Hurricane Season Update: NOAA Expects Record-Breaking Activity with Up to 24 Named Storms

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has updated its forecast for the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, projecting an extremely active period that could be one of the busiest on record. With the peak of the season quickly approaching, NOAA’s National Weather Service is emphasizing the importance of preparedness for potential threats, including damaging winds, storm surges, and inland flooding from heavy rainfall.

In its mid-season hurricane outlook update, NOAA's Climate Prediction Center has increased the expected number of named storms to 17-24 (with winds of 39 mph or greater), of which 8-13 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or greater), and 4-7 could become major hurricanes (winds of 111 mph or greater). This forecast includes the four named storms (two tropical storms and two hurricanes) that have already formed this season. Hurricane season spans from June 1 through November 30.

“The hurricane season got off to an early and violent start with Hurricane Beryl, the earliest category-5 Atlantic hurricane on record,” said NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D. “NOAA’s update to the hurricane seasonal outlook is an important reminder that the peak of hurricane season is right around the corner, when historically the most significant impacts from hurricanes and tropical storms tend to occur.”

2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season Overview

A typical Atlantic hurricane season yields 14 named storms, of which seven become hurricanes and three become major hurricanes. However, this year’s atmospheric and oceanic conditions support an above-normal season with a 90% probability. The season has only a 10% chance of being near-normal and a negligible chance of being below-normal.