The 2022 Atlantic hurricane season, which officially spanned from June 1 to November 30, produced a final count of 14 named tropical storms. This figure is the standard metric used by meteorologists to assess the season’s activity level. Tracking these events provides data for understanding tropical cyclone trends and helps coastal communities prepare for potential impacts.
What Qualifies as a Named Tropical Storm?
A weather system must meet specific technical criteria before it is officially classified and assigned a name. The process begins when a rotating, organized system of clouds and thunderstorms forms over tropical or subtropical waters, initially known as a tropical cyclone. If the system develops a closed low-level circulation but maintains maximum sustained winds of 38 miles per hour (mph) or less, it is designated a tropical depression.
A tropical depression is upgraded to a tropical storm once its maximum sustained surface winds reach 39 mph. At this threshold, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) assigns the system the next available name from a predetermined alphabetical list. This naming convention is managed by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and uses six rotating lists of names.
The Final Count: Atlantic Named Storms of 2022
The 2022 Atlantic season yielded 14 named storms, with eight systems intensifying to become hurricanes. Two of the eight hurricanes reached major hurricane status (Category 3 strength or higher) on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, meaning they had maximum sustained winds of 111 mph or greater.
The two major hurricanes were Fiona and Ian. Hurricane Fiona reached Category 4 status, causing immense damage in Puerto Rico and Atlantic Canada. Hurricane Ian also reached Category 4 intensity at its initial U.S. landfall, becoming one of the costliest storms in U.S. history.
The 14 named storms for the 2022 season were:
- Alex
- Bonnie
- Colin
- Danielle
- Earl
- Fiona
- Gaston
- Hermine
- Ian
- Julia
- Karl
- Lisa
- Martin
- Nicole
Comparing 2022 Activity to Baseline Averages
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) determines an average Atlantic season using the 30-year period from 1991 to 2020 as its baseline. The official average is 14 named storms, seven hurricanes, and three major hurricanes. The 2022 season recorded 14 named storms, eight hurricanes, and two major hurricanes.
The 2022 season was statistically near-normal for named storms. It was slightly above average for the number of hurricanes (eight versus the average of seven). However, the season finished below the average for major hurricanes (two against the baseline of three). This mix of activity led the NHC to characterize the season as near-normal.
Key Features and Anomalies of the 2022 Season
One of the most notable meteorological features of the 2022 season was the striking mid-season pause in storm development. No named storm formed anywhere in the Atlantic basin between early July and late August, marking the first time this had occurred since 1997. This quiet period was an anomaly, particularly during the climatological peak of the hurricane season.
The lull was primarily attributed to unfavorable atmospheric conditions over the main development region of the tropical Atlantic. A persistent layer of dry, dusty air known as the Saharan Air Layer (SAL) moved off the coast of Africa. The SAL inhibits tropical cyclone formation by injecting dry air that suppresses thunderstorm activity and by bringing strong vertical wind shear that disrupts storm systems.
Activity dramatically increased in September, which saw the formation of seven named storms, including the season’s two major hurricanes, Fiona and Ian. Although the La Niña climate pattern, which typically favors increased Atlantic activity, remained robust throughout the season, the early-season influence of the SAL and high wind shear seemed to temporarily counteract its effects. This led to a season that was quiet for many weeks but still delivered devastating impacts from the storms that did manage to form.