The 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season Wrap-Up: A Season of Surprises
As we bid farewell to the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, folks across coastal communities are reflecting on what has turned out to be quite the lively and unpredictable season. While the season officially kicked off on June 1st and wraps up at the end of November, it surely didn’t run out of surprises, excitement, and even some scares along the way. So, grab a comfy seat as we dive into some of the key highlights!
By the Numbers
To give you an idea of how this season stacked up against averages, let’s break it down. In total, there were 18 named tropical storms, with a striking 11 of those growing into hurricanes and five achieving major hurricane status (that’s a category three or higher). Traditionally, an average season includes about 14 storms, seven hurricanes, and only about three major hurricanes. So, yeah, we definitely broke some records and perhaps even set a few!
Early Surprises
It wasn’t all smooth sailing, though! The season began with a bang when Hurricane Beryl made history as the Atlantic’s earliest category five hurricane, striking on July 2nd. Beryl left a trail of destruction across the Caribbean with widespread damage and tragically, many lives lost. Shortly after causing chaos in the Caribbean, it brushed the southern coast of Texas, leading to significant flooding and power outages in both Texas and Louisiana.
Mid-Season Lull
Following the whirlwind that was Hurricane Beryl, things took a rather unusual turn. In fact, after Beryl’s intensity, the season quieted down for a spell—leaving many meteorologists scratching their heads. The quiet lasted until September 24th, with just four named storms (and not a single major hurricane!) from July all the way to then. This disruption in typical patterns is striking, especially when sea temperatures were consistently high, which generally means storms can easily form.
The Calm Before the Storm
During this unusually slow mid-season, some scientists pointed to a change in weather patterns in Africa as a likely culprit. This change made clusters of thunderstorms that usually spawn hurricanes emerge farther north than typical. A healthy dose of Saharan dust didn’t help either, potentially suppressing tropical activity when things could have been cooking up nicely! Eventually, the quiet broke, leading to quite the stormy finale.
The Intensity Ramp-Up
Fast forward to late September, and here comes Hurricane Helene, which rapidly intensified and hit the Florida coast like a freight train as a Category 4 hurricane. Helene didn’t hold back, causing catastrophic flooding from the Gulf Coast through the southern Appalachians—a full-on disaster, with more than 150 reported fatalities. The storm’s quick transition from a tropical disturbance to a bona fide hurricane caught everyone off guard and cemented its place as one of the key events of the season.
Rapid Intensification Record
Following Helene, we were in for a whirlwind of storms. Over a short span, we had six storms emerging, with five quickly turning into hurricanes. Among them was Hurricane Milton, which made waves (literally!) in early October. Milton showcased an astonishing example of rapid intensification, seeing wind speeds soar by a jaw-dropping 90 mph in just 24 hours. That kind of rapid ramp-up is something every hurricane researcher keeps a close eye on!
Closing Out with Tropical Storm Sara
Finally, wrapping up the season, we saw Tropical Storm Sara. Although it didn’t morph into a hurricane, it moved slowly along the coast of Central America, drenching the region with more than 3 feet of rain in parts of Honduras. Talk about “rain, rain, go away!”
The Bigger Picture
As scientists analyze this hurricane season, it’s clear that things are changing. High sea temperatures—hovering around 1°C above average—are a strong indicator of how climate change is altering storm patterns. For storms like Milton, human-induced climate change made those winds a staggering 23 mph stronger. And the rainfall? Expect at least an increase of 20-30%. These forecasts indicate that while we might not see more hurricanes, the ones that do form are likely to be more intense and wetter.
So, as we close the book on the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, we know for sure that every season holds its surprises. Here’s hoping for calmer waters ahead, and that coastal communities stay safe until next season!
