October’s Hurricane History – 2022
Bottom Line: While our state picks up the pieces from what has been one of the most devastating hurricanes in Florida’s history in Ian, it’s always nice to put September in the rear-view mirror. In addition to being the most active month of the hurricane season, it’s also a turning point for activity. September is the peak month for activity and for what had been a quiet hurricane season entering the month, the picked up the pace considerably once again. That said, this year’s activity has still been well below recent years by this stage. Entering October last year, we’d already had 20 named storms, a year after having experienced 23 at this stage. The nine named storms for the Atlantic Hurricane season this year thus far are obviously fewer than half of last year’s total and keeps us on pace for a potentially below average year for overall activity - Ian's wrath notwithstanding.
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.