JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The record 2020 hurricane season just picked another major hurricane
The National Hurricane Center found that Hurricane Zeta, which struck Louisiana as a Category 2 storm, was actually a major Category 3 with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph.
Recommended Videos
Zeta’s pressure dropped another 3 millibars boosting winds to 115 mph (100 knots) within a couple hours after the hurricane hunter’s final measurement and right before the storm hit Louisiana’s coast.
Category 3 hurricanes pack winds at least 115 mph and are considered major hurricanes along with Category 4 and 5 storms.
This upgrade brings the total number of major hurricanes to seven, which ties the 2005 season for having the highest number of major hurricanes in any season (Laura, Teddy, Delta, Epsilon, Zeta, Eta and Iota).
The 2020 hurricane season will be remembered having double the average number of storms, setting a record of 30 named across the Atlantic basin. This surpassed the previous most active year in 2005 which had 28 named storms.
Other years in the satellite era with multiple major hurricane landfalls in the conintental United States include: 1985, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2017.
Hurricane Zeta also struck late in season on Oct. 28, setting a new record for the latest major hurricane U.S. landfall.