Fourth most active season on record

It’s been a record year for hurricanes in the Atlantic. The 2008 season produced a record number of consecutive storms to hit the United States and was the fourth-most active since record-keeping began in 1944, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

There were 16 named storms this season, which ended last Sunday,
including five major hurricanes of Category 3 or higher.

For the first time on record, six consecutive tropical cyclones (Dolly, Edouard, Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Ike) made landfall on the U.S. mainland.

Storm chasing