1986 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1986 Atlantic hurricane season was an ongoing event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. It officially started June 1, 1986, and lasted until November 30, 1986.
Few storms in 1986 caused significant damage. Hurricane Bonnie caused heavy rains and flooding across southeast Texas when it made landfall near Sea Rim State Park. Hurricane Charley caused limited damage in North Carolina and Massachusetts, but crossed the Atlantic as an extratropical low pressure system and caused considerable damage in Ireland and Great Britain.
| Category | m/s | knots | mph | km/h |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | ≥ 70 | ≥ 137 | ≥ 157 | ≥ 252 |
| 4 | 58–70 | 113–136 | 130–156 | 209–251 |
| 3 | 50–58 | 96–112 | 111–129 | 178–208 |
| 2 | 43–49 | 83–95 | 96–110 | 154–177 |
| 1 | 33–42 | 64–82 | 74–95 | 119–153 |
| TS | 18–32 | 34–63 | 39–73 | 63–118 |
| TD | ≤ 17 | ≤ 33 | ≤ 38 | ≤ 62 |
Storms
Tropical Storm Andrew
Tropical Depression One formed on June 5 north of the Bahamas. It strengthened into Tropical Storm Andrew the next day. Andrew headed along the east coast of the United States, causing riptides and high surf along the shore but little else. Andrew dissipated south of Cape Cod.
Hurricane Bonnie
Tropical Depression Two formed south of the Louisiana coast on June 23 and quickly strengthened into a hurricane. Bonnie made landfall on the upper Texas coast near High Island. Streets were flooded throughout Southeast Texas, mobile homes were destroyed, and three people were killed. Bonnie caused $1.430 million dollars in damage.
Hurricane Charley
Tropical Depression Three formed off the coast of the Florida Panhandle and moved inland. The depression moved off the coast near Savannah, Georgia and strengthened into Tropical Storm Charley. Charley moved up the South Carolina coast and strengthened into a hurricane. The hurricane moved over the Outer Banks of North Carolina and skimmed the Delmarva Peninsula and turned out to sea. Charley became extratropical in the north Atlantic. Charley was responsible for five deaths and $1.015 million in damage.
Tropical Storm Danielle
Tropical Depression Four formed east of the Windward Islands. It strengthened into Tropical Storm Danielle near Barbados. Danielle moved across the Windward Islands, producing high winds and seas before dissipating in the central Caribbean.
Hurricane Earl
Earl was the strongest storm of the season. The storm began as Tropical Depression Five in the central Atlantic. The depression quickly strengthened and reached hurricane strength the next day. The storm peaked as a Category 2 as it made a half circle, weakened to a Category 1 and bounced back the way it came. Earl then turned north and became extratropical southeast of Newfoundland. At its peak, Earl had sustained winds of an unimpressive 103 mph and a minimum central pressure of 979 millibars.
Hurricane Frances
Tropical Depression Six formed on November 18 and quickly strengthened into a tropical storm. The storm curved northeast and strengthened further, reaching hurricane strength on the 20th of November. However, a high pressure system to the north caused the storm to fall apart. Frances was absorbed by an extratropical low on the 21st.
1986 Hurricane names
The following names were used for named storms (tropical storms and hurricanes) that formed in the North Atlantic in 1986.
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Retirement
The World Meteorological Organization retired no names used in the 1986 season.