All seasons · Atlantic
1953 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1953 Atlantic season has 14 storms in the best-track record; 14 reached tropical-storm strength and 7 became hurricanes, 3 of them major. Its accumulated cyclone energy of 98.5 is the 63rd-highest of the 175 seasons in the Atlantic record since 1851. Carol was the strongest, peaking at 160 mph as a Category 5 hurricane. Landfall records exist for 7 of its storms, in Bermuda, Cuba, Florida, Honduras, New Brunswick, North Carolina and Nova Scotia. The first record is dated May 25, the last December 9.
Storm by storm
More storms formed in September than in any other month of 1953: 4 of 14. Alice lasted longest, 12.5 days as a tropical or subtropical system. Carol contributed the most energy, 33% of the season's ACE. Strongest landfall of each storm: Alice reached Cuba as a tropical storm on May 31; Barbara reached North Carolina as a Category 1 hurricane on August 14; Carol reached Nova Scotia as a Category 1 hurricane on September 7; Dolly reached Bermuda as a tropical storm on September 12; Storm 8 of 1953 reached Florida as a tropical storm on September 20; Florence reached Florida as a Category 1 hurricane on September 26; Hazel reached Florida as a Category 1 hurricane on October 9.
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Strength | Lowest | Landfalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alice | May 25 – Jun 7 | 70 mph | Tropical storm | 994 mb | Honduras, Cuba, Florida |
| Storm 2 of 1953 | Jul 11–15 | 50 mph | Tropical storm | – | – |
| Barbara | Aug 11–15 | 90 mph | Category 1 | 973 mb | North Carolina |
| Carol | Aug 28 – Sep 8 | 160 mph | Category 5 | 929 mb | Nova Scotia, New Brunswick |
| Storm 5 of 1953 | Aug 29 – Sep 1 | 40 mph | Tropical storm | 1007 mb | – |
| Dolly | Sep 8–12 | 75 mph | Category 1 | 989 mb | Bermuda |
| Edna | Sep 15–18 | 115 mph | Category 3 | 962 mb | – |
| Storm 8 of 1953 | Sep 15–21 | 50 mph | Tropical storm | 1004 mb | Florida |
| Florence | Sep 23–27 | 115 mph | Category 3 | 968 mb | Florida |
| Gail | Oct 2–12 | 80 mph | Category 1 | 986 mb | – |
| Storm 11 of 1953 | Oct 3–6 | 45 mph | Tropical storm | – | – |
| Hazel | Oct 7–10 | 85 mph | Category 1 | 1002 mb | Florida |
| Storm 13 of 1953 | Nov 23–26 | 50 mph | Tropical storm | 999 mb | – |
| Storm 14 of 1953 | Dec 7–9 | 65 mph | Tropical storm | – | – |
Against other Atlantic seasons
Accumulated cyclone energy of every season; the red bar is 1953.