This Won't Be the First Time Hurricanes Have Hit the Same Area in the Same Season

 Linda Lam

Published: October 8, 2020

Hurricane Delta will likely strike the same area in southeastern Louisiana as Laura did just six weeks ago, and it won't be the first time an area has been hit more than once in the same season.

Hurricanes have affected the same area in the same year more than a dozen times since 1950.

(MORE: Hurricane Delta Forecast)

The map below shows the overlap between Laura's track and Delta's projected path. Laura made landfall in Cameron Parish as a Category 4 storm Aug. 27 and Delta will likely be a Category 2 or 3 when it makes landfall in the same area Friday afternoon. Just as recovery from Laura has started, Delta will only add to the damage.

Laura's track is shown in the line on the map, with its strength denoted by the color segments. The projected path of Delta is the red-shaded cone on the map.

Every hurricane is different, as is every hurricane season, but here are other times when two, or in some cases three, hurricanes affected the same area in the same hurricane season.

Where It's Happened Before

Areas of the U.S. have been impacted by more than one hurricane in the same season 17 times in 11 seasons, since 1950, based on data from NOAA. This does not necessarily mean landfalls in the same location, but that hurricane conditions were experienced in the same area.

In 2008, hurricanes Gustav and Ike affected portions of Louisiana. Hurricane Gustav made landfall near Cocodrie, Louisiana, on Sept. 1 and then on Sept. 13, Hurricane Ike made landfall on Galveston Island, Texas. Both storms were Category 2 hurricanes at landfall. Although the center of Ike tracked farther west, parts of Louisiana were affected by both hurricanes.

In 2004, Frances and Jeanne delivered a double punch to Florida. Frances made landfall at the southern end of Hutchinson Island on Sept. 5 as a Category 2 hurricane. Then three weeks later, on Sept. 26, Jeanne made landfall on the southern end of the island as a Category 3.

Tracks of hurricanes Frances and Jeanne near Florida in September 2004.

In the busy hurricane season of 2005, there are three examples of hurricanes impacting the same area. Interestingly, Louisiana was affected by three hurricanes that year: Cindy, Katrina and Rita. South Florida experienced landfalls of both Katrina and Wilma and also saw impacts from Rita as it passed through the Florida Straits. Alabama felt the effects from both Dennis and Katrina.

Areas farther north have also experienced a one-two punch.

In 2004, Charley and Gaston hit South Carolina as Category 1 hurricanes. North Carolina recorded two Category 2 hurricane landfalls in 1955, Connie and Ione.

In 1954, New York and parts of New England experienced two Category 3 hurricane landfalls. Carol made landfalls in both Long Island and Old Saybrook, Connecticut, on Aug. 31, and then just 11 days later, following a path just a bit farther east, Hurricane Edna made landfall on Sept. 11 on Cape Cod and then moved into Maine.

Bermuda has been part of the action, too. Hurricanes Fay and Gonzalo both struck Bermuda in October 2014, just six days apart. It was exceptional to see both hurricanes make landfall in such a short period of time in an area that is just 21 square miles.

The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.

The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.