2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season Projected to Be “Explosive”

Projections for the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season were just released, and this year’s season is forecast to be “unprecedented” and “explosive” as sea surface temperatures rise, creating the potential for an increased number of storms, as well as increased intensity.

Credit: National Weather Service

An “Explosive” Hurricane Season Ahead

The upcoming hurricane season begins on June 1 and runs through November 30, but information released by AccuWeather meteorologists on Wednesday warns of the increased potential for tropical storms–those that gather energy from warm sea surface temperatures instead of from a front–forming earlier than usual in 2024.

According to AccuWeather forecasters, the 2024 hurricane season could hit “a record-setting pace,” with increased hurricane activity in the Atlantic Basin, as many as 25 named storms–including tropical storms with sustained winds of at least 39 miles per hour–during the summer and fall months. That number would destroy the historical average number of storms in one hurricane season, which currently sits at 14 storms.

Credit: National Hurricane Center

The forecast released on Wednesday also called for between eight and 12 of those named storms to gather enough strength to become hurricanes, with sustained winds of at least 74 miles per hour, and four to seven of them intensifying to Category 3 or higher major hurricanes with at least 111 miles per hour.

Each year, the names of potential storms are listed in alphabetical order. For the 2024 season, storm names include Alberto, Beryl, Chris, Debby, Ernesto, Francine, Gordon, Helene, Isaac, Joyce, Kirk, Leslie, Milton, Nadine, Oscar, Patty, Rafael, Sara, Tony, Valerie, and William.

AccuWeather meteorologists say that between four and six of the 2024 storms could have a direct impact on the United States.

Comparing 2024 to 2023

In 2023, the Atlantic hurricane season included 20 named storms, seven of which strengthened into hurricanes. During last year’s season, Hurricane Idalia was the only storm that made landfall in the U.S. On August 30, Idalia made landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida as a Category 3 storm, arriving with 125 mph winds.

Credit: National Weather Service

Credit: AccuWeather