2023 Computer Area hurricane season

The **2023 Computer Area hurricane season** was a very active hurricane season that began on May 1 (now April 15), and it ended on November 30, 2023, however, the CWC changed the start of the season to April 15 on October 23. These dates historically describe when most tropical cyclones form in the Computer Area Basin. The season was very active in the basin, considering the developing El Niño late in the season, however. This was also a season that had storms before and after the official bounds of the season. In the season, 27 depressions formed, 24 storms formed and 10 of those became hurricanes (1 unofficially) and 3 of those hurricanes became major hurricanes.

## Summary

###### Early activity

The *2023 Computer Area hurricane season* officially began on May 1, 2023, and it ended on November 30, 2023. Nonetheless, it unexpectedly commenced on February 15 when an unnamed subtropical storm formed from an Educational Low near the Northeastern Computer Area. It then made landfall on the Computer Area at peak intensity, and the system soon become a post-tropical low, before dissipating over the ocean late on February 17. On April 14, another unnamed subtropical storm formed from an Educational Low over the Southeastern Computer Area before tracking northward and impacting the Northeast Coast as a subtropical storm. It remained subtropical before degenerating to an extratropical cyclone on April 17 shortly before regenerating on April 19 and reaching a second peak intensity before transitioning back to an extratropical cyclone on April 22. An unnamed hurricane formed during June of 2023 that initially peaked as a tropical storm earlier in June and becoming extratropical and then peaking as a hurricane shortly after it regenerated to a tropical cyclone. Tropical Depression Four formed on July 2 and rapidly strengthened into a tropical storm that same day. Shortly after, Andrea strengthened into the season's first hurricane and major hurricane while it began to impact the Northeastern Computer Area as a Category 3 hurricane with winds of 120 mph before turning extratropical and merging with a cold front that combined to produce severe weather on July 7. On July 28, a brief tropical depression formed and dissipated. An unnamed hurricane formed on August 6, and it reached peak intensity over the Computer Area on August 7 before dissipating the next day.

###### Peak activity

On August 23, Tropical Depression Seven formed and it strengthened into Tropical Storm Bertha, and it reached peak intensity on August 25 before merging with a cold front later that day. A brief INVEST numbered 6L appeared and it never developed. On September 2, Tropical Depression Nine developed over the ocean and it strengthened into Tropical Storm Colin the next day. That same day, the storm became a hurricane while undergoing rapid intensification; this was momentarily halted due to wind shear and dry air intruding the system's inner core on September 4. On September 5, it reached peak intensity with sustained winds of 195 mph and a central pressure of 871 hPa while making landfall on the Computer Area. This makes Hurricane Colin the strongest storm in years. However, wind shear began to weaken the system on September 6 and shortly afterward it transitioned to an extratropical cyclone while still having sustained winds of 110 mph before it quickly dissipated shortly afterward. On September 7, a tropical wave developed into Tropical Depression Ten, and the system strengthened into Tropical Storm Damian on September 10, and it strengthened into a hurricane on September 12 before being sheared later that afternoon and briefly weakening to a tropical storm as a result of the shear, however, the shear would lessen while it continued its track away from land, and afterward it became the season's third major hurricane, and it peaked with sustained winds of 150 mph and a central pressure of 919 hPa before it transitioned into a large extratropical cyclone on September 17. On September 18, a tropical wave strengthened into Tropical Depression Eleven, and it strengthened into Tropical Storm Emily on September 19, and it became a Category 2 hurricane on September 23 while it brought tropical storm force-winds to the Computer Area before merging with the cold front of September 24, 2023, that caused temperatures to plummet and subsequently forced the system to transition to an extratropical cyclone. On September 23, Subtropical Storm Fay developed from an extratropical cyclone, and it strengthened into a hurricane while impacting the Gulf Computer Coast; the system would peak as a devastating Category 4 at landfall. By September 27, Fay had dissipated. On September 27, Potential Tropical Cyclone Twelve formed and it became Tropical Storm Gordon the next day; Gordon peaked as a Category 2 storm with 100 mph winds on October the 3rd and 4th respectively while it never made landfall. Gordon dissipated on October 4. On October 1, Tropical Storm Harold formed, and it dissipated the next day. On October 2, Tropical Storm Irwin formed, and it subsequently went on to impact the Northeastern Computer Area as a Category 1 hurricane. Irwin's remnants eventually spawned an unnamed subtropical storm over the same general area, the Northeastern Computer Area. On October 3, an unnumbered tropical depression formed, and it dissipated the same day. Tropical Storm Jose was a brief tropical storm that formed on October 3 from a stationary front, and dissipated while being absorbed by a sheared Irwin on October 5. On October 9, an unnamed subtropical storm formed near the Northeastern Computer Area, and it peaked with winds of 70 mph and an unusually low barometric pressure of 964 hPa. It subsequently dissipated due to wind shear the next day.

###### Late activity

After a ten-day lull in activity, Tropical Depression Twenty formed from a tropical wave and Subtropical Storm Katia formed from a Nor'easter on October 20. And on November 6, Subtropical Storm Lee formed from an area of low-pressure off the Computer Area Coast. It made landfall on November 7 and became extratropical that same day. After 9 consecutive days of no tropical activity in the Computer Ocean, Tropical Depression Twenty-Three formed on November 16 and strengthened into Tropical Storm Miller the next day. Miller became extratropical early on November 19. And on November 26, Subtropical Storm Nigel had formed. On December 3, Subtropical Storm Ophelia formed and became post-tropical that same day and on December 8, an unexpected unnamed subtropical storm formed and struck Computer Area and becoming extra-tropical a few hours later. On December 6, Subtropical Storm Phillippe formed, and it became fully tropical on December 9 while approaching the Northeastern Computer Area.

## Timeline

*See also: Timeline of the 2023 Computer Area hurricane season*

The season began on February 15 with an unnamed subtropical storm, though it officially began on May 1, and it will end on November 30.

## Systems

### Unnamed subtropical storm

*Main article: List of off-season Computer Area hurricanes*

## History

### Peak intensity

70 mph, 971 hPa

On October 2, 2023, the CWC completed a reanalysis on a storm that occurred in February that peaked with 70 mph winds. Originally being treated as non-tropical by the CWC, the storm was recognized as the season's first storm on October 2 when thunderstorm activity previously undetected by the satellite was located around a center of circulation. Developing with sustained winds of 60 mph, the storm continuing strengthening while building thunderstorm activity around its center and reached peak intensity with sustained winds of 70 mph and then made landfall on Computer Area with that same intensity. It then moved out to sea briefly once again and made one final landfall with sustained winds of 55 mph on February 16, and then soon became a post-tropical low. The remnant low-pressure area dissipated on February 17.

The subtropical storm was part of a larger Educational Low system that brought heavy rain and winds to the Computer Area.

## History

### Dates

April 12-23 (Extratropical between April 17 and 19 and after April 22)

### Peak intensity

70 mph, 978 hPa

*Further information: Educational Low 4-13*

On April 13, 2023, the Computer Weather Center noted the possibility of tropical development on a non-tropical disturbance, designated as Educational Low 4-13 that formed over the Computer Area. By the next day, April 14, 2023, the storm gained subtropical characteristics, making it a subtropical storm. This storm now occurs early in the season and in the off-season.

### June 2023 unnamed hurricane

Another unnamed hurricane formed in June 2023 due to a disturbance named Educational Low 6-5 that affected the Computer Area and gained subtropical characteristics. While the system was extratropical for parts of its life after June 9, the system quickly retained subtropical characteristics before evolving into a fully tropical cyclone and reaching peak intensity as a minimal hurricane on June 17.

## History

### Peak intensity

120 mph

*Main article: Hurricane Andrea (2023)*

On July 1, 2023, a quickly developing tropical wave organized southeast of Computer Area, rapidly strengthening to a tropical depression by 3:00 AM July 2, further strengthening into Tropical Storm Andrea at 2:00 PM EDT. Not long after, on July 3, the storm became a hurricane, with wind speeds estimated at 75 mph 1:00 PM July 3. On July 6, 2023, the storm reached peak intensity with winds of 120 mph and a central pressure of 956 hPa. Later that same day, the storm became a powerful category 2-force extratropical cyclone with windspeeds of 105 mph. Despite being extratropical, the storm remained category 1-force on July 7 before dissipating over the Computer Ocean on July 8.

## History

### Peak intensity

35 mph, 1009 hPa

*Main article: Tropical Depression Four (2023)*

On July 27, 2023, the Computer Weather Center noted the potential for development on a small disturbance that was located near the Computer Area. The next day, July 28, 2023, the disturbance became a tropical depression, bringing heavy rain, gusty winds and severe weather as it collided with an extratropical cyclone that evening.

## General Information

### Areas affected

Northeastern Computer Area

An unnamed hurricane occurred early in August on August 6-8th. The system would form as a low-pressure area near the southeast, and the system strengthened into a minimal hurricane during the evening of August 6, however, the storm's convection was limited to the southeastern side of the storm on account of moderate northwesterly wind shear. This shear would eventually lessen, allowing intensification to take place, and the system reached its peak intensity as a Category 2 hurricane with sustained winds of 110 mph and a central pressure of 958 hPa. Early on August 8, it began to experience wind shear and an intrusion of dry air, and consequently transitioned to an extratropical cyclone that day.

## Tropical Storm Bertha

### Category

Tropical storm

Bertha at peak intensity while making landfall on the Computer Area on August 25, 2023. Note the larger system on the left that would eventually absorb Bertha later that day and trigger severe weather.

## History

### Peak intensity

40 mph, 1002 hPa

This storm briefly hit tropical storm force on August 25, 2023, and made landfall with winds of 40 mph. Bertha was absorbed by a mid-latitude system later that day.

## History

### Dates

August 31-September 7 (Extratropical after September 6)

### Peak intensity

195 mph, 871 hPa

*Main article: Hurricane Colin*

On August 31st, 2023, Computer Weather Center meteorologists noted the potential for tropical development on a tropical wave that was located to the east of the Computer Area, designating it Invest 2L. On September 3, 2023, the associated disturbance grew stronger, designated as Tropical Storm Colin. By the afternoon of the same day, the system strengthened into a hurricane. Rapid intensification took place but was halted shortly afterward after an increase in southwesterly wind shear and an intrusion of dry air disrupted the storm's western side and inner core. After the wind shear and dry air let up, the system explosively intensified from Category 3 (120 mph) to Category 5 (195 mph), and the storm would make landfall on September 5 at 8:18 AM EDT while at peak intensity with winds of 195 mph and a central pressure of 871 hPa. The storm would remain a powerful Category 5 hurricane into September 6, however, an increase in southwesterly wind shear began to cause an elongation of Colin's cloud cover and convection toward the northeast, causing it to weaken to a high-end Category 4 hurricane later on September 6. Later that same, the environment became more hostile as the wind shear grew very strong and water temperature became significantly cooler. Consequently, Colin's winds weakened to below major hurricane force and it transitioned to an extratropical cyclone late on September 6.

## History

### Peak intensity

150 mph, 919 hPa

On September 7, 2023, after Hurricane Colin dissipated, the Computer Weather Center began monitoring a new tropical wave located south of Horse Island. A sustained wind speed of 35 mph was reported, and the system began organizing, prompting the agency to declare the system Tropical Depression Eight. Convection became more evident, and the system became Tropical Storm Damian the morning of September 10. Damian reached its peak intensity of 150 mph and a central pressure of 919 hPa on September 15, then, Damian started an eyewall replacement cycle, which started a weakening trend. By September 17, the system began to lose its tropical characteristics, and Damian became extratropical very late on September 17 while still harboring hurricane-force winds of 90 mph. Damian dissipated as an extratropical cyclone with winds of 50 mph on September 18.

## History

### Peak intensity

100 mph, 961 hPa

*Main article: Hurricane Emily (2023)*

On September 18, 2023, the Computer Weather Center began monitoring a new tropical wave located far east of Horse Island. The system peaked on September 23, 2023.

## General Information

### Season

2023

On September 27, the CWC began to monitor a stalled frontal boundary off the Eastern Computer Area for potential tropical development. Early on September 27, a low-pressure area formed, and the low-pressure area began to produce gale-force winds while still attached to the frontal feature, which prompted the CWC to initiate advisories on it as *Potential Tropical Cyclone Twelve*. On September 28, the low-pressure center became separated from the frontal feature, and was designated Subtropical Storm Gordon. Gordon weakened to a subtropical depression later that morning due to an increase in wind shear and an intrusion of dry air to its west, however, an increase in warm and moist air caused Gordon to transition into a tropical depression during the evening of September 28 and the system strengthened into a tropical storm on September 29. Later that day, the system began to undergo suspected rapid intensification, as noted as an increase in wind speed from 30 to 65 mph in a day and the system reached peak intensity as a 70-mph tropical storm on September 30. Gordon started to weaken later that morning as an increase in westerly wind shear began to displace convection to the east of the center of circulation, however, the wind shear would quickly lessen, and deep convection began to resume during the early afternoon of September 30. Later on, October 1, the system would eventually strengthen into the season's next hurricane. Gordon weakened to a high-end tropical storm during the morning on October 2 due to an increase in westerly wind shear. The shear would lessen by late afternoon, allowing the storm to reattain Category 1 hurricane intensity by 3:45 PM on October 2. The storm reached 2 peak intensities of 100 mph (Category 2), on October 3 and the 4th. On October 4, wind shear increased along with an intrusion of dry air displaced Gordon's deepest convection to the north of the center. These factors caused Gordon to commence its transition into a post-tropical cyclone; the transition to a post-tropical cyclone was completed by 9:00 PM EDT, when the system was found to have weather fronts attached to its center while still harboring hurricane-force winds of 90 mph.

## General Information

### Season

2023

On September 29, 2023, the CWC began to monitor an area off the East Coast of the Computer Area for a potential tropical cyclone along the tail end of a cold front that should pass by October 1. On October 1, thunderstorm activity began increasing within the cold frontal low-pressure center that became detached from said front, and Tropical Storm Harold formed. Due to an increase in westerly wind shear, a weakening trend started taking place, causing Harold to weaken to a tropical depression by the afternoon of October 2, and to a remnant low early on October 3.

## History

### Dates

October 2-9 (Extratropical for parts of October 6 and 7)

## General Information

### Season

2023

On October 1, 2023, the CWC began to monitor a strong tropical wave that was located off the coast of East Computer World. Organization increased, prompting the CWC to designate the wave as Tropical Depression Fifteen on October 2. Intensification became even more obvious, and the system was designated Tropical Storm Irwin. Irwin strengthened into the season's 8th hurricane on October 4 while it continued its approach to the Northeastern Computer Area, however, unprecedented very strong northwesterly wind shear and an intrusion of dry air most notably caused Irwin to weaken to a tropical storm on October 5. That same day, Irwin absorbed Tropical Storm Jose. Later during the evening of October 5, the wind shear would dissipate, allowing explosive convection to resume. The next day, Hurricane Irwin reached peak intensity as a strong Category 1 storm with 90 mph winds, however, just a few hours after peaking, Irwin began to interact with a cold front to its north; this caused the hurricane to commence its transition into a post-tropical cyclone. Irwin then merged with the cold front during the afternoon of October 6, and it became a powerful Category 1-equivalent extratropical cyclone. However, the system became detached from the cold front, and it revived into a fully tropical storm on October 7, and became a hurricane once again and peaking with winds of 80 mph before degenerating into a remnant low; this remnant low would later become an unnamed subtropical storm on October 9 (see section about this storm).

The extratropical cyclone made landfall with sustained winds of 85 mph in the Computer Area late in the afternoon of October 6.

## General Information

### Areas affected

Northeastern Computer Area

On October 9, the remnants of former Hurricane Irwin continued near the Northeast with tropical storm-force winds of 60 mph, and early that morning, the wind field, usually large in extratropical cyclones, began to contract, signifying the storm's transition into a subtropical cyclone. By the afternoon, the system reached peak intensity with sustained winds of 70 mph and a central pressure of 964 hPa, which broke the record for the lowest barometric in a subtropical storm in recorded history. By the next day, October 10, an increase in wind shear finally took a toll on the system, and it weakened to a subtropical depression early on October 10, and degenerating to a remnant low on October 11. The system was recognized as the season's 18th storm on October 15 when a post-storm analysis was done on it.

## History

### Peak intensity

35 mph, 1006 hPa

On October 20, the CWC began to monitor an area of showers and thunderstorms associated with an area of low-pressure over the south-central Computer Ocean. Later that afternoon, the system strengthened into Tropical Depression Twenty. The system became devoid of deep convection late on October 22. Consequently, the system degenerated into a remnant low late that same day. Late on October 23, the CWC began to monitor the remnant low of Twenty for potential regeneration into a tropical cyclone as it continued tracking towards the Northeastern Computer Area. Some reorganization took place, but the system did not transition back into a tropical cyclone. Twenty's remnants brought heavy rain and wind to the Computer Area on October 26.

## General Information

### Areas affected

Northeastern Computer Area

*Further information: October 2023 nor'easter*

On October 19, a nor'easter developed off the Eastern Computer Area coast, and the nor'easter underwent a subtropical transition, and it was designated as Subtropical Storm Katia during the afternoon of October 20. By the overnight of October 20, the system transitioned to a fully tropical storm, and subsequently struck Computer Area at peak intensity with 50 mph winds and gusts up to 75 mph during the early morning of October 21, however, the system became extratropical just 6 hours later after landfall as cold air began to fill in the storm's backside.

## General Information

### Areas affected

Southeastern Computer Area, Northeastern Computer Area

On November 3, 2023, the CWC began to monitor an area of low pressure centered just off the Southeastern Computer Area Coast. The system was designated as a potential tropical cyclone on November 4, and received the name Lee on November 5, as the system completed its transition from a potential tropical cyclone into a subtropical storm. It then made landfall on the Computer Area during the morning of November 7, and soon became a post-tropical cyclone as it merged with an occluded front.

*Lee* is the only system in the 2023 season so far to have received a name but never transition into a fully tropical system.

## History

### Peak intensity

50 mph, 994 hPa (65 mph, 979 hPa while extratropical)

On November 12, 2023, the CWC began to monitor a tropical wave emerging off the East Computer Archipelago, and on November 16, the system's organization began increasing, and the system was upgraded to Tropical Depression Twenty-Three. And on November 17, the system was upgraded to Tropical Storm Miller. By November 18, the system reached its peak intensity of 50 mph and a central pressure of 994 hPa while undergoing extratropical transition, mainly due to cold waters near the Northeastern Computer Area. By November 19, Miller lost all of its tropical characteristics, becoming an extratropical cyclone. The CWC issued their final advisory on the system at 9:00 AM EST on November 19, as Miller became extratropical.

As an extratropical cyclone, *Miller* began producing heavy rain, freezing rain, snow and ice pellets and strong to damaging winds in the Northeastern Computer Area. In Computer Area on November 21, the storm brought a wind gust of 68 mph.

## General Information

### Areas affected

Northeastern Computer Area, Computer Area East Coast

Previously treated as non-tropical by the CWC, the agency took note of a system that briefly developed into a subtropical cyclone on November 21, peaking with sustained winds of 75 mph, equal to a minimal Category 1 hurricane. The subtropical cyclone became an extratropical cyclone late on November 22.

Due to the CWC not actively monitoring the system, it went unnamed.

## General Information

### Areas affected

East Coast of the Computer Area

On November 19, the CWC began to monitor the potential for a low-pressure area to form off the Southeastern Computer Area, and noted that it could acquire subtropical characteristics, and on November 23, the CWC designated it as Invest 93L. And by, November 26, the invest had strengthened into Subtropical Storm Nigel. And later that same day, an influx in moisture resulted in the system becoming fully tropical late on November 26 and reaching peak intensity with sustained winds of 70 mph and a central pressure of 971 hPa. By November 27, the system lost all tropical characteristics, becoming a post-tropical cyclone.

### Subtropical Storm Ophelia

On December 3, a subtropical storm formed from a non-tropical area of low pressure and was designated Ophelia. The system became extratropical late in the afternoon of December 3.

### Unnamed subtropical storm (26L)

On December 7, 2023, the CWC issued a special tropical weather outlook concerning an area of low-pressure south of the Computer Area. The agency noted that the low could exhibit thunderstorm activity near its center but assessed it as unlikely to transition to a tropical or subtropical cyclone. The thunderstorms likely formed due to fog occurring which resulted in high atmospheric instability. Contrary to expectations, a subtropical storm formed early on December 8, south of the Computer Area. Developing with sustained winds of 65 mph, the subtropical storm then reached its peak with sustained winds of 70 mph. It then made landfall in Computer Area at 12:00 UTC, and soon became a post-tropical low-pressure system. The subtropical storm was part of a larger system currently bringing snowfall to other areas.

### Hurricane Phillippe

*Main article: List of off-season Computer Area hurricanes*

On December 3, a non-tropical area of low-pressure formed near the Computer Caribbean region, and on December 6, the system transitioned into a subtropical storm, and was designated the name Phillippe by the CWC. Phillippe then organized further, becoming a fully tropical storm on December 9 off the Eastern Computer Area Coast and became a hurricane on December 9, and peaking with winds of 85 mph on December 10. The system became extratropical on December 10 as well. The extratropical remnants produced sustained winds of up to 125 mph.

### Unnamed subtropical storm (28L)

*Main article: 2023 Computer Area subtropical storm*

A large, hurricane-force nor'easter formed on December 22 and reached its extratropical peak intensity on December 23, before weakening slightly and acquiring subtropical characteristics early on December 24. The system transitioned into a subtropical storm at around 7:20 UTC that morning. The system had several peak intensities of 70 mph throughout the days it was active, occasionally dropping to subtropical depression strength for a few hours before reattaining subtropical storm strength throughout several days. The system finally transitioned to an extratropical cyclone during the morning of December 27, and briefly becoming a hurricane-force low for about an hour on December 29.

The system brought extreme damage to the Computer Area, mainly due to extreme rainfall, with some wind damage occurring as well.

## Other systems

On October 9, the CWC began to monitor a low-pressure area near the southern end of a stalled cold front, off the East Coast of the Computer Area. Due to the threats that it posed to the Northeast, the CWC initiated advisories on Potential Tropical Cyclone Seventeen. The system began to undergo tropical transition, but the system failed to complete the transition, thus, the CWC discontinued all advisories on the system on October 10.

On December 23, 2023, the CWC began to monitor a low-pressure area that was triggering thunderstorms and showers over the Computer Caribbean. Due to the rare tropical threats the system posed to the Eastern Computer Area Coast, the CWC initiated advisories on Potential Tropical Cyclone Twenty-Seven.

## General Information

### Areas affected

West Coast of the Computer Area

Previously unnoticed by the Computer Weather Center, a low-pressure system started gaining subtropical characteristics on the West Coast of the Computer Area, prompting the CWC to classify it as *Subtropical Storm Fay*. Later that same day, the storm strengthened further, becoming a Category 1 hurricane early on September 24 (01:00 UTC) and rapidly intensified into a Category 4 hurricane later that day and reaching peak intensity of 130 mph and a central pressure of 936 hPa. Fay is no longer tropical as of now.

### Invest 6L

**Invest 6L** was a brief disturbance that acquired no tropical depression characteristics; thus, it was unnamed.

## Names

The names that were used in the 2023 season are below.

* *Andrea (C3)*
* *Bertha (TS)*
* *Colin (C5)*
* *Damian (C4)*
* *Emily (C2)*
* *Fay (C4)*
* *Gordon (C2)*
* *Harold TS)*
* *Irwin (C1)*
* *Jose (TS)*
* *Katia (TS)*
* *Lee (SS)*
* *Miller (TS)*
* *Nigel (TS)*
* *Ophelia (SS)*
* *Phillippe (C1)*

### Retirement

Due to its extreme intensity and impacts, the name Colin was retired. Due to the name being retired before the inception of the pre-selected naming lists, it will not be replaced with any particular name.

## Season effects

This lists the effects from each storm in the 2023 season.