The 2008 Atlantic Hurricane Season officially comes to a closeon Nov. 30, marking the end of a season that produced a recordnumber of storms consecutively striking the United States. Theseason ranks as one of the more active in the 64 years sincecomprehensive records began.

A total of 16 named storms formed this season, based on anoperational estimate by HYPERLINK “http://www.hurricanes.gov” o“blocked::http://www.hurricanes.gov/” NOAA's National HurricaneCenter. The storms included eight hurricanes, five of which weremajor hurricanes at Category 3 strength or higher. These numbersfall within the ranges predicted in NOAA's pre- and mid-seasonoutlooks issued in May and August. The August outlook called for 14to 18 named storms, seven to 10 hurricanes and three to six majorhurricanes. An average season has 11 named storms, six hurricanesand two major hurricanes.

“This year's hurricane season continues the current activehurricane era and is the tenth season to produce above-normalactivity in the past 14 years,” said Gerry Bell, Ph.D., leadseasonal hurricane forecaster at HYPERLINK“http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov” o“blocked::http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/” NOAA's Climate PredictionCenter.

Overall, the season is tied as the fourth most active in termsof named storms (16) and major hurricanes (five), and is tied asthe fifth most active in terms of hurricanes (eight) since 1944,which was the first year aircraft missions flew into tropicalstorms and hurricanes.

For the first time on record, six consecutive tropical cyclones(Dolly, Edouard, Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Ike) made landfall on theU.S. mainland and a record three major hurricanes (Gustav, Ike andPaloma) struck Cuba. This is also the first Atlantic season to havea major hurricane (Category 3) form in five consecutive months(July: Bertha, August: Gustav, September: Ike, October: Omar,November: Paloma).

Bell attributes this year's above-normal season to conditionsthat include:

An ongoing multi-decadal signal. This combination of ocean andatmospheric conditions has spawned increased hurricane activitysince 1995.

Lingering La Ni?a effects. Although the La Ni?a that began inthe Fall of 2007 ended in June, its influence of light wind shearlingered.

Warmer tropical Atlantic Ocean temperatures. On average, thetropical Atlantic was about 1.0 degree Fahrenheit above normalduring the peak of the season.

NOAA's National Hurricane Center is conducting comprehensivepost-event assessments of each named storm of the season. Some ofthe early noteworthy findings include:

Bertha was a tropical cyclone for 17 days (July 3-20), making itthe longest-lived July storm on record in the Atlantic Basin.

Fay is the only storm on record to make landfall four times inthe state of Florida, and to prompt tropical storm and hurricanewatches and warnings for the state's entire coastline (at varioustimes during its August lifespan).

Paloma, reaching Category 4 status with top winds of 145 mph, isthe second strongest November hurricane on record behind Lenny in1999 with top winds of 155 mph).

Much of the storm-specific information is based on operationalestimates and some changes could be made during the review processthat is underway.

“The information we'll gain by assessing the events from the2008 hurricane season will help us do an even better job in thefuture,” said Bill Read, director of NOAA's National HurricaneCenter. “With this season behind us, it's time to prepare for theone that lies ahead.”

NOAA will issue its initial 2009 Atlantic Hurricane Outlook inMay, prior to the official start of the season on June 1.

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