1992 Atlantic hurricane season facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
1992 Atlantic hurricane season

First storm started:	April 21
Last storm ended:	October 30
Strongest storm:	Hurricane Andrew - 922 mbar, 175 mph winds
Number of storms:	7
Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+)	1
Cost of damage:	$26 billion (1992 USD) $39.9 billion (2008 USD)
People killed:	66
Nearest seasons	1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994

The 1992 Atlantic hurricane season was a time when tropical storms and hurricanes formed in the Atlantic Ocean. This season officially ran from June 1 to November 30, 1992. However, storms can sometimes form outside these dates. For example, the first storm of 1992, Subtropical Storm One, actually formed in April.

This season did not have many storms. There were only 7 named storms in total. These included 3 tropical depressions, 3 tropical storms, and 4 hurricanes. One of these hurricanes, Hurricane Andrew, became a very strong "major hurricane" (Category 3 or higher).

Even though there weren't many storms, this season caused a lot of damage. Most of the damage came from Hurricane Andrew. It caused about $26 billion in damage. This made Andrew the most expensive hurricane in U.S. history at the time. Later, Hurricane Katrina in 2005 caused even more damage. Luckily, this season was not very deadly, with 66 deaths reported.

Understanding the Storms of 1992

This section looks at each storm that formed during the 1992 Atlantic hurricane season.

Subtropical Storm One

Subtropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	April 21 – April 24
Intensity	50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min),  1002 mbar (hPa)

Subtropical Storm One formed on April 21. This was more than a month before the official start of hurricane season. It only lasted for three days. Strong "wind shear" (winds blowing in different directions at different heights) caused it to weaken and disappear. This storm was one of only two storms ever to form in April. The other was Tropical Storm Ana in 2003.

Tropical Depression One

Tropical depression (SSHS)
Duration	June 25 – June 26
Intensity	35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min),  1007 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Depression One was a short-lived storm. It formed on June 25 and ended on June 26. It hit Florida briefly. This tropical depression caused 5 deaths and about $2.6 million in damage.

Tropical Depression Two

Tropical depression (SSHS)
Duration	July 24 – July 26
Intensity	35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min),  1015 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Depression Two formed on July 24. A strong wind gust made it seem like it might become a tropical storm. However, the National Hurricane Center did not call it a tropical storm. This was because its air pressure was quite high (1015 millibars), which is unusual for a tropical storm. Tropical Depression Two moved northeast and died two days later, on July 26.

Hurricane Andrew

Category 5 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration	August 16 – August 28
Intensity	175 mph (280 km/h) (1-min),  922 mbar (hPa)

Hurricane Andrew was the strongest and most damaging storm of the 1992 Atlantic hurricane season. It formed on August 16. Andrew hit land twice in Florida and once in Louisiana. It caused nearly $26 billion in damage. This made it, at the time, the most expensive hurricane in the history of the United States.

Hurricane Bonnie

Category 2 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration	September 17 – September 30
Intensity	110 mph (175 km/h) (1-min),  965 mbar (hPa)

Bonnie formed on September 17. It traveled mostly east across the Atlantic Ocean. It passed near the Azores before it ended. This hurricane caused no damage. However, it might have caused one death in the Azores.

Hurricane Charley

Category 2 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration	September 21 – September 27
Intensity	110 mph (175 km/h) (1-min),  965 mbar (hPa)

Hurricane Charley formed on September 21 in the far eastern Atlantic Ocean. It grew into a Category 2 hurricane. Charley also passed near the Azores. It ended on September 27.

Tropical Storm Danielle

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	September 22 – September 26
Intensity	65 mph (100 km/h) (1-min),  1001 mbar (hPa)

Danielle formed on September 22 and quickly became a tropical storm. Tropical Storm Danielle made landfall on the Delmarva Peninsula (a piece of land in the eastern U.S.). It ended on September 26. The storm caused two deaths.

Tropical Depression Seven

Tropical depression (SSHS)
Duration	September 25 – October 1
Intensity	35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min),  1008 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Depression Seven formed on September 25. It was about halfway between Africa and South America. This storm lasted for almost a week before it ended on October 1.

Tropical Storm Earl

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	September 26 – October 3
Intensity	65 mph (100 km/h) (1-min),  990 mbar (hPa)

Earl formed on September 26 as a depression. It headed towards Florida and became a tropical storm. However, it changed direction before hitting land in Florida. Tropical Storm Earl ended on October 3.

Hurricane Frances

Category 1 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration	October 23 – October 27
Intensity	85 mph (140 km/h) (1-min),  976 mbar (hPa)

Frances formed on October 23 as a tropical storm and quickly became a hurricane. It traveled far away from any land. Hurricane Frances ended on October 27.

Storm Names of 1992

This is the list of names that were planned for storms in 1992. Names that were not used are marked with gray.

Retiring a Storm Name

In the spring of 1993, the name Hurricane Andrew was "retired." This means it will never be used again for an Atlantic hurricane. This happens when a storm causes a lot of damage or deaths. In 1998, the name Alex was used instead of Andrew.

See also

In Spanish: Temporada de huracanes en el Atlántico de 1992 para niños