1978 Atlantic hurricane season facts for kids
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| Season summary map | |
| First storm formed | January 18, 1978 |
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| Last storm dissipated | November 1, 1978 |
| Strongest storm | Greta – 947 mbar (hPa) (27.98 inHg), 130 mph (215 km/h) (1-minute sustained) |
| Total storms | 12 |
| Hurricanes | 5 |
| Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+) | 2 |
| Total fatalities | 37 |
| Total damage | $45 million (1978 USD) |
| Atlantic hurricane seasons 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980 |
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The 1978 Atlantic hurricane season was a period when tropical storms and hurricanes formed in the Atlantic Ocean. It officially began on June 1, 1978, and ended on November 30, 1978. These dates show when most storms usually happen.
However, storms can sometimes form outside these dates. The 1978 season is a great example of this. A special type of storm, called a Subtropical Storm, formed way back in January. This was long before the official start of the season.
Overall, the 1978 season had an average number of storms. There were 12 named storms, with 5 of them becoming hurricanes. This year was also important because it was the last time that only female names were used for storms. Starting in 1979, male names were added to the list.
Contents
Storms of 1978
Subtropical Storm One
| Subtropical storm (SSHS) | |||
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| Duration | January 18 – January 23 | ||
| Intensity | 45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min), 1002 mbar (hPa) | ||
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Subtropical Storm One gave the 1978 hurricane season a very early start. It formed on January 18, making it the only Atlantic cyclone to form in January. This storm lasted until January 23.
It did not cause any damage on land. It only briefly threatened some coastal areas. Since 1978, no other tropical or subtropical storm has formed in the month of January.
Tropical Storm Amelia
| Tropical storm (SSHS) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Duration | July 30 – August 1 | ||
| Intensity | 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min), 1005 mbar (hPa) | ||
Tropical Storm Amelia formed on July 30. It appeared just off the coast of Brownsville, Texas. Amelia soon moved onto land in Texas. It quickly lost strength and disappeared.
However, while Amelia moved across Texas, it caused a lot of rain. Some areas received up to 40 inches of rain. This heavy rainfall led to about 30 deaths.
Other Named Storms
Besides Subtropical Storm One and Tropical Storm Amelia, there were other storms in 1978. These storms also had names, following the naming system for hurricanes.
- Tropical Storm Bess
- Hurricane Cora
- Tropical Storm Debra
- Hurricane Ella
- Hurricane Flossie
- Hurricane Greta
- Tropical Storm Hope
- Tropical Storm Irma
- Tropical Storm Juliet
- Hurricane Kendra
Storm Names of 1978
Here is the full list of names chosen for the 1978 Atlantic hurricane season. Names that were not used are shown in gray (unused).
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Images for kids
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Hurricane Greta directly north of Honduras on September 18
See also
In Spanish: Temporada de huracanes en el Atlántico de 1978 para niños
