(1) What is the average number of hurricanes per year?

Table 8a shows the years of maximum and minimum tropical storm, hurricane, and major hurricane activity for the Atlantic hurricane basin. Minimum tropical cyclone activity prior to the satellite surveillance era is uncertain and likely to be underrepresented. Activity during 2005 was far above the previous records for the most number of tropical storms and hurricanes, but 1950 is still the record-holder for the maximum number of major hurricanes. The two year period of 2004-2005 was one of the most active ever seen in the Atlantic basin, setting records for most number of tropical storms and hurricanes in a two year period and tying the record (13) for the most number of major hurricanes set in 1950-1951. It is also of note that seven out of the last twelve years have experienced fourteen or more tropical storms.

Table 8b lists the years of maximum U.S. hurricane and major hurricane strikes. 2005 set the record for the most U.S. major hurricane strikes since 1851 and tied for second-most hurricane strikes. 2004-2005 produced twelve U.S. hurricane strikes, eclipsing the previous record of eleven hurricane strikes in consecutive years, set in 1886-1887. 2006 did not have a hurricane strike, and the only times that the United States has gone as long as two years without a hurricane strike are 1862-64, 1930-31, 1981-82 and 2000-01. Note there is considerable uncertainty before 1900 because significant areas of the Gulf and Southeast Atlantic coasts were unpopulated. Three or four hurricanes have struck the United States in one year a total of 37 times. Multiple U.S. major hurricane strikes in one year are somewhat rare, occurring on average about once every decade.