The 1996 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, but the first named storm did not form until seventeen days later.
It was an above average season in which 13 tropical cyclones formed, with all cyclones attaining tropical storm status.
Nine of these sixteen attained hurricane status and six of those reached major hurricane status, which was well above the 1980–2010 average of 2.7 per season.
Although there was neither an El Niño or a La Niña, the above average activity in the season was likely due to abnormally warm sea surface temperatures.
Six hurricanes and three tropical storms made landfall during the season, causing 256 deaths and $6.52 billion in damage.
Hurricane Edouard and Hurricane Marco also caused damage and fatalities, but neither storm made an official landfall.

Tropical cyclogenesis in the 1996 Atlantic hurricane season began with the development of Tropical Storm Arthur on June 17.
In the month of July, two tropical cyclones formed, both of which later attained hurricane status.
August was the most active month of the season, with a total of four storms developing in that period of time.
The month of August also featured the strongest and costliest tropical cyclones of the season, Hurricane Edouard and Hurricane Fran, respectively.
Although September is the climatological peak of hurricane season, only two tropical cyclones developed in that month.
Despite this, both reached major hurricane status.
Three tropical cyclones formed in October, with one attaining hurricane status.
Finally, one tropical cyclone developed in November, Hurricane Marco.
The storm lasted 10 days before dissipating on November 26, only four days before the official end of the season on November 30.

The season's activity was reflected with an Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) index of 166.
ACE is, broadly speaking, a measure of the power of the hurricane multiplied by the length of time it existed, so storms that last a long time, as well as particularly strong hurricanes, have high ACEs.
It is only calculated for full advisories on tropical systems at or exceeding 34 knots (39 mph, 63 km/h) or tropical storm strength.
The 1996 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, but the first named storm did not form until seventeen days later. It was an above average season in which 13 tropical cyclones formed, with all cyclones attaining tropical storm status. Nine of these sixteen attained hurricane status and six of those reached major hurricane status, which was well above the 1980–2010 average of 2.7 per season. Although there was neither an El Niño or a La Niña, the above average activity in the season was likely due to abnormally warm sea surface temperatures. Six hurricanes and three tropical storms made landfall during the season, causing 256 deaths and $6.52 billion in damage. Hurricane Edouard and Hurricane Marco also caused damage and fatalities, but neither storm made an official landfall.
Tropical cyclogenesis in the 1996 Atlantic hurricane season began with the development of Tropical Storm Arthur on June 17. In the month of July, two tropical cyclones formed, both of which later attained hurricane status. August was the most active month of the season, with a total of four storms developing in that period of time. The month of August also featured the strongest and costliest tropical cyclones of the season, Hurricane Edouard and Hurricane Fran, respectively. Although September is the climatological peak of hurricane season, only two tropical cyclones developed in that month. Despite this, both reached major hurricane status. Three tropical cyclones formed in October, with one attaining hurricane status. Finally, one tropical cyclone developed in November, Hurricane Marco. The storm lasted 10 days before dissipating on November 26, only four days before the official end of the season on November 30.
The season's activity was reflected with an Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) index of 166. ACE is, broadly speaking, a measure of the power of the hurricane multiplied by the length of time it existed, so storms that last a long time, as well as particularly strong hurricanes, have high ACEs. It is only calculated for full advisories on tropical systems at or exceeding 34 knots (39 mph, 63 km/h) or tropical storm strength.
1996 Atlantic hurricane season