How Common Are Hurricanes in November?

Hurricane Lenny in November 1999  (Source: NOAA)

November is the sixth and final month of the Atlantic hurricane season.  It has seen some significant hurricanes which have impacted the United States or been noteworthy for other reasons.

According to Dr. Philip Klotzbach of Colorado State University, “The Atlantic has had 18 hurricanes after November 7 in the satellite era (since 1966) - the most recent was Hurricane Kate (2015).”   Having 18 hurricanes in 50 years translates roughly to one every two to three years.  Rarer still are major hurricanes in November.  A “major” hurricane is defined as a Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Scale with sustained winds of 111 mph or greater.  

November’s strongest hurricane during the last 50 years was Hurricane Lenny in 1999.  Lenny was a rare storm for two reasons.  Not only was it an unusually strong Category 4 hurricane for November with sustained winds of 155 mph and a minimum pressure of 933 millibars (mb) at peak intensity, but it also tracked eastward through the Caribbean Sea.  Unlike most storms which track westward or northwestward, a large dip in the jet stream helped steer it eastward.  Lenny caused significant damage on St. Croix of the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

Two of the four major November hurricanes have formed in the last 15 years: Paloma in 2008 and Michelle in 2001.  Michelle was a Category 4 hurricane at peak intensity with sustained winds of 140 mph and a minimum central pressure of 933 mb.  Hurricane Kate in 1985 reached peak intensity on November 20 as a major Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds of 120 mph.  Fortunately, Kate weakened to a borderline Category 1/Category 2 hurricane before it made landfall near Mexico Beach, Florida.  According to NOAA, Kate caused an estimated $300 million in damage unadjusted for inflation.  

At peak intensity, 1994’s Hurricane Gordon was a minimal Category 1 hurricane.  Nevertheless, it was one of November’s longest lasting tropical systems on record (13 days).  Hurricane Gordon brought devastating floods to Haiti and made multiple landfalls in the United States where it brought flooding and severe weather.  Fortunately, the tropics are very quiet with no development expected anywhere in the Atlantic Ocean Basin during the next several days.