All seasons · Atlantic
1986 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1986 Atlantic season has 10 storms in the best-track record; 6 reached tropical-storm strength and 4 became hurricanes, none of them major. Its accumulated cyclone energy of 35.8 is the 24th-lowest of the 175 seasons in the Atlantic record since 1851. Earl was the strongest, peaking at 105 mph as a Category 2 hurricane. Landfall records exist for 2 of its storms, in North Carolina and Texas. The first record is dated June 5, the last November 21.
Storm by storm
Formation peaked in August and September, with 3 storms each. Earl both lasted longest, 8.0 days as a tropical or subtropical system, and contributed the most energy, 55% of the season's ACE. Strongest landfall of each storm: Bonnie reached Texas as a Category 1 hurricane on June 26; Charley reached North Carolina as a Category 1 hurricane on August 17.
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Strength | Lowest | Landfalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew | Jun 5–8 | 50 mph | Tropical storm | 999 mb | – |
| Bonnie | Jun 23–28 | 85 mph | Category 1 | 990 mb | Texas |
| Storm 3 of 1986 | Jul 23–28 | 35 mph | Depression | – | – |
| Storm 4 of 1986 | Aug 4–5 | 35 mph | Depression | – | – |
| Charley | Aug 13–20 | 80 mph | Category 1 | 987 mb | North Carolina |
| Storm 6 of 1986 | Aug 30 – Sep 4 | 35 mph | Depression | – | – |
| Storm 7 of 1986 | Sep 1–4 | 35 mph | Depression | – | – |
| Danielle | Sep 7–10 | 60 mph | Tropical storm | 1000 mb | – |
| Earl | Sep 10–18 | 105 mph | Category 2 | 979 mb | – |
| Frances | Nov 18–21 | 85 mph | Category 1 | 1000 mb | – |
Against other Atlantic seasons
Accumulated cyclone energy of every season; the red bar is 1986.