All seasons · Atlantic
1956 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1956 Atlantic season has 12 storms in the best-track record; 12 reached tropical-storm strength and 4 became hurricanes, 1 of them major. Its accumulated cyclone energy of 56.7 is the 53rd-lowest of the 175 seasons in the Atlantic record since 1851. Betsy was the strongest, peaking at 120 mph as a Category 3 hurricane. Landfall records exist for 5 of its storms, in Florida, Louisiana and Veracruz. The first record is dated June 7, the last November 21.
Storm by storm
More storms formed in September than in any other month of 1956: 4 of 12. Betsy both lasted longest, 9.5 days as a tropical or subtropical system, and contributed the most energy, 50% of the season's ACE. Strongest landfall of each storm: Storm 1 of 1956 reached Louisiana as a tropical storm on June 13; Anna reached Veracruz as a Category 1 hurricane on July 26; Dora reached Veracruz as a tropical storm on September 12; Flossy reached Florida as a Category 1 hurricane on September 25; Storm 11 of 1956 reached Florida as a tropical storm on October 15.
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Strength | Lowest | Landfalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Storm 9 of 1956 | Jun 7–9 | 45 mph | Tropical storm | 1002 mb | – |
| Storm 1 of 1956 | Jun 12–15 | 60 mph | Tropical storm | 1001 mb | Louisiana |
| Anna | Jul 25–27 | 85 mph | Category 1 | 991 mb | Veracruz |
| Betsy | Aug 9–18 | 120 mph | Category 3 | 954 mb | – |
| Carla | Sep 7–10 | 60 mph | Tropical storm | 1000 mb | – |
| Dora | Sep 10–13 | 60 mph | Tropical storm | 1000 mb | Veracruz |
| Ethel | Sep 11–14 | 60 mph | Tropical storm | 999 mb | – |
| Flossy | Sep 20–25 | 90 mph | Category 1 | 974 mb | Louisiana, Florida |
| Storm 10 of 1956 | Oct 9–12 | 45 mph | Tropical storm | – | – |
| Storm 11 of 1956 | Oct 14–17 | 65 mph | Tropical storm | 996 mb | Florida |
| Greta | Oct 31 – Nov 6 | 100 mph | Category 2 | 970 mb | – |
| Storm 12 of 1956 | Nov 19–21 | 45 mph | Tropical storm | – | – |
Against other Atlantic seasons
Accumulated cyclone energy of every season; the red bar is 1956.