  the 1998 atlantic hurricane season featured the highest number of storm-related fatalities in over 200 years. it officially began on june&nbsp;1 and ended on november&nbsp;30, dates which conventionally delimit the period during which most tropical cyclones form in the atlantic ocean. the first tropical cyclone, tropical storm alex, developed on july&nbsp;27, and the season's final storm, hurricane nicole, became extratropical on december&nbsp;1. the strongest storm, mitch, was tied with hurricane dean for the seventh most intense atlantic hurricane ever recorded. mitch is also the second deadliest atlantic hurricane in recorded history. the system dropped tremendous amounts of rainfall in central america, causing 19,000&nbsp;confirmed deaths and at least $6.2&nbsp;billion (1998&nbsp;usd) in damage. the season was the first to feature a category&nbsp;5 hurricane on the saffirâsimpson hurricane wind scale since hurricane andrew in the 1992 season. several storms made landfall or directly affected land. hurricane bonnie made landfall in southeastern north carolina as a category&nbsp;2 hurricane in late august, killing five people and causing about $1&nbsp;billion in damage. hurricane earl caused $79&nbsp;million in damage and three deaths after making landfall in florida as a category&nbsp;1 hurricane. the two deadliest and destructive hurricanes of the season, hurricane georges and mitch, caused $5.9&nbsp;billion in damage and $6.2&nbsp;billion in damage, respectively. hurricane georges was an intense category&nbsp;4 hurricane that moved through many of the caribbean islands, causing significant damage befor
1998_Atlantic_hurricane_season