Atlantic hurricane season

The Atlantic hurricane season is the time of year, from June 1 to November 30, when storms called tropical or subtropical cyclones are most likely to form in the North Atlantic Ocean. These dates were chosen because most of these storms happen during this time of year, though storms can form at any time of the year.

The world’s storm seasons usually peak in late summer, when the air and ocean temperatures are most different. For the Atlantic, the busiest time is from late August to September, with the middle of the peak on September 10.

When these storms in the Atlantic grow strong enough to be named, they get a name from a list made ahead of time. On average, there are 14 named storms each season. About 7 of these become hurricanes, and 3 become big, strong hurricanes that are Category 3 or higher on the Saffir–Simpson scale. The busiest season ever recorded had 30 named storms, while the quietest season had only one storm.

Concept

See also: History of Atlantic hurricane warnings

We have known for a long time that Atlantic hurricanes happen most often during certain months of the year. Long ago, people thought the full moon or the moon's phases might decide when hurricanes would occur. Early explorers noticed hurricanes in the Caribbean Sea mostly in July, August, and September.

As time went on, scientists and weather experts tried to set exact dates for the hurricane season. They noticed that most hurricanes formed between June and November. This helped everyone prepare better for these powerful storms. Even though most hurricanes happen during these months, sometimes they can form outside this time too.

Operations

See also: National Hurricane Center and Weather Prediction Center

During the time when hurricanes can form, the National Hurricane Center gives updates called Tropical Weather Outlooks. These updates point out places in warm ocean waters where hurricanes might start. If hurricanes could form outside of this usual time, special updates are made too. Every day, the Weather Prediction Center and the National Hurricane Center work together to watch for possible hurricanes and track any that are already forming.

HURDAT

Main article: HURDAT

The North Atlantic hurricane database, called HURDAT, holds information about all tropical storms and hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea. It includes details about storms that reached land in the United States. This database was first created in the 1960s to help with space program forecasts. Today, it is easy to access online from the National Hurricane Center and is used for many purposes, like studying climate change and preparing for possible storms.

HURDAT is updated each year with the latest storm information. Older parts of the database have also been reviewed and updated since 2001. This work has added information about storms from the 1800s and fixed details about well-known storms like Hurricane Andrew. Researchers continue to study past storms to learn more and improve the database. Changes to the database are approved by the National Hurricane Center's Best Track Change Committee.

Main article: Atlantic hurricane reanalysis

Climatology

See also: Tropical cyclones and climate change

Scientists have noticed that changes in weather patterns, especially something called the African easterly wave, are linked to more powerful hurricanes in the North Atlantic. These storms have become stronger over time.

In recent years, very powerful hurricanes—those rated Category 4 and 5—have become more frequent. The cost of damage from these storms has also gone up a lot, partly because more people live near the coast and partly because of changes in the climate.