1989 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1989 Atlantic hurricane season was an ongoing event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. It officially started June 1, 1989, and lasted until November 30, 1989.
The most notable storm of 1989 was Hurricane Hugo, which tracked across the Lesser Antilles and into South Carolina. Hugo killed 49 and at $7 billion ($9.4 billion in 2000 dollars) in damage, was the most expensive Atlantic hurricane until Hurricane Andrew in 1992.
Although Hugo was by far the most damaging storm of the season, other storms caused significant damage.
Tropical Storm Allison caused half a billion dollars (1989 dollars) in damage and killed eleven when it made landfall near Freeport, Texas. All significant damage was caused by severe inland flooding as it meandered across East Texas. Twelve years later a similar storm, also named Tropical Storm Allison, affected the same area, causing even greater damage.
Hurricane Chantal, the first hurricane of the season, was responsible for $100 million (1989 dollars) in damage when it made landfall at High Island, Texas. Thirteen people died, ten of which drowned when an offshore oil pipeline construction platform capsized near Morgan City, Louisiana.
1989 Hurricane names
The following names were used for named storms (tropical storms and hurricanes) that formed in the North Atlantic in 1989. Names that were not assigned are marked in gray.
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Retirement
The World Meteorological Organization retired one name in the spring of 1990: Hugo. It was replaced in 1995 by Humberto.