassed by 2020. It featured 28^[1] tropical or subtropical storms. The United States National Hurricane Center^{[nb 1]} named 27 storms, exhausting the annual pre-designated list, requiring the use of six Greek letter names, and adding an additional unnamed storm during a post-season re-analysis. A record 15 storms attained hurricane status, with maximum sustained winds of at least 74 miles per hour (119 km/h). Of those, a record seven became major hurricanes, rated Category 3 or higher on the Saffir–Simpson scale. Four storms of this season became Category 5 hurricanes, the highest ranking.

The four Category 5 hurricanes during the season were: Emily, Katrina, Rita, and Wilma. In July, Emily reached peak intensity in the Caribbean Sea, becoming the first Category 5 hurricane of the season, later weakening and striking Mexico twice. In August, Katrina reached peak winds in the Gulf of Mexico but weakened by the time it struck the U.S. states of Louisiana and Mississippi. The most devastating effects of the season were felt on the Gulf Coast of the United States, where Katrina's storm surge crippled New Orleans, Louisiana, for weeks and devastated the Mississippi coastline. Katrina became the costliest U.S. hurricane, leaving $125 billion in damage^{[nb 2]} and 1,392 deaths. Rita followed in September, reaching peak intensity in the Gulf of Mexico before weakening and hitting near the border of Texas and Louisiana. The season's strongest hurricane, Wilma, became the most intense Atlantic hurricane on record, as measured by barometric pressure. Lasting for ten days in October, Wilma moved over Cozumel, the Yucatán Peninsula, and Florida, causing over $22 billion in damage and 52 deaths.

The season's impact was widespread and catastrophic. Its storms caused an estimated 3,468 deaths and approximately $172.3 billion in damage. It was the costliest season on record at the time, until its record was surpassed 12 years later. It also produced the second-highest accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) in the Atlantic basin, surpassed only by the 1933 season. The season officially began on June 1, 2005, and the first storm – Arlene – developed on June 8. Hurricane Dennis in July inflicted heavy damage to Cuba. Hurricane Stan in October was part of a broader weather system that killed 1,668 people and caused $3.96 billion in damage to eastern Mexico and Central America, with Guatemala hit the hardest. The final storm – Zeta – formed in late December and lasted until January 6, 2006.

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