1978 Atlantic hurricane season
| 1978 Atlantic hurricane season |
Season summary map
|
| Seasonal boundaries |
| First system formed |
January 18, 1978 |
| Last system dissipated |
November 1, 1978 |
| Strongest storm |
|
| Name |
Greta |
| • Maximum winds |
130 mph (215 km/h)
(1-minute sustained) |
| • Lowest pressure |
947 mbar (hPa; 27.97 inHg) |
| Seasonal statistics |
| Total depressions |
24 |
| Total storms |
12 |
| Hurricanes |
5 |
Major hurricanes
(Cat. 3+) |
2 |
| Total fatalities |
41 |
| Total damage |
$135 million (1978 USD) |
|
|
Atlantic hurricane seasons
1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980
|
| Subtropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
January 18 – January 23 |
| Peak intensity |
45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min) 1002 mbar (hPa) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
July 30 – August 1 |
| Peak intensity |
50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min) 1005 mbar (hPa) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
August 6 – August 8 |
| Peak intensity |
50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min) 1005 mbar (hPa) |
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
August 7 – August 12 |
| Peak intensity |
90 mph (150 km/h) (1-min) 980 mbar (hPa) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
August 26 – August 29 |
| Peak intensity |
60 mph (95 km/h) (1-min) 1000 mbar (hPa) |
| Category 4 hurricane (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
August 30 – September 5 |
| Peak intensity |
140 mph (220 km/h) (1-min) 956 mbar (hPa) |
| Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
September 4 – September 15 |
| Peak intensity |
100 mph (155 km/h) (1-min) 976 mbar (hPa) |
| Category 4 hurricane (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
September 13 – September 20 (Exited basin)
|
| Peak intensity |
130 mph (215 km/h) (1-min) 947 mbar (hPa) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
September 12 – September 21 |
| Peak intensity |
65 mph (100 km/h) (1-min) 987 mbar (hPa) |
The 1978 Atlantic hurricane season was the last Atlantic hurricane season to use an all-female naming list. The hurricane season officially began on June 1, and ended on November 30. It was an above average season due to a subsiding El Niño. The first storm, a subtropical storm, developed unusually early – on January 18 – and dissipated five days later without causing any damage. At the end of July and early August, short-lived Tropical Storm Amelia caused extensive flooding in Texas after dropping as much as 48 in (1,200 mm) of rain. There were 33 deaths and $110 million (1978 USD) in damage. Tropical Storm Bess and Hurricane Cora resulted in only minor land impacts, while the latter was attributed to one fatality.
Later in August, Tropical Storm Debra produced widespread effects, though damage was also relatively minor. Hurricane Ella became the northernmost Category 4 hurricane while located at 38°N, and lashed the East Coast of the United States and Atlantic Canada with gusty winds and rip currents. Hurricanes Flossie and Kendra as well as Tropical Storms Hope, Irma, and Juliet caused minimal land impacts as a tropical cyclone. However, the precursor to Hurricane Kendra caused flooding in Puerto Rico. Hurricane Greta brought strong winds, high tides, and flooding to Central America, particularly Belize and Honduras. Greta resulted in about $25 million in damage and at least five fatalities. Overall, the storms of this season collectively caused $191 million in damage and 42 fatalities. Hurricane Greta crossed into the eastern pacific and was renamed Olivia.
The Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 1978. Although 24 tropical cyclones developed, only twelve of them reached tropical storm intensity, which is slightly above the 1966-2009 average of 11.3 named storms per season. Of the twelve tropical storms, five of them strengthened into a hurricane, which is slightly below the 1966-2009 average of 6.2. Two of the five hurricane became major hurricanes, which is Category 3 or greater on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale. Three tropical storms and two hurricanes made landfall during the season and caused at least 41 fatalities and $135 million. Additionally, the precursor to Hurricane Kendra brought flooding to Puerto Rico, with $6 million in damage and one death. The season officially ended on November 30, 1978.
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