The 1998 Hurricane Season was a very active hurricane season with 14 named storms, 10 becoming hurricanes, and 3 becoming major hurricanes (category 3, 4, and 5). In 1998 the average season had 10-11 named storms, 6 hurricanes, and 2 major hurricanes. This season was not only above average in terms of named storms, but it was also the deadliest hurricane season since reliable records began in 1886. 1998 is also the deadliest Atlantic Hurricane season in the modern era 1950-Present.

The season was above average due to a rapidly developing La Nina. This La Nina would last from March 1998 to March 2001. Also, 1998 was part of the second active phase that started in 1995 and continues to this day.

Here is a list of all the named storms. *Beside a hurricane's name means the hurricane was a major hurricane.

Tropical Storm Alex (7/27-8/2) pressure 1002 millibars max winds 50 mph. Alex formed in the Central Atlantic and did not impact any land.

*Hurricane Bonnie (8/19-8/30) pressure 954 millibars max winds 115 mph category 3 hurricane. Hurricane Bonnie was a long lived category 3 hurricane. Bonnie eventually made landfall in North Carolina as a high end category 2 hurricane. Bonnie caused 5 deaths and $1 Billion in damages.

Tropical Storm Charley (8/21-8/24) pressure 1000 millibars max winds 70 mph. Charlie formed in the Gulf of Mexico became a tropical storm and made landfall in Texas. Charley caused 26 deaths and $50 Million in damages.

Hurricane Danielle (8/24-9/3) pressure 960 millibars max winds 105 mph category 2. Danielle was a long lived category 2 hurricane that stayed out to sea.

Hurricane Earl (8/31-9/3) pressure 986 millibars max winds 100 mph category 2 hurricane. Hurricane Earl developed in the Gulf and quickly peaked as a category 2 hurricane. However, drier air entered Earl and the hurricane made landfall in Florida as a 85 mph category 1 hurricane. Earl caused 3 deaths and $79 million in damages.

Tropical Storm Frances (9/8-9/13) pressure 990 millibars max winds 65 mph. Frances developed in the Gulf and made landfall in Texas. Frances caused 2 deaths and $500 million in damages.

*HUrricane Georges (9/15-10/1) pressure 935 millibars max winds 155 mph category 4 hurricane. Georges made landfall in the Antilles as a category 3 hurricane, Puerto Rico as a category 3 hurricane, Dominican Republic as a category 3 hurricane, Cuba as a category 1 hurricane, and Mississippi as a category 2 hurricane. Overall Georges caused 615 deaths and $9.5 Billion in damages.

Tropical Storm Hermine (9/17-9/20) pressure 999 millibars max winds 45 mph. Hermine was a short lived tropical storm that made landfall in Louisiana causing minor damage.

Hurricane Ivan (9/19-9/27) pressure 975 millibars max winds 90 mph category 1 hurricane. Ivan developed in the far Atlantic and stayed out to sea.

Hurricane Jeanne (9/21-10/1) pressure 969 millibars max winds 105 mph category 2 hurricane. Jeanne developed in the far Atlantic and was a long lived category 2 hurricane. Jeanne did not impact any land.

Hurricane Karl (9/23-9/29) pressure 970 millibars max winds 105 mph category 2 hurricane. Karl developed in the Central Atlantic and stayed out to sea.

Hurricane Lisa (10/5-10/9) pressure 995 millibars max winds 75 mph. Lisa developed in the far Atlantic and stayed out to sea.

*Hurricane Mitch (10/22-11/6) pressure 905 millibars max winds 180 mph category 5 hurricane. Mitch developed in the Caribbean and peaked as a category 5 hurricane. Mitch moved very slowly. Land interaction weakened Mitch to a category 2 hurricane on the outer banks in Honduras and a category 1 at its main coast of Honduras landfall. Mitch produced 4-5 feet of rainfall burying towns in mudslides. Mitch would later make landfall in Florida as a tropical storm. Mitch caused 16,000 deaths overall with 12,000 of those occurring in Honduras. Mitch caused $6.2 Billion in damages with over $5.5 Billion of that occurring in Honduras alone.

Hurricane Nicole (11/24-12/1) pressure 979 millibars max winds 85 mph category 1. Nicole developed in the far Atlantic and stayed out to sea.

Due to their severe impacts the names Georges and Mitch were retired and replaced with Gaston and Matthew on the rotating naming lists. The 1998 season was very destructive causing over $17.1 Billion in damages, and over 17,000 deaths. This made the 1998 season the deadliest hurricane season since reliable records began.

Above average water temperatures and a very strong La Nina contributed to this seasons above average rainfall. A majority of this seasons total deaths were caused by two hurricanes Georges and Mitch. In addition, a lot of the storms were long lived as evident by the season's total ACE (Accumulated Cyclonic Energy) rating of 182.

While the 1998 season has been passed by more active seasons. This season is still historic because it is the deadliest hurricane season in the modern era a record that still stands 27 years later.

When I was a student in my atmospheric science classes. Some of my professors used this season as a lesson. I can remember having to write analysis reports about this season when I was a student in college.