The 1996 Atlantic Hurricane Season was 29 years ago. Although, not as active as the 1995 season, this season was still very active. The season was above active due to a continuing La Nina. This was the same La Nina that developed in Spring of 1995 and lasted till October of 1996. ENSO conditions changed to Neutral by the middle of October. In the 1990's an average season had 10-11 named storms, 6 hurricanes, and 2 major hurricanes (category 3, 4, and 5 hurricanes). The 1996 season had 13 named storms, 9 hurricanes, and 6 major hurricanes. Overall, it was still a very active season. Since 1995 we have been in the second active phase so 1996 continued that trend.

Here is a list of all the named storms that developed in 1996. *Beside a hurricanes name means that hurricane was a major hurricane.

Tropical Storm Arthur (6/17-6/21) pressure 1002 millibars max winds 45 mph. Arthur was a short lived tropical storm that made landfall in the outer banks of North Carolina. Arthur caused only $1 million in dollars of damage.

*Hurricane Bertha (7/5-7/14) pressure 960 millibars max winds 115 mph category 3 hurricane. Bertha was a long lived hurricane that reached its peak around the Bahamas. Bertha made landfall in North Carolina as a category 2 hurricane and then traveled up the east coast. Thankfully, Bertha made landfall in a rural area. However, Bertha did claim 12 lives and cause $350 million in damages.

Hurricane Cesar (7/24-7/29) Pressure 985 millibars max winds 85 mph category 1 hurricane. Cesar developed in the Caribbean and made landfall in Nicaragua. Cesar caused 115 deaths and $225 million in damages.

Hurricane Dolly (8/19-8/24) pressure 988 millibars max winds 80 mph category 1 hurricane. Dolly developed in the Caribbean and made landfall twice in Mexico. Dolly killed 14 people but the amount of damage is unknown.

*Hurricane Edouard (8/19-9/3) pressure 933 millibars max winds 145 mph category 4 hurricane. Edouard was the strongest hurricane of 1996. It developed in the Far Atlantic and spent most of its live as a major hurricane. Edouard did Brush New England but did not make landfall. Still Edouard caused 2 drownngs and $20 million in wind damage.

*Hurricane Fran (8/23-9/8) pressure 946 millibars max winds 120 mph category 3 hurricane. Fran developed in the far Atlantic and steadily intensified once Edouard moved away. Fran eventually became a category 3 hurricane and made landfall in North Carolina at peak intensity. Fran Caused $5 Billion in damages and 27 deaths. Fran was the costliest storm of the 1996 season.

Tropical Storm Gustav (8/26-9/2) pressure 1005 millibars max winds 45 mph. Gustav developed in the Far Atlantic and stayed out to sea.

*Hurricane Hortense (9/3-9/15) pressure 935 millibars max winds 140 mph category 4 hurricane. Hortense made landfall in Puerto Rico and later Canada as a high end category 1 hurricane. Hortense killed 39 people and $160 million in damages.

*Hurricane Isidore (9/24-10/1) pressure 960 millibars max winds 115 mph category 3 hurricane. Isidore formed in the far Atlantic and stayed out to sea.

Tropical Storm Josephine (10/4-10/8) pressure 981 millibars max winds 70 mph. Josephine developed in the Gulf and made landfall in Florida just shy of hurricane status. Josephine caused 3 deaths and $130 million in damages.

Tropical Storm Kyle (10/11-10/12) pressure 1001 millibars max winds 50 mph. Kyle developed near the Mexico/Belize boarder. However, land interaction and wind shear caused Kyle to fall apart before it came ashore.

*Hurricane Lili (10/14-10/27) pressure 960 millibars max winds 115 mph category 3 hurricane. Lili was the last major hurricane of the 1996 season. Lili developed in the Caribbean and made landfall in Cuba as a category 2 hurricane. Lili would then go out to sea reaching its peak strength as a category 3 hurricane. Lili caused 22 deaths and $700 million in damages.

Hurricane Marco (11/16-11/26) pressure 983 millibars max winds 75 mph. Marco was a classic November hurricane as it developed in the Caribbean. However, what is unusual was that Marco kept making several turns and did not hit land as a tropical system. Despite not hitting any land its rain bands did cause flooding in Cuba causing 15 deaths and $8 million in damages.

Overall the 1996 season was very destructive causing 249 deaths, and $6.61 Billion dollars worth of damage. Due to their impacts the names Cesar, Fran, and Hortense were retired and replaced with the names Cristobal, Fay, and Hanna. A lot of the hurricanes were long lived evident by the season's total Accumulated Cyclone Energy being over 176. The active La Nina and positive ASO contributed to very warm water which provided fuel for the hurricanes. Also the 1996 season was still a sign of what was to come in future seasons even though this season was 29 years ago. Here it is 2025 and we are still in the active phase.