 The Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 15 , 1948 . However , tropical cyclogenesis began on April 15 , about two months before the official start of the season . There was a total of ten tropical storms , six of which strengthened into hurricanes . Further , four of the six hurricanes deepened into major hurricanes , which are Category 3 or higher on Saffir – Simpson hurricane wind scale . Of the nine tropical disturbances detected operationally , five struck the United States with winds of 39 mph ( 63 km / h ) or greater , while the other tropical systems affected islands , remained over the open ocean , or affected the country with winds below tropical storm intensity . Three hurricanes made landfall in the United States , while the three other storms with winds of at least 74 mph ( 119 km / h ) largely remained at sea . Collectively , the storms of this season left around $ 28 @.@ 8 million in damage and 112 fatalities . 
