A total of 12 hurricanes formed in the Atlantic basin in 2010, but none made landfall in the United States – a first in recorded history. Half of the hurricanes curved out into the Atlantic Ocean and the other half moved into the Caribbean Sea.
According to a press release from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the 12 hurricanes were part of 19 named storms that formed in the basin – the third highest number on record, tied with the years 1887 and 1995. Five of those storms reached major hurricane status of Category 3 or higher.
Colorado State meteorologist William Gray told USA Today that the chances of none of the 12 hurricanes making contact with the United States was between two and three percent. Gray and Philip Klotzbach, who are both part of Colorado State University’s Department of Atmospheric Science, released a study of Atlantic tropical cyclone activity for 2010.
The hurricane season officially ends on Nov. 30.
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