On average, ten tropical storms develop over the ocean each year; of these ten, up to six will become hurricanes.
The more you understand, the more prepared you’ll be to deal with it. In the following 2024 Atlantic hurricane season article, we’ll take a closer look at tropical storms and how they develop into hurricanes and recap the 2024 hurricane season.
Away from the land, out over the Caribbean Sea, Atlantic Ocean, and Gulf of Mexico, an average of ten tropical storms develop each year. Of those ten tropical storms, an average of six will transition into fully fledged hurricanes.
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Recapping The 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season
According to NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), in 2024, the Atlantic basin had 18 named storms, 11 of which developed into hurricanes, and 5 of those 11 hurricanes were categorized as major hurricanes with winds exceeding 178kph/111mph or greater.
“The impactful and deadly 2024 hurricane season started intensely, then relaxed a bit before roaring back,” said Matthew Rosencrans, lead hurricane forecaster at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, a division of NOAA’s National Weather Service. “Several possible factors contributed to the peak season lull in the Atlantic region. The particularly intense winds and rains over Western Africa created an environment that was less hospitable for storm development.”
Throughout the 2024 hurricane season, NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft flew over 392 mission hours, collecting atmospheric data to help improve hurricane research and forecasting. Pilots flew through the ‘eye of the hurricane’ during these dangerous missions over eighty times.
Hurricane Fast Facts
- Most hurricanes can be up to 300 miles / 582 km wide. However, the size of the hurricane will ultimately depend on the factors that influenced its creation.
- The eye of the hurricane can be between 20 and 40 miles / 32 and 78 kilometers wide and is a sizeable calm space surrounded by the rest of the hurricane.
- The strongest winds in the hurricane are located in the eyewall of the hurricane. If a hurricane passes overhead, the strongest winds will be experienced just before you enter the eye of the hurricane.
- Hurricanes are surrounded by rainbands, which consist of dense bands of thunderstorms with strong winds and rain. These rainbands can be up to 50 miles / 80 kilometers wide.
- On average, the hurricane’s right side is the most dangerous, with the strongest winds, storm surge, and tornadoes.
- A hurricane’s course or direction is determined by various other weather factors, including the absence or presence of weather patterns, which can make its direction of travel wild and extremely difficult to predict.
The Names of the Hurricanes in the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season
During the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, from June 19th, when Alberto formed, through to November 18th, when Sara dissipated, there were 18 named storms. In total, there were seven tropical storms and eleven hurricanes. However, the five major hurricanes in 2024 were Beryl, Helene, Kirk, Milton, and Rafael.
The Atlantic storms’ names list comprises 6 x 21 names, which are rotated annually. So, in 2030, we’ll see tropical storms and hurricanes again with the names of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.
The National Hurricane Center created the original list of names in 1953, and it is currently maintained by the International Committee of the World Meteorological Organization.
2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season Predictions
Hurricane season runs from June 1st through November 30th. However, if the conditions are right, a hurricane could occur before or after those dates.
The meteorology experts from Colorado State University will release their hurricane forecast in early April, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration typically releases theirs in May.
The team at AccuWeather has released its 2025 Atlantic hurricane forecast, and it’s looking like a busy year. They expect there to be around 13 – 18 named storms, 7 – 10 hurricanes, and 3 – 5 major hurricanes, with between 3 – 6 of those directly impacting the United States.
“AccuWeather is forecasting near to above the historical average number of named storms, hurricanes, major hurricanes, accumulated cyclone energy (ACE), and direct impacts to the United States,” AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva said.
2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season: Navigating Natural Disasters | Conclusion
It’s shaping up to be another big hurricane season in 2025, so now is the perfect time to plan, check your emergency plan, and prepare yourself to deal with a potential hurricane if you live in an area typically affected by hurricanes.
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