As Tropical Storm Olga churned in the Atlantic, fizzling at Tropical Depression status, the tally stood at 15 named storms, including nine hurricanes-four classified as "major."
Forecasters had predicted a more active season in 2001 to continue the trend of heightened activity that began in 1995. A joint effort between the Climate Prediction Center, Hurricane Research Division and National Hurricane Center was accurate for a fourth straight year.
"Considerable research by NOAA hurricane scientists in recent years has contributed substantially to our long-term forecast success," said Scott Gudes, NOAA's acting administrator. "This research has also improved our ability to monitor, diagnose, and predict the interactions between multi-decadal climate variations and the corresponding impacts on upcoming Atlantic hurricane activity."
The number of named storms this year was above average, but it was the second consecutive year without a land-falling hurricane in the United States. While, that's good news for U.S. residents, officials warn not to become complacent.
Population growth and development along the East and Gulf coasts, said retired general Jack Kelly, NOAA's National Weather Service director, "point to a potential disaster when a powerful hurricane does inevitably strike. There is no way to tell if the steering patterns, which kept the hurricanes away from the U.S. in 2000 and 2001, will be around next season."
Since Hurricane Irene in 1999, there have been 18 hurricanes that formed but did not strike the United States-a new record.
"The respite in hurricane landfalls can be attributed partially to luck, and a persistent trough near the U.S. East Coast that helped steer away the storms," Max Mayfield, NOAA's National Hurricane Center director, said.
Two other tropical storms-Barry and Gabrielle-made landfall with just-below-hurricane strength.
"Many people think it's just hurricanes that carry the danger and destruction, but Tropical Storm Allison put that myth to rest," said Kelly.
Allison went down in weather history as the costliest tropical storm ever to strike the United States. The storm left 24 dead and more than $5 billion in damages throughout Texas and Louisiana before heading to the East Coast.
"Tropical storms are as serious as hurricanes because of their potential to wreak havoc with heavy rains that cause major floods," said Mayfield. "It's important for residents not to just focus solely on a storm's wind speeds. The rains can kill, too."
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