The 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season is going down in the record books. So far there are 23 named storms, eight hurricanes and two major storms. For the second time in history, the season has gone into the Greek alphabet. The only other time that happened was the year of Katrina in 2005. For the sixth year in a row, the season started early with two tropical storms. Arthur formed on May 16 and Bertha formed on May 27. Storms developed earlier than ever before beginning with Cristóbal as the earliest third storm, but there were 19 other record-breaking early developing storms. If it felt like the storms just kept on developing in September, they did. September 2020 was the most active September ever with 10 tropical systems: Omar, Nana, Paulette, Rene, Sally, Teddy, Vicky, Wilfred, Alpha and Beta. That is five tropical storms and four hurricanes. The year 2020 was forecast to be an active season. Atlantic water temperatures are above average, and there is no El Nino. El Nino causes strong upper level winds that can tear apart tropical storms. We have a La Nina. It is no help at all in disrupting tropical weather. The Gulf Coast had major impacts, with the state of Louisiana having the most. Major Hurricane Laura hit Cameron Parish, plus Tropical Storms Cristóbal and Marco made landfall on our coast. Beta was post-tropical when it moved across Louisiana but caused heavy rain. Hurricane Sally and Tropical Storm Beta came close and certainly got our attention. For us, the season began with Cristóbal. Cristóbal was a tropical wave that crossed the Caribbean and Central America into the Pacific. Amanda developed, moved onshore in Guatemala, dumped 10 to over 20 inches of rain and then dissipated. The upper level feature tracked into the South Gulf and on the first day of hurricane season a tropical depression formed. Cristóbal formed June 2 and headed our way. Cristóbal made landfall Sunday June 7 at 5:10 p.m. between Grand Isle and the mouth of the Mississippi River with 50 mph winds. The biggest impact was storm surge and locally heavy rain. Ten people had to be rescued at Fontainebleau State Park where there was a 3-foot storm surge. Hurricane Laura tied the record for the strongest landfalling hurricane in Louisiana since 1851 with the Last Island Hurricane of 1856. Winds were 150 mph and the pressure 938 at landfall. Landfall was 1 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 27. The storm surge was 17.2 feet at Rutherford Beach, Louisiana. A stripe of 10-inch rainfall totals were common, but over 14 inches also occurred in the extreme southwest corner of the state. The wind snapped trees and destroyed homes. Sadly, much of the area was without power. Heat advisories were posted for days, with a heat index as high as 110-114. At least 27 people died from Laura, and many of them died after the hurricane from heat and carbon monoxide poisoning. Marco formed Aug. 21 and was the earliest 13th storm. It briefly became a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico on Aug. 23. Wind shear and dry air tore it apart. The heaviest rain was well removed from the center near Apalachicola, Florida, where over 11 inches of rain fell. Marco made landfall near the mouth of the Mississippi River Aug. 24 at 6:21 p.m. with winds of 40 mph. We had a few showers, a bit of a storm surge and that was about it. For a while there was a lot of talk of the potential for two hurricanes to make landfall along the coast of Louisiana within days of each other. Thankfully, Laura and Marco were no threat to our area. The other hurricane that had our undivided attention was Sally. For a while we appeared to be in the crosshairs but the track kept shifting east. The problem with Sally is that it was a slow mover. That means lots of rain. Sally made landfall as a Category 2 hurricane at Gulf Shores, Alabama, at 4:45 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16. Ironically the hurricane made landfall on the same day and same place that Ivan made landfall 16 years earlier. Sally caused over 20 inches of rain, storm surge and some tornadoes. A 5-foot storm surge flooded downtown Pensacola. A barge and crane damaged the Pensacola Bay Bridge. It was a reminder of the major damage of the Escambia Bay Bridge caused by Ivan in 2004. Hurricane season lasts through Nov. 30. Tropical weather can happen anytime of the year, it is just more likely June 1-Nov. 30. Right now, we are watching an area in the West Caribbean with tropical potential. The next name up is Gamma. This time of the year, we tend to have tropical development along old frontal boundaries that stall in the Gulf of Mexico or in the Caribbean. The Caribbean is warm, with water temperatures in the upper 80s. The Gulf of Mexico is a bit worked over but still warm. Water temperatures are in the low to upper 80s. Warm water is the fuel for tropical systems. I do not know about you, but I am ready for this season to be done. Unfortunately, it is 2020, and this hurricane season is nowhere near done.