The 2005 Atlantic Hurricane Season was the most active of record with 27 tropical cyclones, breaking the old record of 21 set in 1933. Of the 27 tropical cyclones, 15 became hurricanes, breaking the old record of 12 set in 1969.  Seven of the hurricanes became major hurricanes, of which three (and perhaps four) Category 5 hurricanes.  Hurricane Wilma had the lowest minimum central pressure ever observed in an Atlantic hurricane with 882 millibars, or 26.05 inches of mercury, breaking the old record of 888 millibars in Hurricane Gilbert.

Nine named tropical cyclones affected the United States in 2005, of which six were hurricanes, and three were tropical storms.  Hurricanes Dennis, Katrina, Rita, and Wilma made landfall as major hurricanes, a record for the United States in one season.  Hurricanes Cindy and Ophelia affected the United States as category one hurricanes, with Ophelia’s eyewall staying just offshore the North Carolina coast.  Tropical storms Arlene and Tammy made direct landfalls, with the periphery effects of Hurricane Emily bringing tropical storm conditions to extreme South Texas. Arlene made landfall as a tropical storm near Pensacola, Florida at 2:00 PM CDT on June 11th, and affected Southern Alabama with tropical storm conditions.

Cindy made landfall as a category one hurricane just southwest of Grand Isle, Louisiana at 10:00 PM CDT on July 5th. Cindy weakened to a tropical storm before making a second landfall near Ansley, Mississippi at 4:00 AM CDT on July 6th.

Dennis made landfall as a category three hurricane near Santa Rosa Island, Florida at 2:30 CDT on July 10th, with category one hurricane conditions experienced across Southern Alabama.

Emily made landfall as a category three hurricane near Boca Madre, Mexico around 6:30 AM CDT on July 20th, and affected extreme South Texas with tropical storm conditions.

Katrina became a hurricane as it made landfall over Miami, Florida at 6:30 PM EDT August 25th, and spread category one hurricane conditions over extreme South Florida through the early morning hours of August 26th. Katrina went on to become a strong category five hurricane across the Southeastern Gulf of Mexico on August 28th. Katrina made landfall as a category three hurricane near Buras, Louisiana at 6:10 AM CDT, and just east of Slidell, Louisiana near the Pearl River at 9:45 AM CDT on August 29th, spreading hurricane conditions well inland across Southern and Central Mississippi.

Ophelia indirectly affected coastal North Carolina and the Outer Banks as a category one hurricane September 14-15th.

Rita brought category one hurricane conditions to the Florida Keys, with strong tropical storm conditions to South Florida. Rita went on to become a strong category five hurricane across the Southeastern Gulf of Mexico on September 21st & 22nd. Rita made landfall as a category three hurricane between Johnson’s Bayou, Louisiana and Sabine Pass, Texas around 2:30 AM CDT September 24th.

Tammy made landfall as a tropical storm near Jacksonville, Florida around 7:00 PM EDT on October 5th, and affected most of South Georgia with tropical storm conditions into the morning of October 6th.

Wilma made landfall as a category three hurricane near Cape Romano, Florida at 6:30 AM EDT on October 24th, moved across extreme south Florida, and exited as a category two hurricane near Jupiter around 11:00 AM EDT.

The next page will illustrate the tracks of all 27 tropical cyclones to affect the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico during 2005, along with detailed storm statistics as of January 31, 2006.