The 2016 Atlantic hurricane season was an event in the annual tropical cyclone season in the north Atlantic Ocean. It was the costliest, as well as the first above-average, Atlantic hurricane season since the 2012 season. It featured the highest number of deaths since the 2008 season and also yielded the highest number of named storm landfalls on the United States since that year. The season officially began on June 1 and concluded on November 30, dates which conventionally delimit the period during each year when a majority of tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic Ocean. The season's first cyclone, Alex, developed on January 12, while the final storm of the season, Otto, closed-out the season by exiting into the Eastern Pacific on November 25, becoming the first Atlantic–Pacific crossover hurricane since Hurricane Cesar–Douglas in 1996.

A total of 16 tropical depressions were recorded, of which 15 further intensified into tropical storms. Of those 15, a total of seven strengthened into hurricanes, while four attained their peaks as major hurricanes. Activity began with Alex which, upon making landfall in the Azores, became the first January landfalling tropical cyclone since Hurricane Alice in the 1954 season. In June, tropical storms Colin and Danielle became the earliest third and fourth named storms, respectively, on record. Hermine moved ashore the coastline of Florida as a Category 1 hurricane on September 2, ending the record hurricane drought that began in the state after the 2005 season's Hurricane Wilma. In late September and early October, Hurricane Matthew wrought destruction throughout the Caribbean Sea and Southeastern United States, resulting in $15.09 billion (2016 USD) in damage and 603 deaths. In mid-October, Hurricane Nicole developed to Category 4 intensity and remained a major hurricane while directly impacting Bermuda, the first storm of such strength to do so since Hurricane Fabian in the 2003 season. Following the 2016 season, the names Matthew and Otto were retired from reuse in the North Atlantic by the World Meteorological Organization.

This timeline documents tropical cyclone formations, strengthening, weakening, landfalls, extratropical transitions, and dissipations during the season. It includes information that was not released throughout the season, meaning that data from post-storm reviews by the National Hurricane Center, such as a storm that was not initially warned upon, has been included.

The time stamp for each event is first stated using Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), the 24-hour clock where 00:00 = midnight UTC. The NHC uses both UTC and the time zone where the center of the tropical cyclone is currently located. The time zones utilized (east to west) prior to 2020 were: Atlantic, Eastern, and Central. In this timeline, the respective area time is included in parentheses. Additionally, figures for maximum sustained winds and position estimates are rounded to the nearest 5 units (miles, or kilometers), following National Hurricane Center practice. Direct wind observations are rounded to the nearest whole number. Atmospheric pressures are listed to the nearest millibar and nearest hundredth of an inch of mercury. __TOC__

Timeline

January January 12 18:00 UTC (2:00 p.m. AST) at Subtropical Storm Alex develops from an area of low pressure about 1,150 mi (1,850 km) west-southwest of the Canary Islands.

January 14 06:00 UTC (2:00 a.m. AST) at Subtropical Storm Alex attains fully tropical characteristics and intensifies into a Category 1 hurricane, roughly 630 mi (1,015 km) south of the Azores. 12:00 UTC (8:00 a.m. AST) at Hurricane Alex attains its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 981 mb (hPa; 28.97 inHg) approximately 460 mi (740 km) south-southwest of the Azores.

January 15 12:00 UTC (8:00 a.m. AST) at Hurricane Alex weakens to a tropical storm about 45 mi (75 km) south-southeast of Terceira Island, Azores. 13:15 UTC (9:15 a.m. AST) at Tropical Storm Alex makes landfall on Terceira Island, Azores, with winds of 65 mph (100 km/h). 18:00 UTC (2:00 p.m. AST) at Tropical Storm Alex transitions into an extratropical cyclone approximately 190 mi (305 km) north of Terceira Island, Azores.

May May 27 18:00 UTC (2:00 p.m. EDT) at Tropical Depression Two develops from an area of low pressure about 205 mi (330 km) northeast of Great Abaco, Bahamas.

May 28 12:00 UTC (8:00 a.m. EDT) at Tropical Depression Two intensifies into Tropical Storm Bonnie roughly 225 mi (360 km) south-southeast of Charleston, South Carolina. 18:00 UTC (2:00 p.m. EDT) at &Tropical Storm Bonnie attains its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) approximately 250 mi (400 km) southeast of Charleston, South Carolina.

May 29 12:00 UTC (8:00 a.m. EDT) at Tropical Storm Bonnie weakens to a tropical depression about 15 mi (25 km) east of Charleston, South Carolina. 12:30 UTC (8:30 a.m. EDT) at Tropical Depression Bonnie makes landfall at Isle of Palms, South Carolina, with winds of 35 mph (55 km/h).

May 30 12:00 UTC (8:00 a.m. EDT) at Tropical Depression Bonnie degenerates into a non-convective remnant area of low pressure roughly 125 mi (205 km) southwest of Wilmington, North Carolina.

June June 1 The 2016 Atlantic hurricane season officially begins.

June 2 00:00 UTC (8:00 p.m. EDT, June 1) at The remnants of Bonnie regenerate into a tropical depression about 45 mi (75 km) southeast of Cape Lookout, North Carolina.

June 3 00:00 UTC (8:00 p.m. EDT, June 2) at Tropical Depression Bonnie attains a minimum barometric pressure of 1006 mbar (hPa; 29.71 inHg) roughly 65 mi (100 km) east-northeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. 12:00 UTC (8:00 a.m. EDT) at Tropical Depression Bonnie re-intensifies into a tropical storm approximately 160 mi (260 km) east-northeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

June 4 12:00 UTC (8:00 a.m. AST) at Tropical Storm Bonnie weakens to a tropical depression for a second time about 270 mi (435 km) northwest of Bermuda.

June 5 00:00 UTC (8:00 p.m. AST, June 4) at Tropical Depression Bonnie degenerates into a non-convective remnant area of low pressure for a second time roughly 175 mi (280 km) north of Bermuda. 12:00 UTC (7:00 a.m. CDT) at Tropical Depression Three develops from an area of low pressure approximately 80 mi (130 km) west-northwest of Cancún, Yucatán Peninsula. 18:00 UTC (1:00 p.m. CDT) at Tropical Depression Three intensifies into Tropical Storm Colin about 110 mi (175 km) northwest of Cancún, Yucatán Peninsula.

June 7 00:00 UTC (7:00 p.m. CDT, June 6) at Tropical Storm Colin attains its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 1001 mbar (hPa; 29.56 inHg) roughly 70 mi (110 km) south of Tallahassee, Florida. 02:00 UTC (10:00 p.m. EDT, June 6) at Tropical Storm Colin makes landfall near Keaton Beach, Florida, with winds of 50 mph (85 km/h). 12:00 UTC (8:00 a.m. EDT) at Tropical Storm Colin transitions into an extratropical cyclone approximately 75 mi (120 km) south-southwest of Wilmington, North Carolina.

June 19 12:00 UTC (7:00 a.m. CDT) at Tropical Depression Four develops from an area of low pressure about 145 mi (235 km) east-northeast of Heroica Veracruz, Mexico.

June 20 06:00 UTC (1:00 a.m. CDT) at  – Tropical Depression Four intensifies into Tropical Storm Danielle roughly 70 mi (110 km) north-northeast of Heroica Veracruz, Mexico. 12:00 UTC (7:00 a.m. CDT) at   Tropical Storm Danielle attains its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 1007 mbar (hPa; 29.74 inHg) approximately 95 mi (155 km) east-southeast of Tamiahua, Mexico. 22:00 UTC (5:00 p.m. CDT) at  – Tropical Storm Danielle makes landfall near Tamiahua, Mexico, with winds of 40 mph (65 km/h).

June 21 00:00 UTC (7:00 p.m. CDT, June 20) at Tropical Storm Danielle weakens to a tropical depression about 25 mi (35 km) southwest of Tamiahua, Mexico. 06:00 UTC (1:00 a.m. CDT) at Tropical Depression Danielle degenerates into a remnant area of low pressure roughly 85 mi (140 km) southwest of Tamiahua, Mexico.

July No tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic Ocean during the month of July.

August August 2 06:00 UTC (2:00 a.m. EDT) at Tropical Storm Earl develops from an area of low pressure about 115 mi (185 km) south of Jamaica.

August 3

18:00 UTC (1:00 p.m. CDT) at Tropical Storm Earl intensifies into a Category 1 hurricane roughly 165 mi (265 km) east-southeast of Turneffe Atoll, Belize.

August 4 04:00 UTC (11:00 p.m. CDT, August 3) at Hurricane Earl] attains its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 979 mbar (hPa; 28.91 inHg) and simultaneously makes its first landfall on Turnleffe Caye, Belize. 06:00 UTC (1:00 am. CDT) at Hurricane Earl makes its second landfall about 5 mi (10 km) south of Belize City, Belize, with winds of 85 mph (140 km/h). 12:00 UTC (7:00 a.m. CDT) at Hurricane Earl weakens to a tropical storm about 80 mi (130 km) west of Belize City, Belize.

August 6 02:30 UTC (9:30 p.m. CDT, August 5) at Tropical Storm Earl makes its third and final landfall about 15 mi (25 km) south-southeast of Heroica Veracruz, Mexico, with winds of 60 mph (95 km/h). 12:00 UTC (7:00 a.m. CDT) at Tropical Storm Earl weakens to a tropical depression about 30 mi (50 km) northwest of Orizaba, Mexico. 18:00 UTC (1:00 p.m. CDT) – Tropical Depression Earl dissipates over Central Mexico. 18:00 UTC (1:00 p.m. AST) at Tropical Depression Six develops from an area of low pressure approximately 715 miles (1,150 km) west-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands.

August 17

12:00 UTC (8:00 a.m. AST) at Tropical Depression Six intensifies into Tropical Storm Fiona about 920 miles (1,480 km) west of the Cabo Verde Islands.

August 19 00:00 UTC (8:00 p.m. AST August 18) at Tropical Storm Fiona attains its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 1004 mbar (hPa; 29.65 inHg) roughly 825 miles (1,330 km) east-northeast of the Leeward Islands.

August 22 06:00 UTC (2:00 a.m. AST) at Tropical Storm Fiona weakens to a tropical depression approximately 770 miles (1,240 km) southeast of Bermuda. 12:00 UTC (8:00 a.m. AST) at Tropical Depression Seven develops from an area of low pressure roughly 305 miles (490 km) southwest of the southernmost Cabo Verde Islands. 18:00 UTC (2:00 p.m. AST) at Tropical Depression Seven intensifies into Tropical Storm Gaston approximately 310 miles (500 km) southwest of the southernmost Cabo Verde Islands.

August 23 12:00 UTC (8:00 a.m. AST) at Tropical Depression Fiona degenerates into a remnant low about 430 miles (690 km) south of Bermuda.

August 24 12:00 UTC (8:00 a.m. AST) at Tropical Storm Gaston intensifies into a Category 1 hurricane about 965 miles (1,555 km) west of the Cabo Verde Islands.

August 25 12:00 UTC (8:00 a.m. AST) at Hurricane Gaston weakens to a tropical storm roughly 1,325 miles (2,130 km) west-northwest of the Cabo Verde Islands.

August 27 18:00 UTC (2:00 p.m. AST) at Tropical Storm Gaston re-intensifies into a Category 1 hurricane approximately 710 miles (1,145 km) southeast of Bermuda.

August 28 12:00 UTC (8:00 a.m. AST) at Hurricane Gaston intensifies into a Category 2 hurricane about 610 miles (980 km) east-southeast of Bermuda. 12:00 UTC (8:00 a.m. EDT) at Tropical Depression Eight develops from an area of low pressure and simultaneously attains its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 1010 mbar (hPa; 29.83 inHg) approximately 405 miles (650 km) southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. 18:00 UTC (2:00 p.m. AST) at Hurricane Gaston intensifies into a Category 3 hurricane roughly 590 miles (950 km) east-southeast of Bermuda.