The 2006 Atlantic Hurricane season had a slow start, with very few named storms in the first months of the season. But in early September, the previously hurricane-less season threw out four hurricanes in a row. The first two hurricanes were both short-lived relative weak Category One hurricanes, Ernesto and Florence. But the season shifted into high gear as Florence was spinning down in the North Atlantic in mid-September. Hurricanes Gordon and Helene formed in quick succession, both reaching Category Three strength a few days from each other. However, only Ernesto amongst these four hurricanes made landfall; a persistent ridgeline of high pressure over the U.S. east coast steered storms away into the North Atlantic. Florence, Gordon, and Helene have each been steered north well away from the coastland mainland, though Florence did bring strong winds, heavy rain, and storm surge to Bermuda. As of September 19, it appeared that Gordon would continue to pull away to the north and east without passing near Bermuda, and early concerns that Helene might strike the island have been revised, and this powerful hurricane was also expected to arc away to the north well away from the island.