All seasons · Atlantic
1973 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1973 Atlantic season has 14 storms in the best-track record; 12 reached tropical-storm strength and 5 became hurricanes, 1 of them major. Its accumulated cyclone energy of 49.1 is tied for the 38th-lowest of the 175 seasons in the Atlantic record since 1851. Ellen was the strongest, peaking at 115 mph as a Category 3 hurricane. Landfall records exist for 5 of its storms, in Belize, Campeche, Cuba, Newfoundland and Labrador, Quintana Roo and Texas. The first record is dated April 25, the last November 20.
Storm by storm
More storms formed in September than in any other month of 1973: 4 of 14. Gilda lasted longest, 10.8 days as a tropical or subtropical system. Ellen contributed the most energy, 30% of the season's ACE. Strongest landfall of each storm: Alice reached Newfoundland and Labrador as a tropical storm on July 6; Storm 19 of 1973 reached Belize as a tropical storm on July 24; Brenda reached Campeche as a Category 1 hurricane on August 21; Delia reached Texas as a tropical storm on September 5; Gilda reached Cuba as a tropical storm on October 18.
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Strength | Lowest | Landfalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Storm 18 of 1973 | Apr 25–26 | 35 mph | Depression | 1006 mb | – |
| Alice | Jul 1–6 | 85 mph | Category 1 | 984 mb | Newfoundland and Labrador |
| Storm 19 of 1973 | Jul 23–25 | 45 mph | Tropical storm | 1007 mb | Belize |
| Alfa | Jul 30 – Aug 2 | 45 mph | Tropical storm | 1005 mb | – |
| Brenda | Aug 18–22 | 90 mph | Category 1 | 977 mb | Quintana Roo, Campeche |
| Christine | Aug 26 – Sep 4 | 60 mph | Tropical storm | 999 mb | – |
| Delia | Sep 2–7 | 85 mph | Category 1 | 986 mb | Texas |
| Storm 11 of 1973 | Sep 10–13 | 40 mph | Tropical storm | 1001 mb | – |
| Ellen | Sep 13–22 | 115 mph | Category 3 | 962 mb | – |
| Storm 13 of 1973 | Sep 24–26 | 35 mph | Depression | 1009 mb | – |
| Storm 20 of 1973 | Oct 6–10 | 65 mph | Tropical storm | 1008 mb | – |
| Fran | Oct 7–12 | 85 mph | Category 1 | 986 mb | – |
| Gilda | Oct 16–27 | 70 mph | Tropical storm | 984 mb | Cuba |
| Storm 17 of 1973 | Nov 17–20 | 40 mph | Tropical storm | 1006 mb | – |
Against other Atlantic seasons
Accumulated cyclone energy of every season; the red bar is 1973.