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Hurricane Season 2013: By the Numbers

Season of Inactivity

The 2013 Atlantic hurricane season has come to a close. Let's look back at the season by the numbers.

Hurricane Season by the Numbers: 1968

The 2013 Atlantic hurricane season ended with something that hasn't happened in 45 years.

No hurricanes were rated Category 2 or greater in the Atlantic, Caribbean or Gulf of Mexico, the first year without a Category 2 or stronger hurricane in the Atlantic basin since 1968.

The season's lone two hurricanes, Humberto and Ingrid, only reached Category 1 strength.

NEXT> 1994

Hurricane Season by the Numbers: 1994

The 2013 Atlantic hurricane season was the first since 1994 to not have a single major (Category 3 or stronger) hurricane in the Atlantic, Caribbean or Gulf of Mexico.

Since the satellite era began in 1960, only four years have had no Category 3 or stronger hurricanes (1968, 1972, 1986 and 1994). That's an average of about once every 13 years that we see an Atlantic hurricane season with no majors.

NEXT> 1982

Hurricane Season by the Numbers: 1982

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As mentioned before, Humberto and Ingrid were the only two hurricanes to form during the 2013 Atlantic hurricane season.

This was the first time since 1982 with two or less Atlantic hurricanes, thanks to the dominance of sinking, dry air and wind shear in the Atlantic Basin.

NEXT> 3 Hours

Hurricane Season by the Numbers: 3 Hours

Track history of Hurricane Humberto from Sep. 8-19, 2013.  Note: Humberto was a remnant low from early AM on Sep. 14 through early AM on Sep. 16.
Path of Hurricane Humberto in September 2013.

Hurricane Humberto became the first hurricane of the 2013 Atlantic season at 5 a.m. on Sept. 11.

Humberto was just three hours short of being the latest in the season that the first hurricane has developed. That record is still held by Hurricane Gustav in 2002, pending a later scientific review of 2013 hurricane track and intensity data after the season ends.

NEXT> 2005

Hurricane Season by the Numbers: 2005

The Colonial Bank building, damaged by Hurricane Wilma, stands October 26, 2005 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Carlo Allegri/Getty Images)
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Miami

The Colonial Bank building, damaged by Hurricane Wilma, stands October 26, 2005 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Carlo Allegri/Getty Images)

Above: Photos of the damage caused by Hurricane Wilma

The 2013 season was the eighth consecutive hurricane season without a major hurricane landfall in the United States. A major hurricane is classified as a Category 3 or stronger hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

Hurricane Wilma's landfall in southern Florida as a Category 3 on Oct. 24, 2005 was the last time that a major hurricane hit the U.S.

But as we've seen in recent years, Category 1 or 2 hurricanes and even tropical storms can cause extreme damage. This is illustrated by Hurricane Sandy (2012), Hurricane Irene (2011) and Hurricane Ike (2008).

NEXT> 8 Years

Hurricane Season by the Numbers: 8 Years

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The eight tropical storms that have hit Florida from 2006-2013.

Hurricane Wilma was also the last hurricane to make landfall in the state of Florida. The anniversary of Wilma's landfall on Oct. 24, 2013 marked eight years since the Sunshine State was last hit by a hurricane.

This is the longest stretch of consecutive years since 1851 that no hurricanes have hit the state.

Although Florida hasn't seen any hurricanes since October 2005, it has had quite a few encounters with tropical storms.

Eight tropical storms have made landfall in Florida since 2006. Another tropical storm, Barry in 2007, approached the Tampa area as tropical storm but officially made landfall as a tropical depression.

NEXT> 13 Storms

Hurricane Season by the Numbers: 13 Storms

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Tracks of this season's 13 named storms and one tropical depression through November 21, 2013.

The 2013 Atlantic hurricane season spawned 13 named storms.

This number exceeds the 30-year average number of named storms per season from 1981 to 2010 (12 named storms). However, many of the storms in 2013 did not hang around long due to dry air, wind shear or a combination of the two.

When examining the number of hurricanes, this season's total of two is well below the 30-year average of six.

NEXT> 1 Landfall

Hurricane Season by the Numbers: 1 Landfall

'This is the scene in many areas across Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. Location: near the Miami International Airport. Pic courtesy of Adrian Linares.' (NWS Miami/Adrian Linares)
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Miami, Fla.

'This is the scene in many areas across Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. Location: near the Miami International Airport. Pic courtesy of Adrian Linares.' (NWS Miami/Adrian Linares)
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Above: Photos from Tropical Storm Andrea

Only one named storm made landfall in the United States during the 2013 hurricane season.

The first storm of the season, Tropical Storm Andrea, moved inland near Steinhatchee, Fla. on June 6, 2013. 

Andrea brought heavy rain to Florida and spawned around 10 tornadoes in the state. From there, Andrea moved northward near the East Coast while transitioning to a post-tropical cyclone. This resulted in a swath of heavy rainfall from eastern North Carolina to Maine.

According to the National Hurricane Center report, property damage from Andrea was minor overall.

NEXT> 8 Landfalls

Hurricane Season by the Numbers: 8 Landfalls

Above: Photos of Hurricane Raymond's impacts on some of the same areas hit by Manuel

Although 2013 was a mostly quiet hurricane season in the U.S., the same cannot be said for Mexico.

There have been eight landfalling tropical storms or hurricanes in Mexico in 2013, through Sonia on Nov. 4, 2013.

Mexico's Gulf of Mexico coastline was hit by Hurricane Ingrid, Tropical Storm Barry, Tropical Storm Fernand and Tropical Depression Eight in 2013.

The Pacific coast of Mexico was also hard hit.

Five named storms, Barbara, Juliette, Manuel, Octave and Sonia made landfall in Mexico from the eastern Pacific Ocean.

That's a combined total of eight named storms that made landfall in Mexico in 2013. If you add in the tropical depression, the total number of landfalls is nine.

In addition, Raymond and Erick did not make landfall, but produced significant impacts along Mexico's Pacific coast.

Several of these storms caused deadly flooding and mudslides. According to the Associated Press, Manuel alone killed about 120 people.

IMAGES: Hurricanes From Space

Hurricane Igor is featured in this Sept. 14, 2010, image photographed by an Expedition 24 crew member on the International Space Station. (NASA)
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Hurricane Igor is featured in this Sept. 14, 2010, image photographed by an Expedition 24 crew member on the International Space Station. (NASA)
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