October’s Hurricane History – 2024
Bottom Line: September once again lived up to its reputation of being the most active month of hurricane season as more storms developed during the month (six) than had developed prior to it this year (5) highlighted of course by Helene which we are still assessing the full extent of the damage from. As we’ve also seen over the past week, the tropics have become much more active generally than what we’d seen previously. Still, entering October last year we’d already had 17 named storms develop, so this year has proven to be significantly less active up to this point. In any event, it’s always nice to put September in the rear-view mirror. In addition to being the most active month of hurricane season, it’s also a significant turning point for activity.
The early months of hurricane season work as a hurricane incubator by gradually heating up the ocean creating favorable conditions for development. The gradually cooler weather we usually see as we exit September has the opposite effect. So, about October’s hurricane history.
Of the six months of hurricane season, where do you think October ranks? The answer is third behind September and August – so we’re certainly not off the hook just yet as many South Floridians hit by Wilma can attest to. Incidentally, it was Wilma in October of 2005, which was the last hurricane to make landfall in Southeast Florida.
Since tracking began in 1851:
- 82% of all tropical storms & hurricanes have happened prior to October
Despite a third of the season being left on the calendar, the better news is that we have less than a fifth of the activity to go this hurricane season if history continues to be a guide. Here's what we average during October:
- 2 tropical storms
- 1 hurricane
An average of about one tropical storm or hurricane makes landfall in the US every three years during the month. The wind is now at our back (pun intended) as we head down the home stretch of this year’s hurricane season. May the wind be with us.