
The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season is poised to make waves—both literally and figuratively. Meteorologists have released forecasts that predict a season of heightened activity, with more storms and hurricanes than we typically experience. Whether you’re a coastal resident, a business owner, or simply someone who wants to stay informed, understanding what’s ahead is crucial. From an increase in named storms to a higher likelihood of intense hurricanes, this year’s projections underscore the importance of preparedness and awareness. In this blog, we’ll break down the numbers, explore the driving factors, and share essential tips to help you stay safe and ready for whatever comes our way.

The below charts show the amount of tropical cyclone activity, in terms of named storms and hurricanes, that occurs in the Atlantic and east Pacific basins on each calendar day between May 1 and December 31. Specifically, they show the number of hurricanes (yellow area), and combined named storms and hurricanes (red area) that occur on each calendar day over a 100-year period. The data have been smoothed using a 5-day running average centered on each calendar day.
Atlantic Basin
For the Atlantic basin (the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico), the chart is based on data from the 77-year period from 1944 to 2020 (starting at the beginning of the aircraft reconnaissance era) but normalized to 100 years. The official hurricane season for the Atlantic basin is from June 1 to November 30, but tropical cyclone activity sometimes occurs before and after these dates, respectively. The peak of the Atlantic hurricane season is September 10, with most activity occurring between mid-August and mid-October.

Pacific Basin
For the eastern Pacific basin, the analyses are based on data from the 50-year period from 1971 to 2020 (starting when there was reliable satellite imagery) but also normalized to 100 years. The official hurricane season for the eastern Pacific basin is from May 15 to November 30, but tropical cyclones occasionally occur before and after these dates, respectively. A peak in activity is noted in late August, but this peak is less pronounced than the peak in Atlantic activity. Relatively high levels of activity in the eastern Pacific tend to be spread out over a longer portion of the season than in the Atlantic, with most tropical cyclones occurring between late June and early October.

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