Double trouble hurricane season
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Amid predictions of an above-normal 2020 Atlantic hurricane season,
Kyle has now surpassed Katrina as the earliest 11th named storm 
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NUMBER OF NAMED ATLANTIC TROPICAL CYCLONES, 1980-2020*
2020 11
2019 18
2018 15
2017 17 
2016 15
2015 11
2014 8
2013 13
2012 19
2011 18
2010 19
2009 9
2008 16
2007 15
2006 9 
2005 27
2004 15
2003 16
2002 12
2001 15
2000 14
1999 12
1998 14
1997 8
1996 13
1995 19
1994 7
1993 8
1992 6
1991 7
1990 14
1989 11
1988 11
1987 6
1986 6
1985 11
1984 12
1983 4
1982 5
1981 11
1980 11
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2020: NOAA predicts as many as 25 named storms – double 30-year average
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Storms named alphabetically throughout season – K is 11th letter of English alphabet
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Aug 29, 2005: Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans and Gulf coast, killing up to 1,800 people and causing $125bn of damage
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Average hurricane season (Jun 1-Nov 30) produces 12 named storms, including 6 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes. Worst events usually occur Aug 20-Sep 30
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*Notes
Tropical cyclone: Low pressure system that develops over tropical (sometimes sub-tropical) waters, with organised deep convection and closed wind circulation about well-defined centre Tropical storm: Tropical cyclone with maximum sustained surface winds of 63-118km/h Hurricane: Tropical cyclone with maximum sustained surface winds of 119km/h or greater
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Sources: NOAA, Bloomberg
Picture: Eye of Hurricane Katrina, 2005 (NASA) © GRAPHIC NEWS