2024 Hurricane Season Recap
We’ve made it to the end. A novela-like season is rapidly winding down in the face of a beautiful stretch of late-November weather.
Season Summary
Following Sara’s demise eight days ago, a parade of cold fronts have knocked out the season and spread calm across the tropics.
In the wake of a busy season, one that remained consistent in generating storms once September hit, let’s look back at what 2024 delivered.
Producing 18 named storms, the season went on to spin up 11 hurricanes and five major hurricanes. Of those storms, five made landfall in the U.S., with three hitting Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Seasonal Metrics
The 2024 Hurricane Season ended with 18 named storms with an “extremely active” classification. (NOAA)
Using the metric of ACE (Accumulated Cyclone Energy) to weigh the season’s performance, 2024 produced a value of 161.6, which equates “extremely active.” It’s interesting to note that a single storm accounted for about 22% of this season’s ACE reading. Hurricane Beryl produced a value of 35.1, peaking as a Category 5 while cruising through the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico for just over six days.
Stormy Stretch
While the season had some lulls in the first two weeks of June and a good portion of July, storms blossomed in the period of Sept. 9 through Nov. 17. In that time frame, 13 named storms developed and accounted for 53 named storm days.
That’s a lot!
That stretch of time was swift to drown out July’s calls that the year’s seasonal forecasts were a bust and underachieving. As we now know, that was not the case.
Lessons Learned
So now that it’s over, I’d ask that you take some time to consider how you felt when South Florida and the Keys ended up in a Tropical Storm Watch or Warning.
Did you feel prepared?
What might you do next year to mitigate any identified vulnerabilities?
Thankfully there is some time to contemplate and act, if necessary.
In due time, the dance will begin again next year. Hopefully with lessons learned and new ideas for how you’ll navigate the season…whether here in South Florida or wherever life takes you.
Conclusion
The 2024 Hurricane Season was an “extremely active” one, with 18 named storms, 11 hurricanes, and five major hurricanes. The season pushed through November, becoming the 9th since 2010 to produce a named storm. As we move forward, it’s essential to reflect on our preparedness and identify areas for improvement for the next season.
FAQs
Q: What was the classification of the 2024 Hurricane Season?
A: The 2024 Hurricane Season was classified as “extremely active” with a value of 161.6 in the ACE metric.
Q: How many named storms did the 2024 Hurricane Season produce?
A: The 2024 Hurricane Season produced 18 named storms.
Q: How many hurricanes and major hurricanes did the 2024 Hurricane Season produce?
A: The 2024 Hurricane Season produced 11 hurricanes and five major hurricanes.
Q: How many storms made landfall in the U.S. during the 2024 Hurricane Season?
A: Five storms made landfall in the U.S. during the 2024 Hurricane Season, with three hitting Florida’s Gulf Coast.
