The 1996 season was an above average season due to an active La Nina pattern and 1996 was part of the second active phase that started in 1995 and continues to this day. Like the previous year there was several destructive hurricanes. Hurricane Hortense was the 3rd out of 4 destructive hurricanes from 1996.

On September 1st a vigorous tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa. Satellite data showed the wave already was developing a circulation. Computer models started to develop this wave into a significant hurricane. On September 2nd satellite data indicated that winds were 35 mph in the wave but it had not developed a closed circulation. The next day on September 3rd the wave closed its circulation and was declared a tropical depression. Models continued to show this wave becoming a significant hurricane, and now they were showing it to become a major hurricane.

However, wind shear appeared and kept the depression from strengthening for the next couple of days. On September 6th the wind shear relaxed and the depression tapped into the warm water with winds increasing to 45 mph. It was given the name Hortense and started to move west/northwest. On September 7th Hortense made landfall in Guadeloupe as a 70 mph tropical storm just shy of hurricane strength. Later that evening Hortense emerged in the Caribbean. A strong high pressure system started to steer Hortense northward.

Late on September the 8th Hortense became a category 1 hurricane with winds 75 mph. Due to warm water temperatures the hurricane continued to strengthen up until landfall. On September 9th Hortense made landfall in the USA Territory of Puerto Rico with winds 85-90 mph making Hortense a high end category 1 hurricane. Later on the 9th Hortense brushed the Dominican Republic as a 75 mph category 1 hurricane.

The mountains of the Dominican Republic caused Hortense to weaken to a 70 mph tropical storm. However, once over water the storm started to rapidly organize again. On September the 11th Hortense, near the Gulf Stream, started to rapidly strengthen the winds went from 85 mph to 110 mph making Hortense a high end category 2 hurricane. On the 12th Hortense became a major hurricane with winds up to 125 mph making the hurricane a high end category 3 hurricane.

On the 13th Hortense reached its peak as a 140 mph category 4 hurricane with a low pressure of 935 millibars. For the next 36 hours Hortense would be a major hurricane. Late on the 14th Hortense started to move over cooler waters and weaken as the winds came down to 110 mph. The hurricane then begin to accelerate and head toward Canada. On September 15th Hortense made landfall in Canada as a 85 mph category 1 hurricane and became extra tropical later that evening.

Hortense was a destructive storm the US Territory of Puerto Rico and Canada. In Puerto Rico Hortense killed over 35 people and caused $100 million in damages. In Canada Hortense killed 4 people and caused $60 million in damages. Overall, Hortense killed 39 people, and caused $160 million in damages.

Due to the impacts in Puerto Rico and Canada the name Hortense was retired the following year and replaced with Hanna in the naming lists. Hortense was similar to Hurricane Fiona that occurred in 2022. Both hurricanes peaked at the same intensity. Also both hurricanes made landfall in Puerto Rico and Canada. Fiona was more destructive because it high a more densely populated area. But in 2022 Fiona was compared to Hurricane Hortense from 1996. In summary, Hortense was the 3rd out of 4 destructive hurricanes from 1996, and was a destructive hurricane.