Tropical Storm Colin in early June brought minor flooding and wind damage to parts of the Southeastern United States, especially Florida.

The final tropical cyclone of the season – Hurricane Otto – brought severe flooding to Central America in November, particularly in Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

Most forecasting groups predicted above average activity in anticipation of a dissipating El Niño event and the development of a La Niña, as well as warmer than normal sea surface temperatures.

The scenario considered most likely was that Atlantic multidecadal oscillation (AMO) and thermohaline circulation (THC) would be stronger, but effects from El Niño would remain, resulting in a slightly above average season.

[13] On August 5, TSR released their final forecast for the season, lowering the numbers to 15 named storms and 7 hurricanes due to the influence of La Niña being less than anticipated previously.

Most significantly, one of the strongest El Niño events recorded in history rapidly dissipated, transforming to cool-neutral conditions across the Pacific in late summer.

Its associated fronts dissipated, its wind field became more symmetric, and convection increased near the center, leading to the formation of Subtropical Storm Alex by 18:00 UTC on January 12.

The presence of deeper convection near the center and an eye on conventional satellite showcased the storm's transition into a fully tropical cyclone and intensification into a hurricane by 06:00 UTC on January 14.

[22] The precursor disturbance to Hurricane Alex produced gusts up to 60 mph (95 km/h) on Bermuda, as well as swells up to 20 ft (6 m) offshore; this disrupted air travel, downed trees, caused sporadic power outages, and suspended ferry services.

The next day, despite increasing wind shear and cooling sea surface temperatures, Bonnie reintensified into a tropical storm and reached its minimum barometric pressure of 1,006 mbar (29.7 inHg).

Steered west-northwest and then northwest by a mid-level ridge, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Danielle by 06:00 UTC on June 20 and attained peak winds of 45 mph (70 km/h) six hours later.

The storm rapidly weakened as it moved inland, falling to tropical depression intensity by 00:00 UTC on June 21 and degenerating into a remnant low six hours later.

Steered generally westward by a ridge over the South United States, Earl intensified amid warm ocean temperatures and low shear, attaining hurricane intensity and peaking with winds of 85 mph (135 km/h) on August 3.

[59] Despite strong westerly shear, abundant mid-level dry air, and an otherwise disheveled satellite appearance,[60] an advanced scatterometer (ASCAT) pass indicated a maximum sustained wind speed of 50 mph (80 km/h) early on August 19.

[28] The depression organized while heading northwest, intensifying into Tropical Storm Gaston six hours later and attaining hurricane intensity by 12:00 UTC on August 24, in accordance with data from satellites and a NASA Global Hawk unmanned aircraft.

[28][63] After its initial peak in intensity, Gaston's satellite appearance began to degrade as an upper-level low imparted strong southwesterly shear on the cyclone,[64] causing it to weaken back to a tropical storm.

[28] Upper-level winds slackened early on August 27, and a timely microwave pass highlighted the presence of a low-level eye well embedded in the storm's central dense overcast, indicating the resumption of Gaston's intensification phase.

Continuous unfavorable conditions caused deep convection to dissipate, and Gaston transitioned into an extratropical cyclone as its center grazed Flores Island at 18:00 UTC.

Early on August 27, the low became well-defined, but lacked sufficient convection,[67] and was plagued by unfavorable conditions such as dry air and moderate wind shear.

[68] However, a large burst of convection near and to the west of the center prompted the upgrade to Tropical Depression Eight at 12:00 UTC on August 28 about 350 mi (560 km) southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

[72] As the depression approached the coastline, a tropical storm watch was issued for Cape Lookout to Oregon Inlet, North Carolina, early on August 29.

[82] Steered north and the northeast by an approaching upper-level trough, the cyclone struggled within an environment of high shear, with its low-level center displaced west of its associated convection.

[86] In its precursor and early stages, the storm caused generally minor wind and flooding damage in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina due to its asymmetrical structure and fairly weak intensity.

The cyclone continued west for several days across the unfavorable central Atlantic, with convection sheared to the northeast and the circulation occasionally becoming poorly defined.

Despite continued predictions of intensification into a powerful hurricane, Karl instead succumbed to the hostile conditions and weakened to a tropical depression around 06:00 UTC on September 21 as it passed close to an upper-level low.

[90][92] However, by the following day, the upper-level low moved away to the south, causing a reduction in shear that allowed the system to reattain tropical storm intensity as it curved near Bermuda.

Matthew remained a powerful Category 4 hurricane for several days, making landfall near Les Anglais, Haiti, around 11:00 UTC on October 4 with winds of 150 mph (240 km/h).

[31] Convection became displaced as Matthew pulled away from land,[100] with the storm becoming extratropical about 200 mi (320 km) east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, on October 9.

[113] An eye then became visible at both mid- and upper-level heights, and Nicole rapidly strengthened to a Category 2 hurricane to the south of Bermuda, as winds reached 105 mph (170 km/h) early on October 7.

The hurricane left nine deaths in the country, with one after a house was struck by a falling tree in Panama City, three from landslides, two by drowning in a rain-swollen river, and three others after the ship Jessica sank.