The 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season: A Review
The 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season has officially come to a close, marking the end of an active season that saw several major storms make landfall in the United States. In total, 18 named storms formed in the Atlantic this year, with 11 of those being hurricanes, including 5 major hurricanes.
High-Impact Storms
According to Eric Berger, a meteorologist with Space City Weather, the United States was hit by more major hurricanes than normal. "We saw very high impacts this year in the United States from hurricanes, and in particular, seeing three hurricane landfalls in the United States in a single year is well above normal," he said.
One of these major storms was Hurricane Beryl, which battered the Houston area in July and left millions without power for weeks. The storm left more than 40 people dead in the Houston area. After the storm cleared, the Atlantic was "uncharacteristically" quiet throughout August and part of September, Berger said. "That’s typically when the hurricane season is really getting ramped up," he added.
Devastating Impact
However, after a short-lived quiet period, Hurricane Helene devastated several states along the East Coast in late September, killing more than 200 people in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Virginia. Just weeks later, on October 9, Hurricane Milton ripped across Florida as a Category 3 storm.
The combination of these two storms resulted in at least 250 people being killed and at least $50 billion in damages, according to reporting from the Associated Press.
Federal Support
Throughout the year, Texas received about $1.6 billion in federal support after two storm-related Presidential Disaster Declarations: one after severe storms and flooding back in May and another declaration in July after Hurricane Beryl.
Conclusion
The 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season was marked by several major storms that had a significant impact on the United States. The high number of major hurricane landfalls and the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton highlight the importance of preparation and resilience in the face of natural disasters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many named storms formed in the Atlantic this year?
A: 18 named storms formed in the Atlantic this year.
Q: How many of those were hurricanes?
A: 11 of the 18 named storms were hurricanes.
Q: How many major hurricanes were there?
A: 5 major hurricanes formed this year.
Q: What was the impact of the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season on the United States?
A: The United States was hit by more major hurricanes than normal, with three hurricane landfalls in a single year, which is well above normal.
Q: What was the total damage caused by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton?
A: At least $50 billion in damages were left behind as a result of the two storms.
Q: How much federal support did Texas receive after the storms?
A: Texas received about $1.6 billion in federal support after two storm-related Presidential Disaster Declarations.
