2005 Atlantic Ocean Tropical Cyclones

Tropical Cyclone Cyclogenesis Date Cyclolysis Date Saffir-Simpson Category Maximum 6-hr Sustained Wind (kt) Maximum 6-hr Wind Gust (kt) Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE*) Index (kt2) Landfall Information (date, location and sustained winds)
Arlene 6/8/05 6/12/05 TS 60 75 2.55 x 104 6/11/05 - Pensacola FL (50 kt)
Brett 6/28/05 6/30/05 TS 35 45 0.37 x 104 6/29/05 - Tuxpan, Mexico (35 kt)
Cindy 7/3/05 7/6/05 Cat 1 65 N/A 1.36 x 104 7/4/05 - Yucatan, Mexico (30 kt)
7/6/05 - Grand Isle LA (65 kt) and Ansley MS (45 kt)
Dennis 7/5/05 7/11/05 Cat 4 130 160 18.75 x 104 7/8/05 - Cuba (Cat 4)
7/10/05 - Pensacola FL (105 kt)
Emily 7/11/05 7/21/05 Cat 4 135 165 32.42 x 104 7/14/05 - Grenada (80 kt)
7/18/05 - Cozumel, Mexico (120 kt)
7/20/05 - Boca Madre, Mexico (110 kt)
Franklin 7/21/05 7/29/05 TS 60 75 6.55 x 104
Gert 7/23/05 7/25/05 TS 40 50 0.53 x 104 7/24/05 - Cabo Rojo, Mexico (40 kt)
Harvey 8/2/05 8/8/05 TS 55 65 5.44 x 104
Irene 8/4/05 8/18/05 Cat 2 85 105 13.14 x 104
Jose 8/22/05 8/23/05 TS 45 55 0.45 x 104 8/23/05 - NW of Veracruz, Mexico (45 kt)
Katrina 8/23/05 8/31/05 Cat 5 150 185 20 x 104 8/25/05 - Hollywood FL (65 kt)
8/29/05 - Buras LA (110 kt) and Ansley MS (105 kt)
8/29/05–8/30/05 Total Precip (map)
Lee 8/31/05 9/1/05 TS 35 45 0.24 x 104
Maria 9/1/05 9/10/05 Cat 3 100 120 14.26 x 104
Nate 9/5/05 9/10/05 Cat 1 80 100 7.17 x 104
Ophelia 9/6/05 9/18/05 Cat 1 65 80 15.67 x 104
Philippe 9/17/05 9/24/05 Cat 1 70 85 5.95 x 104
Rita 9/18/05 9/26/05 Cat 5 150 185 25.14 x 104 9/24/05 - Between Sabine Pass TX and Johnson's Bayou LA (105 kt)
9/24/05–9/26/05 Total Precip (map)
Stan 9/30/05 10/5/05 Cat 1 70 85 2.36 x 104 10/2/05 - Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico (40 kt)
10/4/05 - SE of Veracruz, Mexico (70 kt)
Tammy 10/5/05 10/6/05 TS 45 55 0.81 x 104 10/5/05 - Jacksonville FL (45 kt)
Vince 10/9/05 10/11/05 Cat 1 65 80 2.68 x 104
Wilma 10/15/05 10/25/05 Cat 5 150 185 39.01 x 104 10/21/05 - Cozumel, Mexico (120 kt)
10/22/05 - Playa del Carmen, Mexico (115 kt)
10/24/05 - near Everglades City, FL (105 kt)
Alpha 10/22/05 10/24/05 TS 45 55 0.65 x 104
Beta 10/27/05 10/31/05 Cat 3 100 120 6.65 x 104 10/30/05 - Nicaragua (90 kt)
Gamma 11/18/05 11/21/05 TS 40 50 1.33 x 104
Delta 11/23/05 11/28/05 TS 60 75 6.22 x 104
Epsilon 11/29/05 12/8/05 Cat 1 75 90 13.36 x 104
Zeta 12/30/05 1/6/06 TS 55 65 5.88 x 104
*The (ACE) Index calculations are based on preliminary data.

Preliminary 2005 North Atlantic Ocean ACE Index = 248.94 x 104 kt2

*The Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) Index is calculated by summing the squares of the estimated 6-hourly maximum sustained wind speed in knots (Vmax2) for all periods in which the tropical cyclone is a tropical storm or greater intensity (sustained winds of 34 kt or greater). Note that the official NOAA definition of the ACE Index does not include those periods when the system is characterized as sub-tropical. However, we are including this information to allow for comparison between individual cyclones across all basins, many of which contain records which inadequately distinguish between tropical and subtropical cyclones. For a complete description of the ACE Index see Bell and Chelliah (2006), Journal of Climate (19) 590-612.


The Saffir-Simpson Scale for Tropical Cyclones

Category Miles Per Hour (mph) Knots (kt) Kilometers Per Hour (km hr-1)
Tropical Storm (TS)
 39-73 34-63 63-118
Cat 1
 74-95 64-82 119-153
Cat 2
 96-110 83-95 154-177
Cat 3
 111-130 96-113 178-209
Cat 4
 131-155 114-135 210-249
Cat 5
 156 or greater 136 or greater 250 or greater