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 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 largely remained at sea. Collectively, the storms of this season left around $28.8 million in damage and 112 fatalities.