The 2023 Atlantic hurricane season was the fourth-most active Atlantic hurricane season on record with 20 named storms forming, tied with 1933. Among them, 7 became hurricanes, with 3 reaching major hurricane strength. The season also had an above‑normal accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) rating of 146, despite the presence of the 2023–24 El Niño event, which typically results in less activity, and had the most storms for an El Niño year on record, largely due to record-warm sea surface temperatures across the Atlantic. The season officially began on June 1 and ended on November 30. These dates, adopted by convention, historically describe the period in each year when most tropical cyclogenesis occurs in the Atlantic. However, the formation of subtropical or tropical cyclones is possible at any time of the year, as demonstrated by the formation of a subtropical storm on January 16, the earliest start of an Atlantic hurricane season since Hurricane Alex in January 2016. At the time, the system was assessed as non-tropical by the National Hurricane Center (NHC), resulting in it staying unnamed.

June saw two tropical storms—Bret and Cindy—form in the tropical Atlantic (south of 23.5°N, east of 60°W) for the first time on record. The former made landfall on Saint Vincent. An unprecedented stretch of activity commenced in late August. Tropical Storm Harold struck southern Texas on August 22, and Hurricane Franklin made landfall in the Dominican Republic as a tropical storm the following day, with the latter reaching peak intensity as a high-end Category 4 hurricane and bringing tropical-storm-force winds to Bermuda. After briefly attaining Category 4 strength on August 30, Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Florida as a Category 3 hurricane. In early September, Hurricane Lee rapidly intensified into a Category 5 hurricane, then later made multiple landfalls in Atlantic Canada as a strong extratropical cyclone. Later that month, Tropical Storm Ophelia made landfall in North Carolina. In October, both Tropical Storm Philippe, the longest-lived tropical cyclone in the Atlantic this year, and Hurricane Tammy made landfall on Barbuda. Also that month, Tropical Depression Twenty‑One made landfall in Nicaragua. With Tammy's dissipation on October 28, the season effectively ended, as no tropical cyclones formed thereafter. The systems of this season collectively produced at least $4.19 billion (USD) in damage, and caused 16 fatalities.

Despite the above-normal activity this season, El Niño‑enhanced wind shear prevented most storms from significantly strengthening. Additionally, the El Niño event weakened the Bermuda High, allowing systems to curve northward or take more easterly tracks out to sea, as opposed to being pushed westward towards the continental United States, Mexico, or Central America. As a result, only a few systems impacted land or caused significant damage this season, with just three making landfall in the U.S. For the first time since the 2014 season, no names were retired this year by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

Seasonal forecasts

In advance of, and during, each hurricane season, several forecasts of hurricane activity are issued by national meteorological services, scientific agencies, and research groups. More than 25 forecasts were made for the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. Among them were forecasts from the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s Climate Prediction Center, Mexico's Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (SMN), Tropical Storm Risk (TSR), the United Kingdom's Met Office (UKMO), and Philip J. Klotzbach, William M. Gray and their associates at Colorado State University (CSU). The forecasts include weekly and monthly changes in significant factors that help determine the number of tropical storms, hurricanes, and major hurricanes within a particular year. According to NOAA and CSU, the average Atlantic hurricane season between 1991 and 2020 contained roughly 14 tropical storms, seven hurricanes, three major hurricanes, and an accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) index of 74–126 units. Broadly speaking, ACE is a measure of the power of a tropical or subtropical storm multiplied by the length of time it existed. It is only calculated for full advisories on specific tropical and subtropical systems reaching or exceeding wind speeds of 39 mph (63 km/h). NOAA typically categorizes a season as above-average, average, or below-average based on the cumulative ACE index, but the number of tropical storms, hurricanes, and major hurricanes within a hurricane season is sometimes also considered.

Pre-season forecasts

On December 6, 2022, TSR released the first early prediction for the 2023 Atlantic season, predicting a slightly below average year with 13 named storms, 6 hurricanes, and 3 major hurricanes. Their updated prediction on April 6, 2023, called for a similar number of hurricanes, but reduced the number of named storms and major hurricanes by one. The following day, the University of Arizona (UA) posted their forecast calling for a very active season featuring 19 named storms, 9 hurricanes, 5 major hurricanes, and an ACE index of 163 units. On April 13, CSU researchers released their prediction calling for 13 named storms, 6 hurricanes, 2 major hurricanes, and an ACE index of 100 units. On April 27, University of Missouri (MU) issued their predictions of 10 named storms, 4 between categories one and two, and 3 major hurricanes. On May 1, University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) released their forecast for 12 to 20 named storms. On May 4, SMN issued its forecast for the Atlantic basin, anticipating 10 to 16 named storms overall, with 3 to 7 hurricanes, and 2 to 4 major hurricanes. On May 25, NOAA announced its forecast, calling for 12 to 17 named storms, 5 to 9 hurricanes, and 1 to 4 major hurricanes, with a 40% chance of a near-normal season and 30% each for an above-average season and a below-average season. One day later, UKMO issued its forecast calling for an extremely active season, with 20 named storms, 11 hurricanes, 5 major hurricanes, and an ACE index of 222 units.

In general, there was a wide range of conclusions among the groups making pre-season forecasts. With regard to number of hurricanes, projections ranged from 5 by SMN to 11 by UKMO. This reflected an uncertainty on the part of the various organizations about how the expected late-summer El Niño event and near record-warm sea surface temperatures would together impact tropical activity.

Mid-season forecasts

On June 1, the first official day of the season, CSU issued an updated forecast in which they raised their numbers slightly, now expecting a near-average season with 15 named storms, 7 hurricanes, 3 major hurricanes, and an ACE index of 125 units. They observed sea surface temperatures in the tropical and subtropical Atlantic had increased further to almost record-highs, which could offset increased wind shear from the impending El Niño. On June 16, UA updated its seasonal prediction, which indicates a very active hurricane season, with 25 named storms, 12 hurricanes, 6 major hurricanes, and an ACE index of 260 units. On July 6, CSU issued an updated forecast increasing their numbers, predicting a very active season; they now expect 18 storms, 9 hurricanes, and 4 major hurricanes, with an ACE index of 160 units. The following day, TSR released the first seasonal prediction, predicting a slightly above average year with 17 named storms, 8 hurricanes, and 3 major hurricanes and an ACE index of 125.

Seasonal summary

This season's ACE index, as calculated by Colorado State University using data from the NHC, is approximately 145.6 units. This number represents sum of the squares of the maximum sustained wind speed (knots) for all named storms while they are at least tropical storm intensity, divided by 10,000. Therefore, tropical depressions are not included.

Early activity

The 2023 Atlantic hurricane season commenced unexpectedly on January 16, when an unnamed subtropical storm formed off the northeastern U.S. coast then moved over Atlantic Canada. Operationally, the NHC considered the storm to be non-tropical, with minimal likelihood of transitioning into a subtropical or tropical cyclone. A few months later, however, following a post-storm evaluation of the system, it was redesignated as subtropical. No additional tropical or subtropical activity occurred in the basin prior to the official start of the season on June 1. Tropical Storm Arlene formed as a tropical depression on opening day in the Gulf of Mexico. It became the season's first fully tropical storm on June 2, and was assigned the first name on the list. (The January subtropical storm remained unnamed). Later that month, when Tropical Storm Bret and Tropical Storm Cindy formed, there were two Atlantic tropical cyclones active simultaneously in June for the first time since 1968. The two developed in the Main Development Region (MDR) from successive tropical waves coming off the coast of West Africa. Their formation also marked the first time on record that two tropical storms formed in the MDR during the month of June. Next, Subtropical Storm Don formed over the central Atlantic on July 14. A long-lived storm, it later became fully tropical and strengthened into the season's first hurricane as it meandered around the ocean far from land.

Peak activity

Following a lull in activity, tropical cyclogenesis increased drastically in late August. During August 20 and 21, four tropical storms formed: Emily, Franklin, Gert, and Harold. This marked the fastest time four storms were named within the Atlantic basin, surpassing the previous mark of 48 hours, set in 1893 and matched in 1980. Emily formed in the eastern Atlantic, lasting only about 24 hours before dissipating. Franklin moved across the Dominican Republic, before intensifying into a Category 4 hurricane in the western Atlantic. Gert became a remnant low on August 22, but regenerated into a tropical depression at the end of the month. Tropical Storm Harold affected south Texas and brought much needed rainfall to the region. Those four were followed by two more systems during last week of the month: Idalia, and Jose. Idalia formed on August 26 in the Northwestern Caribbean, intensified into a Category 4 hurricane, then made landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida at Category 3 strength. Tropical Storm Jose formed in the open Atlantic three days later and remained far from land.

The quick pace of storm formation continued into September, the climatological peak of the hurricane season. On September 1, Tropical Storm Katia formed northwest of Cabo Verde in the far eastern Atlantic. After Gert and Katia dissipated, Tropical Storm Lee formed in the central tropical Atlantic on September 5. It became a hurricane a day later, then rapidly intensified to Category 5 strength northeast of the Leeward Islands, with its winds increasing by 80 mph (130 km/h) during the 24‑hour period ending at 06:00 UTC on September 8. Lee later made multiple landfalls in Atlantic Canada after becoming an extratropical cyclone on September 16. Tropical Storm Margot formed next, and strengthened into a hurricane on September 11 while moving through the central Atlantic. They were joined by Hurricane Nigel, which formed midway between the Lesser Antilles and Cabo Verde Islands on September 15. Nigel remained far from any land masses, and became extratropical on September 22. That same day, Tropical Storm Ophelia formed offshore of North Carolina. The storm moved inland the following morning at near-hurricane strength. Also on September 23, Tropical Storm Philippe formed in the eastern tropical Atlantic. Right behind Philippe came Tropical Storm Rina five days later. At that time, Philippe and Rina were approximately 620 mi (1,000 km) apart, which is close enough to influence each other's movement and development.

Late activity

After a brief letup in activity, Tropical Storm Sean formed on October 11, in the eastern tropical Atlantic. Later, on October 18, Hurricane Tammy formed. It made landfall on Barbuda, the second system in three weeks to do so, in addition to Philippe. A few days later, short-lived Tropical Depression Twenty-One formed offshore Nicaragua, moved inland, and soon dissipated. The season effectively ended when Tammy dissipated on October 29. No tropical cyclones formed in the Atlantic in the month of November, although a tropical disturbance over the Caribbean Sea was briefly designated as a potential tropical cyclone.

Systems

Unnamed subtropical storm

On January 16, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued a special tropical weather outlook concerning a low-pressure area centered roughly 300 mi (480 km) north of Bermuda. The NHC noted that the low exhibited thunderstorm activity near its center but assessed it as unlikely to transition into a tropical or subtropical cyclone. These thunderstorms may have developed due to the combination of the cyclone's position over the Gulf Stream, where sea surface temperatures around 68–70 °F (20–21 °C) and cold air aloft resulted in high atmospheric instability. Contrary to expectations, a subtropical storm formed on January 16, about 345 mi (555 km) southeast of Nantucket, Massachusetts. Developing with sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h), the system initially intensified, peaking with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) early on January 17. At 12:45 UTC, it made landfall at Louisbourg, Nova Scotia, as a weakening storm, then soon became a post-tropical low, before dissipating over far eastern Quebec the next day.

No storm-related damage or casualties were reported, likely because its most intense winds remained offshore. The subtropical storm was located within a broader storm system that brought snowfall to parts of coastal New England, including up to 4.5 in (11 cm) in portions of Massachusetts, with 3.5 in (8.9 cm) of snow in Boston. In Nova Scotia, the storm brought wind gusts of near 68 mph (110 km/h) to Sable Island.

Tropical Storm Arlene

On May 30, the NHC began monitoring an area of disturbed weather over the eastern Gulf of Mexico for possible tropical development. An area of low pressure developed the following day. The system organized into Tropical Depression Two at 12:00 UTC on June 1, while located off the west coast of Florida. Hurricane hunters investigated the depression on the morning of June 2, and determined that it had strengthened into Tropical Storm Arlene. Moving southward, Arlene remained a minimal tropical storm throughout the day with sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h). At 06:00 UTC on June 3, it weakened to a tropical depression. Six hours later, it degenerated into a remnant low, and then subsequently dissipated north of Cuba. Arlene brought 2–6 in (51–152 mm) of rainfall across South Florida, helping to reduce drought concerns along with other rains that week.

Tropical Storm Bret

On June 15, a tropical wave moved off the coast of West Africa and emerged into the Atlantic. The disturbance became better organized due to warm sea surface temperatures and favorable atmospheric conditions. On the morning of June 19, the disturbance organized into Tropical Depression Three about 1,495 mi (2,410 km) east of Barbados, and strengthened into Tropical Storm Bret that afternoon. Gradual intensification occurred during the next couple of days as it headed west towards the Lesser Antilles. Hurricane hunters investigated Bret early on June 22 and found sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a central pressure of 996 mbar (29.4 inHg). Soon after, Bret moved into an area of increased vertical wind shear, causing it to gradually weaken as it moved across the Lesser Antilles. Next, during the early hours of June 24, Bret passed just to the north of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao as a weakening storm with an exposed low-level center, and soon opened into a trough near the Guajira Peninsula of Colombia. The remnant wave later crossed into Central America, contributing to the formation of Hurricane Beatriz.

Bret brought gusty winds and heavy rains to the Windward Islands, damaging 17 homes and the roofs of 35 other structures. Hewanorra International Airport on Saint Lucia reported a wind gust of 69 mph (111 km/h) on the morning of June 23, and officials reported that much of the island's electrical grid had been knocked out by the storm. Tropical storm-force winds damaged several buildings on Barbados, including a tree falling onto a home in Bridgetown. The country's Grantley Adams International Airport reported a peak wind gust of 56 mph (90 km/h). The passing storm also damaged or destroyed several homes in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, with 50% of the island lost power.

Tropical Storm Cindy

On June 18, the NHC began tracking a tropical wave that had recently moved off the coast of West Africa, which became more organized the next day. Though the system initially struggled to become better organized, it was in an environment overall conducive to development, and organized into Tropical Depression Four on the morning of June 22, while about 1,395 mi (2,245 km) east of the Lesser Antilles. Despite marginal atmospheric conditions, the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Cindy early the next day. At 12:00 UTC on June 24, Cindy's sustained winds intensified to 60 mph (95 km/h). But later that day and continuing into the next, the storm grew progressively weaker. Then, at 06:00 UTC on June 26, Cindy dissipated about 375 mi (605 km) north-northeast of the Northern Leeward Islands.

Hurricane Don

A trough of low pressure formed over the central Atlantic on July 11, east-northeast of Bermuda. Though the system remained embedded within the trough and had not acquired a compact wind field, a well-defined center of circulation developed along with persistent deep convection early on July 14, leading to formation of Subtropical Storm Don about 1,050 mi (1,690 km) east-northeast of Bermuda. Don's deep convection decreased later that day, and it weakened to a subtropical depression on July 16. The next day, while beginning an anticyclonic loop over the central Atlantic, steered by a blocking ridge to its north, the system transitioned to a tropical depression. Don then intensified into a tropical storm early on July 18, based on satellite wind data. A few days later, while moving over the Gulf Stream on July 22, the storm quickly strengthened into the season's first hurricane. Don remained a minimal Category 1 hurricane for several hours before weakening to a tropical storm early on July 23, when its structure quickly deteriorated as it moved over increasingly cooler waters north of the Gulf Stream. While situated about 400 mi (645 km) east of Newfoundland early on July 24, Don degenerated into a non-tropical low, which continued east-northeastward across the Atlantic and transitioned into an extratropical cyclone late on the next day.

Tropical Storm Gert

A tropical wave emerged into the Atlantic from the west coast of Africa on August 14. The system struggled to organize amid conditions only marginally favorable while moving west-northwestward. By early on August 19, a low formed, which quickly organized into Tropical Depression Six about 875 mi (1,410 km) east of the Lesser Antilles. The depression battled high vertical wind shear, but managed to intensify into Tropical Storm Gert on August 20. Wind shear soon increased further, however, from the outflow of nearby Franklin, weakening Gert to a tropical depression by the next day. It subsequently lost deep convection and on August 22, Gert degenerated into a remnant low. The low eventually opened up into a trough, but the remnants remained identifiable over the next week as the system trekked slowly northward into the central Atlantic.

Early on August 30, NHC began monitoring the remnants of Gert for potential redevelopment. The remnant low again became well-defined, and the system regenerated into Tropical Depression Gert around 18:00 UTC on August 31. Gert continued its rebound, becoming a tropical storm once again about 24 hours later. Moving north-northeastward, its winds reached 60 mph (95 km/h) early on September 3, an intensification achieved in spite of strong northeasterly wind shear. However, Gert began deteriorating several hours later while being drawn quickly northward and degenerated into a remnant low on September 4, shortly before being absorbed into the larger circulation of Post-Tropical Cyclone Idalia.

Tropical Storm Emily

On August 16, a tropical wave emerged into the Atlantic from the west coast of Africa and traversed the Cabo Verde Islands on the next day. Over the next few days, the system gradually organized under generally favorable conditions. On August 20, satellite wind data indicated that it was producing gale-force winds in its northern side, and the center became well-defined. Consequently, the disturbance developed into Tropical Storm Emily that day approximately 750 mi (1,205 km) west of the northernmost islands of Cabo Verde. Around 12:00 UTC on August 20, the storm peaked with winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 998 mbar (29.5 inHg). However, Emily was soon affected by high wind shear and a dry environment, leaving its center exposed and eventually devoid of convection altogether. As a result, the cyclone degenerated into a remnant low early on August 21. However, the NHC continued to monitor the system for the chance of it redeveloping. The system showed some signs of reorganization as it moved through the subtropical Atlantic, but failed to organize further and dissipated on August 25.

Hurricane Franklin

On August 17, the NHC first noted the possibility that a low pressure area could soon form at the back end of a trough of low pressure as it headed westward towards the Leeward Islands. The low formed on August 19, near the Windward Islands. It soon formed a well-defined center, after which the NHC designated the system as Tropical Storm Franklin on the afternoon of August 20. While moving through the eastern Caribbean over the next couple of days, Franklin struggled to become better organized while battling strong westerly wind shear pushing most of its convection east of its center. Early on August 23, the storm began moving northwestward before turning northward, becoming somewhat better organized and to intensify. Franklin then made landfall with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (80 km/h) south of Barahona, Dominican Republic, shortly before 12:00 UTC that day.

Weakening occurred after Franklin made landfall, and it emerged into the Atlantic Ocean at 21:00 UTC as a minimal tropical storm. After struggling with strong westerly shear and land interaction for several days, Franklin entered a more favorable environment for development on August 25 and promptly intensified into a Category 1 hurricane the next morning. A further decrease in wind shear along with less dry air allowed Franklin to begin to rapidly intensify, becoming the season's first major hurricane at 09:00 UTC on August 28. Franklin then began to intensify even more rapidly, quickly becoming a Category 4 hurricane a few hours later, and then reaching its peak maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 km/h). After that, Franklin underwent an eyewall replacement cycle, causing it to begin to slowly weaken. That trend continued after the cycle was completed as wind shear from the outflow of Hurricane Idalia increased over Franklin and by 09:00 UTC on August 30, it had weakened to Category 2 strength. Later that day, Franklin turned east-northeastward and passed north of Bermuda. While doing so, the storm's eye structure began to deteriorate due to strong northerly wind shear. Then, on September 1, Franklin transitioned into an extratropical cyclone about 790 mi (1,270 km) northeast of Bermuda, with Category 1-equivalent winds of 85 mph (140 km/h). By September 4, ex‑Franklin was located north of the Azores. That afternoon, the NHC began to monitor the system once again, as it was expected to soon move southeastward towards warmer waters. Some reorganization did take place, but the system did not redevelop into a tropical cyclone. The NHC stopped monitoring the post-tropical cyclone on September 7.

Franklin brought heavy rainfall and wind, causing damage to buildings, homes, and light posts. Two fatalities were reported in the Dominican Republic, with an additional person also missing. At least 350 people were displaced, and more than 500 homes and 2,500 roads were affected or damaged. Several communities in the Dominican Republic were cut off, and nearly 350,000 homes were left without power, and an additional 1.6 million homes were cut off from potable water.

Tropical Storm Harold

Between August 8 and August 10, a tropical wave exited the west coast of Africa and entered the Atlantic. The wave moved uneventfully westward until August 17, when convective activity increased along its northern axis, then centered north of the Dominican Republic. After crossing the Bahamas, Florida, and the Straits of Florida, the wave entered the Gulf of Mexico on August 20, soon becoming better organized amid near record-warm sea surface temperatures of 86–90 °F (30–32 °C). Late on August 21, the system developed into Tropical Depression Nine about 415 mi (670 km) east of Brownsville, Texas. Moving quickly westward, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Harold at 06:00 UTC on August 22. Harold strengthened some more before making landfall on Padre Island, in the Texas Coastal Bend region, at around 15:00 UTC that day with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h). About five hours later, it weakened into a tropical depression. Early on August 23, Harold degenerated to a remnant low as its circulation became increasingly ill-defined.

Harold generated modest storm surge as it approached landfall. The highest surge, 2.2 ft (0.67 m), occurred at San Luis Pass. The storm brought 2–4 in (51–102 mm) of rain to coastal southern Texas. Corpus Christi received 5.25 in (133 mm) of rain from the system, including a daily record 4.74 in (120 mm) on August 22. Tropical storm-force winds also spread across the region. Wind gusts reached up to 65 mph (105 km/h) at Corpus Christi and 67 mph (108 km/h) at Loyola Beach. Over 35,000 customers across southern Texas lost power. The London Independent School District was shut down for several days due to damage sustained during the storm. Harold also brought heavy rain and strong wind to parts of northern Mexico, but caused only minor damage as it moved through. In Piedras Negras, 4 inches (100 mm) of rain fell within a few hours. The remnants of Harold brought severe flooding to portions of the American Southwest, including Las Vegas, where one person died and another was reported missing.

Hurricane Idalia

On August 23, a trough of low pressure formed in the Eastern Pacific basin offshore of the Central America coast. The disturbance crossed over into the Atlantic basin and began to organize as it moved northward through the northwestern Caribbean, where a low-pressure area formed on August 25. The pace of organization quickened on August 26, with a tropical depression developing at 12:00 UTC about 45 mi (70 km) east-southeast of Cancún, Mexico. Later that day, and into the next, the depression drifted due to weak surrounding steering currents, with its center moving in a small counter-clockwise loop. A brief jog southward moved the depression over Cancún around 06:00 UTC on August 27. About six hours later, the cyclone intensified into Tropical Storm Idalia. Early on August 28, Idalia began moving northward toward the Yucatán Channel west of Cuba, intensifying along the way. After passing near the western tip of Cuba early the next, the storm strengthened into a hurricane.

Due to warm sea surface temperatures, low wind shear, and moist air, Idalia rapidly intensified as it accelerated northward through the Gulf of Mexico, reaching Category 4 strength early on August 30 and peaking with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 942 mbar (27.82 inHg). Idalia's strengthening was then halted by an eyewall replacement cycle, which caused it to weaken slightly before it made landfall at 11:45 UTC, near Keaton Beach, Florida, with sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h). Idalia quickly weakened as it moved inland into southeast Georgia, and it was downgraded to a tropical storm at 18:00 UTC that same day. Strong southwesterly wind shear then pushed the storm's convection well north and east of its center as it moved off the northeastern South Carolina coast and emerged into the Atlantic early on August 31. Around 12:00 UTC, while about 60 mi (95 km) east of Cape Fear, North Carolina, Idalia transitioned into an extratropical cyclone. The storm then moved slowly eastward and impacted Bermuda with tropical-storm-force winds on September 2, as it passed just to the south. Idalia's remnant low then absorbed Tropical Storm Gert, turned northward, and lingered offshore Atlantic Canada for several days before dissipating on September 8.

On August 26, 33 Florida counties were placed under a state of emergency (SOE) by Governor Ron DeSantis. Two days later, the governor declared 13 more counties, including some in Northeast Florida, under a SOE. On August 28, hurricane warnings and storm surge warnings were issued for portions of the state's west coast. Idalia caused significant damage across the Big Bend region of Florida and southeastern Georgia. Thousands of structures were damaged or destroyed and four people died in storm-related incidents in the two states. Early estimates placed insured losses at $2.2–5 billion. The hurricane's remnants produced dangerous rip currents across the Eastern United States during Labor Day weekend, resulting in at least five additional deaths and numerous rescues.

Tropical Storm Jose

On August 19, a vigorous tropical wave moved off the west coast of Africa. After traversing the Cabo Verde Islands, a low-pressure area developed on August 24. The disturbance struggled to organize until August 29, when persistent deep convection reignited over the eastern side of the circulation. Consequently, Tropical Depression Eleven formed about 850 mi (1,370 km) southeast of Bermuda. The depression meandered due weak steering currents over the next two days, and by August 30, had become less organized due to westerly shear. However, the shear briefly relaxed, and the storm's convective bursting pattern abruptly evolved into curved banding early on August 31, signifying that the depression had strengthened into Tropical Storm Jose. Further development occurred slowly as Jose's banding features remained limited, and the convection at its center was shallow. Even so, the storm's structure improved markedly early on September 1 as convection near the center deepened and a small mid-level eye feature appeared, causing Jose to peak with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h). This intensification was short lived however, and the storm soon began to weaken due to northerly shear from Hurricane Franklin's outflow. Jose then accelerated northward, pulled by the larger and stronger Franklin, and was absorbed into the latter late that day about 900 mi (1,450 km) northeast of Bermuda.

Tropical Storm Katia

On August 28, a tropical wave moved off the west coast of Africa. A broad area of low pressure formed two days later near the Cabo Verde Islands, and moved to west-northwest through the islands. On August 31, the disturbance turned to the north-northwest began exhibiting signs that it was becoming better organized, and the low became better defined by the next morning. As a result, it was designated Tropical Depression Twelve by the NHC at 15:00 UTC on September 1. The following morning, the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Katia. On September 2, Katia's internal structure became better defined as it made a turn to the northwest and its sustained winds reached 60 mph (95 km/h) that evening. Overnight, however, increasing wind shear caused Katia to begin a weakening trend as its surface center became displaced far to the south of a remnant area of convection. By 03:00 UTC on September 4, far northwest of the Cabo Verde Islands, the storm had weakened to a tropical depression. Then, late that day, it degenerated into a remnant low. The low then made an elongated loop and began moving quickly southwestward. After continuing in this motion for several days, the low made another loop over the Central Atlantic and turned southeastward before dissipating on September 15.

Hurricane Lee

On September 1, a tropical wave emerged into the tropical Atlantic from the west coast of Africa. A broad surface low formed by September 4, which acquired multiple low-level bands developing and a well-defined center on the next day. Consequently, Tropical Depression Thirteen developed at 12:00 UTC that day about halfway between the west coast of Africa and the Lesser Antilles. Amid favorable conditions for intensification, the depression quickly strengthened into Tropical Storm Lee six hours later and a then a hurricane by late on September 6. Then, during the 24‑hour period ending at 06:00 UTC on September 8, Lee experienced explosive intensification, and reached Category 5 strength, with its winds increasing by 80 mph (130 km/h) to 165 mph (270 km/h). However, increasing southwesterly wind shear quickly caused Lee's eye to become cloud filled and the storm became more asymmetric, weakening it back to a high-end Category 4 hurricane. The pace of weakening quickened as the day progressed, and Lee fell below major hurricane status by late on September 9, according to data from an evening hurricane hunters mission revealing that the storm was undergoing an eyewall replacement cycle and still being adversely affected by wind shear.

By September 10, wind shear abated, permitting the new, larger-diameter eye to contract and to grow more symmetric. As a result, Lee intensified to Category 3 strength once again that same day. Another series of eyewall replacement cycles led to fluctuations in its size and intensity, but Lee remained a major hurricane throughout. After tracking west-northwestward to northwestward for much of its trans‑Atlantic journey, Lee turned northward on September 13, moving around the western side of the steering subtropical ridge. That same day, it also weakened to Category 2 strength. Then, on the morning of September 14, Lee became a Category 1 hurricane while approaching Bermuda, which it passed to the west by 185 mi (300 km) later in the day. As the hurricane pushed northward, continued drier air entrainment and increasingly strong southerly wind shear displaced Lee's convection to the northern side of the system, weakening it further. These factors caused the hurricane to commence its extratropical transition, which was completed by 06:00 UTC on September 16. Later that day and throughout the next two days, the extratropical cyclone made several landfalls in Atlantic Canada before moving into the northern Atlantic and merging with another extratropical low late on September 18.

Swells generated by Lee caused dangerous surf and rip currents along the entire Atlantic coast of the United States. Strong winds with hurricane‑force gusts caused extensive power outages in the U.S. state of Maine, and in the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Three storm-related fatalities have been confirmed: a 15-year-old boy drowned in Fernandina Beach, Florida; a 50-year-old man died in Searsport, Maine, when a tree fell onto the car he was in; and a 21-year-old man who was killed in Manasquan Inlet, New Jersey when the boat he was in capsized and sunk due to a tall wave.

Hurricane Margot

A tropical wave moved off the west coast of Africa into the eastern tropical Atlantic on September 5. A broad area of low-pressure with a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms quickly formed within it shortly afterwards. Shower and thunderstorm activity within the disturbance become better organized around an increasingly well-defined low-level center on September 7, and Tropical Depression Fourteen formed about 160 mi (255 km) west of Cabo Verde. Later the same day, the system strengthened into Tropical Storm Margot. Initially, northerly shear and dry mid-level air intruding from the southwest made it difficult for Margot to become better organized. These hindrances were offset by bursts of deep convection and a diffluent outflow pattern on September 9, allowing for some intensification to occur. Margot continued to intensify gradually over the next couple of days while moving toward the north through the central Atlantic, and a ragged, but partially open eye emerged from the central dense overcast on the morning of September 11. Later that day, Margot's eye became more defined and its overall structure improved, and the storm was upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane. It continued along a north to north-northwest track for a few days, exhibiting a double eyewall with a well-defined inner core, reaching maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) on September 13. It then became caught in weak steering currents by a building mid-level ridge to its north and drifted east-southeastward as it began to make a clockwise loop. Margot's slow motion upwelled cooler waters and that coupled with large amounts of dry air caused it to weaken to a tropical storm on September 15. These adverse conditions continued to negatively affect Margot by displacing the storm's convection increasingly farther from the center. It became bereft of organized deep convection on September 18, and transitioned into a post-tropical cyclone.

Hurricane Nigel

On September 8, a tropical wave moved off coast of West Africa into the Tropical Atlantic. The disturbance merged with a nearby area of low pressure on September 12, and began showing signs of organization the next day. A few days later, it became organized as Tropical Depression Fifteen at 06:00 UTC on September 15. Initially, the depression had a very broad structure and its deep convection fluctuated in intensity and organization for about a day without the low-level center becoming better defined. Late on September 16, the depression developed convective banding in its northern semicircle, and became Tropical Storm Nigel early the next morning. Nigel steadily gained strength, and became a Category 1 hurricane on the morning of September 18, as an eyewall began to develop. However, the strengthening trend was interrupted when dry air disrupted the storm's inner core.

Later, Nigel's eye become better defined and warmer once again, though convection on the north side was still being disrupted by intruding dry air. Nonetheless, the system's 50–60 mi-wide (85–95 km) eye was soon fully surrounded by a solid band of deep convection, enabling Nigel to become a Category 2 hurricane late that afternoon. It then turned northward, moving along the western edge of a mid-level ridge over the central subtropical Atlantic. By the end of the day however, deep convection became limited to the southern portion of the band due to a break in the eyewall. Unable to fill in the breach completely, Nigel weakened to Category 1 strength on September 20. The hurricane's motion later shifted to the north-northeast, then toward the northeast on September 21, and accelerated, within the flow on the southeastern side of a strong mid-latitude trough. At the same time, increasing southwesterly wind shear began causing an elongation of Nigel's cloud pattern, resulting in further weakening. Later, as the system raced northeastward at 37 mph (59 km/h), its environment became more hostile as the wind shear became very strong and sea surface temperatures fell to below 68 °F (20 °C). Consequently, Nigel's winds dropped to tropical storm strength and it transitioned to an extra-tropical cyclone on the morning of September 22, northwest of the Azores.

Tropical Storm Ophelia

On September 17, the NHC first noted the potential for tropical cyclone development near the southeast coast of the United States in its seven-day outlook. A broad non-tropical low formed on September 21, aided by the presence of a mid- to upper-level trough moving off the Southeastern United States. By late the following, the low shed its frontal characteristics and acquired more deep convection and tropical storm-force winds, leading to the development of Tropical Storm Ophelia. Early on September 23, the cyclone peaked with winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 981 mbar (29.0 inHg). Ophelia then made landfall around 10:15 UTC near Emerald Isle, North Carolina, about 25 mi (40 km) west-northwest of Cape Lookout. Inland, Ophelia quickly weakened and lost tropical characteristics, transitioning into an extratropical cyclone late on September 23 over southern Virginia. The low associated with Ophelia dissipated over Maryland on September 24, while the remnants meandered offshore the Mid-Atlantic for a few more days, until being absorbed by another nearby low.

States of emergency were declared in Virginia, North Carolina, and Maryland ahead of the storm. Five people aboard an anchored catamaran near Cape Lookout, North Carolina, had to be rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard due to deteriorating conditions as the storm approached. Floodwaters inundated communities and roadways along the Atlantic seaboard from North Carolina to New Jersey. The highest storm surge was 3.67 ft (1.12 m) above mean sea level at Sewell's Point, Virginia. Tropical storm‑force winds, as well as wind gusts up to 75 mph (121 km/h) at Southport, North Carolina, downed trees and power lines and caused sporadic property damage along its path, while also leaving about 70,000 homes without electricity in eastern North Carolina and Virginia combined. Heavy rain also fell along the East Coast of the United States, with up to 9.51 in (242 mm) of precipitation near Greenville, North Carolina. Ophelia and its remnants caused about $450 million in damage. On September 28–29, the low which had absorbed Ophelia's remnants stalled offshore, causing heavy flash flooding in the New York metropolitan area.

Tropical Storm Philippe

On September 20, a tropical wave moved offshore West Africa and into the Atlantic. The wave developed into a low-pressure area by the next day, while also acquiring more organized convection. However, the system lacked a well-defined circulation until early on September 23, when Tropical Depression Seventeen formed approximately 1,550 mi (2,495 km) east of Barbados. The depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Philippe later that day. The storm strengthened some during the next few days due to warm waters and light to moderate wind shear as it moved westward, steered along the southern side of a mid-level ridge. After reaching winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) early on September 25, Philippe encountered stronger wind shear, causing the center to become exposed.

Between September 27 and September 28, the cyclone nearly stalled and moved north-northwestward before curving southwestward due to the aforementioned ridge being replaced by another one and the close proximity of Rina. Philippe's slowed motion allowed for some re-intensification, again reaching winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) late on September 30. However, wind shear soon stripped convection away from the center again by the next day. On October 2, the storm turned northwestward, and made landfall on Barbuda at 22:45 UTC with winds of 50 mph (85 km/h), before passing near the United States Virgin Islands the next day. Philippe turned northward on October 4, and weakened some due to wind shear. The storm briefly re-strengthened on October 5 due to interaction with a trough. However, the trough also generated a non-tropical low, which absorbed Philippe around 12:00 UTC on October 6 about 175 mi (280 km) south of Bermuda.

In Guadeloupe, some areas were left without running water, and 2,500 power outages occurred. The storm also washed out roads, caused mudslides, damaged multiple schools, and dropped up to 16.41 in (417 mm) of precipitation at Vieux-Fort. Floodwaters inundated several homes and vehicles in Antigua and Barbuda. A fire ignited due to a lightning strike produced by Philippe burned down several buildings at a yacht club. Off the United States Virgin Islands, 12 people were rescued after a ship started to submerge in rough seas. Bermuda experienced some strong winds and rain but reported only minor damage. A cold front and Philippe's post-tropical remnants combined to bring up to 6 in (150 mm) to parts of Maine on October 7 and October 8. Gusts in the state were in the 50–60 mph (85–95 km/h) range.

Tropical Storm Rina

On September 23, NHC began to monitor a tropical wave just offshore of West Africa. A broad area of low pressure formed the next day, and the showers and thunderstorms within this disturbance began showing signs of organization a couple days later. Moving west-northwest amid favorable conditions, a well-defined center formed within the disturbance early on September 28, at which time it was designated as Tropical Storm Rina. The next day, Rina's wind field became slightly larger and stronger. But it only intensified for a brief time before weakening once again on account of strong northeasterly wind shear and dry mid-level air. Rina became devoid of organized deep convection early on October 1, and its surface circulation became increasingly ill-defined during the day. Consequently, the system degenerated into a remnant low.

Tropical Storm Sean

On October 6, a potent low-latitude tropical wave moved off the west coast of Africa. The low became better organized on October 10, and was designated Tropical Depression Nineteen late that day. The next morning, the depression became Tropical Storm Sean about 725 mi (1,165 km) west-southwest of Cabo Verde. Sean remained a highly sheared storm into the next day, with its center located well west of the associated deep convection. Later, after weakening to depression strength overnight, the system restrengthened back into a tropical storm on the morning of October 12. Little additional organization occurred; by the morning of October 14, convective bursts became intermittent and fairly short lived, and the storm weakened once more to a tropical depression. Thereafter, Sean degraded slowly, lingering for a day and a half before becoming a remnant low by very late on October 15.

Hurricane Tammy

A well-defined tropical wave entered the Atlantic from the west coast of Africa between October 9 and October 10. The wave developed a low by October 11 while passing through the Cabo Verde Islands, but dry air and strong wind shear caused it to struggle to organize further until October 17. By then, persistent convection formed, gradually leading disturbance to organize into Tropical Storm Tammy late on October 18 roughly 575 mi (925 km) east of the Lesser Antilles. The storm steadily strengthened while moving west-northwestward, becoming a hurricane late on October 20. Tammy then moved northwestward and north-northwestward for the next few days due to a steering ridge being forced eastward as a result of a trough exiting the East Coast of the United States. During this time, the hurricane remained very close to the Lesser Antilles and struck Barbuda with winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) at 01:15 UTC on October 22. After pulling away from the Leeward Islands that day, Tammy weakened to a minimal hurricane while struggling against wind shear.

By October 25, however, Tammy began to strengthen while interacting with an upper-level trough and later that day peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h). Shortly after Tammy reached peak intensity, a cold front to the north, a drier air mass, and an increase in wind shear diminished the cyclone's convection and caused it to weaken to a tropical storm early on October 27. Though the storm became significantly asymmetrical, it maintained a warm core. Tammy then turned eastward along the northern periphery of a subtropical ridge and briefly re-developed more convection, but degenerated into a remnant low late on October 28 about 470 mi (755 km) east-northeast of Bermuda. The remnant low opened into a trough over the central Atlantic late on October 31.

Barbuda and Antigua both received minimal damage, though blackouts occurred across both islands. At least two families on Barbuda had to be evacuated. Among the islands of Guadeloupe, only La Désirade experienced hurricane-force winds. There were no reports of serious storm damage. Rainfall amounts across the Leeward Islands were between 4 and 8 in (100 and 200 mm), and storm surge heights were between 1 and 3 ft (0.30 and 0.91 m). Bermuda was impacted with wind gusts of 40 mph (65 km/h).

Tropical Depression Twenty-One

On October 20, a broad area of low pressure developed over the far southwestern Caribbean Sea. As the disturbance moved slowly towards the coast of Nicaragua on October 23, its surface circulation became more defined and heavy thunderstorm activity grew more intense and organized, resulting in the formation of Tropical Depression Twenty-One that afternoon. The depression quickly made landfall in Nicaragua early the next morning and dissipated shortly afterwards. The remnants of the depression crossed over Central America and contributed to the formation of Tropical Storm Pilar in the Eastern Pacific.

Other system

A broad area of low pressure formed over the southwestern Caribbean Sea on November 14. The disturbance became more organized on November 16. Satellite images and data gathered during a U.S. Air Force Reserve hurricane hunter flight showed that the system had a closed yet elongated circulation, but there was not a well-defined low level center. At 21:00 UTC that afternoon, the NHC designated the system Potential Tropical Cyclone Twenty-Two. The system was unable to organize further due to persistent high wind shear, and only produced near gale-force peak winds of 30–35 mph (45–55 km/h). At 03:00 UTC on November 18 the NHC issued its final advisory on the system.

Though tropical cyclogenesis was stifled, the disturbance generated intense thunderstorms spreading from southeastern Central America across a wide swath of the Greater Antilles. The disturbance caused heavy rainfall across portions of Jamaica, where 24 people were rescued and 14,000 power outages occurred, eastern Cuba, and Haiti, where two people were swept away by flood waters and drowned. Heavy downpours also occurred in the Dominican Republic.

Storm names

The following list of names was used for named storms that formed in the North Atlantic in 2023. This was the same list used in the 2017 season, with the exceptions of Harold, Idalia, Margot, and Nigel, which replaced Harvey, Irma, Maria, and Nate, respectively. Each of the new names was used in 2023 for the first time. There were no names retired following the season, so the same list will be used again for the 2029 season.

Season effects

This is a table of all of the storms that formed in the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. It includes their duration, names, intensities, areas affected, damages, and death totals. Deaths in parentheses are additional and indirect (an example of an indirect death would be a traffic accident), but were still related to that storm. Damage and deaths include totals while the storm was extratropical, a wave, or a low, and all of the damage figures are in 2023 USD.

See also

• Weather of 2023
• Tropical cyclones in 2023
• 2023 Pacific hurricane season
• 2023 Pacific typhoon season
• 2023 North Indian Ocean cyclone season
• South-West Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 2022–23, 2023–24
• Australian region cyclone seasons: 2022–23, 2023–24
• South Pacific cyclone seasons: 2022–23, 2023–24

Notes

References

External links

• National Hurricane Center website