The 1939 season had below normal activity , with only six tropical storms , of which two became hurricanes .
One became a major hurricane , equivalent to Category 3 status or higher on the modern - day Saffir - Simpson Hurricane Scale .
The 1939 season had below normal activity , with only six tropical storms , of which two became hurricanes and one became a major hurricane , equivalent to Category 3 status or higher on the modern - day Saffir - Simpson Hurricane Scale .