All seasons · Atlantic
1988 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1988 Atlantic season has 19 storms in the best-track record; 12 reached tropical-storm strength and 5 became hurricanes, 3 of them major. Its accumulated cyclone energy of 103.0 is the 58th-highest of the 175 seasons in the Atlantic record since 1851. Gilbert was the strongest, peaking at 185 mph as a Category 5 hurricane. Landfall records exist for 6 of its storms, in Colombia, Florida, Georgia, Grenada, Jamaica, Louisiana, Nicaragua, Quintana Roo, Tamaulipas and Veracruz. The first record is dated May 31, the last November 24.
Storm by storm
More storms formed in September than in any other month of 1988: 8 of 19. Joan lasted longest, 12.5 days as a tropical or subtropical system. Gilbert contributed the most energy, 32% of the season's ACE. Strongest landfall of each storm: Chris reached Georgia as a tropical storm on August 28; Debby reached Veracruz as a Category 1 hurricane on September 3; Florence reached Louisiana as a Category 1 hurricane on September 10; Gilbert reached Quintana Roo as a Category 5 hurricane on September 14; Joan reached Nicaragua as a Category 4 hurricane on October 22; Keith reached Quintana Roo as a tropical storm on November 21.
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Strength | Lowest | Landfalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Storm 13 of 1988 | May 31 – Jun 2 | 30 mph | Depression | – | – |
| Alberto | Aug 5–8 | 40 mph | Tropical storm | 1002 mb | – |
| Beryl | Aug 8–10 | 50 mph | Tropical storm | 1001 mb | – |
| Storm 14 of 1988 | Aug 13–14 | 35 mph | Depression | – | – |
| Storm 15 of 1988 | Aug 20–31 | 35 mph | Depression | – | – |
| Storm 16 of 1988 | Aug 20–24 | 35 mph | Depression | – | – |
| Chris | Aug 21–29 | 50 mph | Tropical storm | 1005 mb | Georgia |
| Debby | Aug 31 – Sep 8 | 75 mph | Category 1 | 987 mb | Veracruz |
| Ernesto | Sep 3–5 | 65 mph | Tropical storm | 994 mb | – |
| Storm 17 of 1988 | Sep 4–4 | 35 mph | Depression | – | – |
| Storm 6 of 1988 | Sep 7–10 | 60 mph | Tropical storm | 994 mb | – |
| Florence | Sep 7–11 | 80 mph | Category 1 | 982 mb | Louisiana |
| Gilbert | Sep 8–19 | 185 mph | Category 5 | 888 mb | Jamaica, Quintana Roo, Tamaulipas |
| Helene | Sep 19–30 | 145 mph | Category 4 | 938 mb | – |
| Storm 18 of 1988 | Sep 27–29 | 30 mph | Depression | – | – |
| Isaac | Sep 28 – Oct 1 | 45 mph | Tropical storm | 1005 mb | – |
| Joan | Oct 10–23 | 145 mph | Category 4 | 932 mb | Grenada, Colombia, Nicaragua |
| Storm 19 of 1988 | Oct 19–21 | 35 mph | Depression | – | – |
| Keith | Nov 17–24 | 70 mph | Tropical storm | 985 mb | Quintana Roo, Florida |
Against other Atlantic seasons
Accumulated cyclone energy of every season; the red bar is 1988.