Here is part two of my series on the North Atlantic Hurricane Season of 2006…
Hurricane Florence formed on September 3rd about 600 miles east of the Lesser Antilles. It gradually recurved with Bermuda in its sights. Florence passed near the island of Bermuda on September 11th. Winds gusted to 90mph on the island, but damage was minimal. Florence brought hurricane force winds to Newfoundland after it had lost tropical characteristics.
Hurricane Gordon was one of two major hurricanes that occurred during the season. It formed on September 11th, about 450 miles northeast of the Leeward Islands. It recurved and reached the Azores as a hurricane. It also brought high winds and heavy rains to Europe after it became extratropical.
Helene was a strong Cape Verde storm that remained over the open water.
Hurricane Issac formed in late September east southeast of Bermuda. It recurved to the northeast, and brought tropical storm force winds to the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland, even though the center remained offshore.
For the first time since 1994, no tropical storms formed in October. On average, two systems are named in the tenth month. That good luck would continue into November.
The season totals were slightly below normal with nine named storms in 2006, including five hurricanes and two major hurricanes. The long term averages going back to 1950 were 10.3 names storms, 6.2 hurricanes and 2.7 major hurricanes. It was just that against the backdrop of the active years that started in 1996, the 2005 numbers were low. Between 1995 and 2005, the averages had spiked to 15.2 named storms, 8.5 hurricanes and 4.1 major hurricanes.
