The 1916 Atlantic hurricane season was an extremely active Atlantic hurricane season, featuring eighteen tropical cyclones, of which nine made landfall in the United States, the most in one season until 2020, when eleven struck. The first storm appeared on May 13 south of Cuba, while the final tropical storm became an extratropical cyclone over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico on November 15. Of the 18 tropical cyclones forming that season, 15 intensified into a tropical storm, the second-most at the time, behind only 1887. Ten of the tropical storms intensified into a hurricane, while five of those became a major hurricane. The early 20th century lacked modern forecasting tools such as satellite imagery and documentation, and thus, the hurricane database from these years may be incomplete.

The most intense tropical cyclone of the season was the sixth system, which peaked as a Category 4 on the modern-day Saffir–Simpson scale. Jamaica and Texas bore the brunt of the storm, which caused 37 deaths and about $11.8 million (1916 USD) in damage. Several other storms were notable. An early July hurricane along the northern Gulf Coast resulted in 34 deaths and about $12.5 million in damage in Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi. Heavy rains from this storm set the stage for record-breaking floods by a a hurricane hitting Charleston, South Carolina, in mid-July, with 80 fatalities and about $21 million in damage occurring, mostly in North Carolina. The season's eighth tropical cyclone left severe damage and 50 deaths in Dominica in late August. An early October hurricane devastated portions of the Virgin Islands, resulting in up to $2 million in damage and 41 deaths. Another hurricane in October which struck the Yucatán Peninsula and near Pensacola, Florida, was attributed to at least $100,000 in damage and 29 deaths, 20 of which occurred when a ship sank in the Caribbean Sea. Overall, the tropical cyclones of the 1916 Atlantic hurricane season collectively resulted in at least 272 fatalities and more than $47.59 million in damage.

Season summary

Tropical cyclogenesis began on May 13, when a tropical depression formed south of Cuba. The storm struck Cuba and Florida before becoming extratropical over Virginia on May 16. Following an almost month and a half lull in activity, the season's second tropical cyclone developed over the southwestern Caribbean Sea on June 28. The third and fourth cyclones, both reaching hurricane intensity, formed in July. The month of August featured four tropical cyclones, including a tropical storm and three hurricanes. One of those, the season's sixth tropical cyclone, became the most intensity system in the Atlantic basin in 1916 and peaked at Category 4 intensity on the modern-day Saffir–Simpson scale with maximum sustained winds of . In terms of barometric pressure, the storm was also the most intense to strike the United States since the 1886 Indianola hurricane. Four tropical systems also developed in September, with one tropical depression, one tropical storm, and two hurricanes. October was the most active month of the season, featuring two tropical depressions, one tropical storm, and two hurricanes. In November, a tropical storm developed on November 11 and transitioned into an extratropical cyclone by November 15, ending season activity.

The 1916 was a fairly active season, especially for the time. Eighteen tropical cyclones formed during the course of the year, fifteen of which reached at least tropical storm intensity – the most in one season since 1887. Ten of those tropical storms strengthened into hurricane and five of those intensified into major hurricanes, both being the highest number in a season since 1893. Nine systems of at least tropical storm intensity made landfall in the United States during the season, which remained a record until eleven struck the United States in 2020. The 1916 season was one of only two to feature multiple major hurricanes before the month of August, the other being 2005.

However, because the early 20th century lacked modern forecasting and documentation, the official hurricane database may be incomplete. The Atlantic hurricane reanalysis project in 2008 uncovered evidence for two tropical cyclones not previously in the database, Tropical Storm One and Tropical Storm Five. A system previously classified as a tropical storm in the database was downgraded to a tropical depression as part of the project. Additionally, the project also downgraded Tropical Storm Fifteen from hurricane intensity. Collectively, the tropical cyclones of the 1916 Atlantic hurricane season caused at least 272 deaths and $47.59 million in damage.*

The season's activity was reflected with an accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) rating of 144, the highest total since 1906 and far above the 1911–1920 average of 58.7. ACE is a metric used to express the energy used by a tropical cyclone during its lifetime. Therefore, a storm with a longer duration will have high values of ACE. It is only calculated at six-hour increments in which specific tropical and subtropical systems are either at or above sustained wind speeds of , which is the threshold for tropical storm intensity. Thus, tropical depressions are not included here.

Systems

Tropical Storm One

On May 13, a tropical depression formed about south of Trinidad, Cuba. It quickly crossed the island and moved over the Straits of Florida. The cyclone strengthened to a minimal tropical storm on May 14 and soon made landfall near Key Vaca, Florida, with winds of . Around 06:00 UTC the storm struck the Florida mainland near Cape Sable and initially moved north-northwestward across the state. Based on observations from Tampa late on May 14, the storm's minimum barometric pressure is estimated at . The cyclone turned northeastward on May 15. It transitioned to an extratropical cyclone over eastern Virginia on the following day. The remnants briefly re-emerged over the Atlantic, before striking New England and dissipating over Maine on May 17. Initially, the cyclone was not included in the Atlantic hurricane database.

The tropical storm ended a significant drought in Florida, producing the state's first widespread rainfall event in several months. Parched crops and vegetation were rejuvenated by the well-timed rains. Lakeland, Florida, recorded of rain in a 24-hour period. Strong, albeit non-damaging winds, were felt across the Florida coasts, with a peak gust of documented in Jacksonville. Moderate gales were produced by the storm's extratropical stages in the Mid-Atlantic states and New England. Widespread rainfall in southwestern Maine and southeastern New Hampshire from the storm's remnants peaked at in Durham, Maine, and damaged roads. The cost of damaged infrastructure in southwestern Maine was estimated at $150,000.

Hurricane Two

The Gulf Coast Hurricane of 1916

A tropical disturbance organized into a tropical depression over the southwestern Caribbean on June 28. Little intensification occurred for several days as the depression moved westward and eventually northwestward, brushing the coasts of Nicaragua and Honduras late on June 30 and early on July 1. The cyclone finally strengthened into a tropical storm early the next day and reached hurricane status late on July 3 as it neared the Yucatán Channel. Further intensification occurred in the Gulf of Mexico, and at around 18:00 UTC on July 5, the storm peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of and a minimum barometric pressure of , with the latter being derived from the former. About three hours later, the hurricane made landfall near Pascagoula, Mississippi, at the same intensity. The cyclone initially weakened quickly after moving inland, falling to tropical storm intensity early on July 6. Thereafter, the system meandered northward and then eastward across Mississippi and Alabama, before turning northeastward early on July 9 and weakening to a tropical depression. Late on the following day, the depression dissipated over Alabama just east of Birmingham.

As the system passed through the Yucatán Channel, the storm produced strong winds well east of its center. In Cuba, wind gusts reached in Havana. In Florida, winds of was observed in Pensacola. Strong winds deroofed a number of homes and toppled many chimneys. Additionally, storm surge up to in height damaged coastal structures, shipping, and wharves. The hurricane caused approximately $1.5 million in damage in Florida. Storm surge in Alabama crested at in Mobile, one of the highest ever recorded there. Adverse effects ensued, including some streets being inundated with up to of water. Heavy rains over the interior portions of Alabama inundated of farmlands in four counties alone and caused about $5 million in damage to crops throughout the state. Several people drowned in Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, while about 2,000 others fled their homes in central Alabama. In Mississippi, strong winds caused damage to approximately half of the buildings in Pascagoula. Significant impacts were also reported in Biloxi and Gulfport. Property damage to coastal structures in Mississippi totaled about $130,000. Inland towns also suffered from high winds and flooding, especially Laurel, where few homes avoided water damage. The cyclone also caused flooding in Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina, where it set the stage for a more destructive flood wrought by the Charleston hurricane. Overall, this storm caused at least 34 deaths, as well as about $12.5 million in damage.

Hurricane Three

The third tropical storm was first observed about east-southeast of Barbados on July 10. It tracked northwestward, passing over or near Saint Lucia early on July 12 while intensifying into a tropical storm. After crossing the northeastern Caribbean, the storm made landfall near Humacao, Puerto Rico, with winds of shortly before 12:00 UTC on July 13. The cyclone re-emerged into the Atlantic several hours later and continued to intensify. Early on July 15, the system strengthened into a hurricane and then reached Category 2 status about 24 hours, peaking with maximum sustained winds of shortly thereafter, based on an observed barometric pressure of . Thereafter, the storm moved generally northward and began to slowly weaken early on July 18. Cool and dry air weakened it to a tropical storm just before it hit New Bedford, Massachusetts, on July 21. The system then struck Maine and moved across New Brunswick before becoming extratropical over the Gulf of St. Lawrence on the following day. The extratropical remnants dissipated over northern Newfoundland late on July 23.

Initially, the cyclone was recorded as a major hurricane, but it was subsequently downgraded by the Atlantic hurricane reanalysis project. Throughout its path, the storm caused little damage and no known deaths. In Puerto Rico, the city of San Juan observed sustained winds of . Storm warnings were issued by the Weather Bureau for coastal stretches from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, to Eastport, Maine, as the hurricane paralleled the coast offshore. Ships destined for the Bahamas were held at the harbor in Miami, Florida. Portions of the East Coast of the United States from Virginia northward reported tropical storm-force winds. In Massachusetts, Nantucket observed sustained winds of .

Hurricane Four