All seasons · Atlantic
1989 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1989 Atlantic season has 15 storms in the best-track record; 11 reached tropical-storm strength and 7 became hurricanes, 2 of them major. Its accumulated cyclone energy of 134.8 is tied for the 34th-highest of the 175 seasons in the Atlantic record since 1851. Hugo was the strongest, peaking at 160 mph as a Category 5 hurricane. Landfall records exist for 5 of its storms, in Guadeloupe, Newfoundland and Labrador, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Texas and the US Virgin Islands. The first record is dated June 15, the last December 4.
Storm by storm
More storms formed in August than in any other month of 1989: 5 of 15. Gabrielle lasted longest, 14.0 days as a tropical or subtropical system. Hugo contributed the most energy, 32% of the season's ACE. Strongest landfall of each storm: Allison reached Texas as a tropical storm on June 26; Chantal reached Texas as a Category 1 hurricane on August 1; Dean reached Newfoundland and Labrador as a tropical storm on August 8; Hugo reached South Carolina as a Category 4 hurricane on September 22; Jerry reached Texas as a Category 1 hurricane on October 16.
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Strength | Lowest | Landfalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Storm 1 of 1989 | Jun 15–17 | 30 mph | Depression | – | – |
| Allison | Jun 24–27 | 50 mph | Tropical storm | 999 mb | Texas |
| Barry | Jul 9–14 | 50 mph | Tropical storm | 1005 mb | – |
| Chantal | Jul 30 – Aug 3 | 80 mph | Category 1 | 984 mb | Texas |
| Dean | Jul 31 – Aug 8 | 105 mph | Category 2 | 968 mb | Newfoundland and Labrador |
| Storm 6 of 1989 | Aug 8–17 | 35 mph | Depression | – | – |
| Erin | Aug 18–27 | 105 mph | Category 2 | 968 mb | – |
| Felix | Aug 26 – Sep 9 | 85 mph | Category 1 | 979 mb | – |
| Storm 9 of 1989 | Aug 27–28 | 30 mph | Depression | – | – |
| Gabrielle | Aug 30 – Sep 13 | 145 mph | Category 4 | 935 mb | – |
| Hugo | Sep 10–22 | 160 mph | Category 5 | 918 mb | Guadeloupe, US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, South Carolina |
| Iris | Sep 16–21 | 70 mph | Tropical storm | 1001 mb | – |
| Storm 13 of 1989 | Oct 2–5 | 35 mph | Depression | – | – |
| Jerry | Oct 12–16 | 85 mph | Category 1 | 982 mb | Texas |
| Karen | Nov 28 – Dec 4 | 60 mph | Tropical storm | 1000 mb | – |
Against other Atlantic seasons
Accumulated cyclone energy of every season; the red bar is 1989.