List of Storms in The 2005 Atlantic Hurricane Season - Hurricane Beta

Hurricane Beta

Late on October 26, a broad area of low pressure in the southwestern Caribbean Sea developed and became Tropical Depression Twenty-six. Six hours later, it was upgraded to Tropical Storm Beta. Beta strengthened into a hurricane on October 29. On October 30, Hurricane Beta became a major hurricane with sustained winds around 115 mph (185 km/h). That brought the total amount of major hurricanes in the 2005 season to seven, one short of the record eight set in the 1950 season.

Beta extended the record for most tropical storms in a season to 23 and was the first use of the name Beta for a tropical system. At the time it formed, Beta was considered the thirteenth hurricane of 2005, breaking the 1969 record of twelve hurricanes; later analysis showed Tropical Storm Cindy was a hurricane, which means the record-breaking thirteenth hurricane was actually Hurricane Wilma. Additionally, it was both the first hurricane (as opposed to a tropical storm), and the first major hurricane, named with a Greek letter.

The Colombian island of Providencia, about 140 miles (230 km) off the coast of Nicaragua, was subjected to hurricane force winds for several hours as the center of the storm moved very slowly by the island. Reports indicate extensive damage to homes and a loss of communications with the islanders.

• The NHC's archive on Hurricane Beta