Today heralds the commencement of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, bracing for significant storm activity. In May, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration projected the highest number of named storms ever forecasted in its seasonal outlook.

Delving into the hurricane history of your region provides an intriguing insight into past storm occurrences. As the new season unfolds, reflect on the numerous hurricanes and tropical storms that have traversed your area since 1851.

Discover hurricanes in your vicinity.

While it's unusual for hurricanes to reach the Midwest directly, remnants of storms like Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Tropical Storm Claudette in 1979 have approached within 10 miles of cities such as Columbus, Ohio, and St. Louis, Missouri.

In contrast, areas like the storm-vulnerable Florida Panhandle and Outer Banks have encountered numerous hurricanes, with some regions experiencing over 100 storms in the last 150 years. NOAA's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory states that Florida alone has endured approximately 40% of all U.S. hurricanes.

How many hurricanes have occurred in total?

Since 1851, NOAA records indicate that over 300 hurricanes have made landfall and struck the mainland United States, averaging nearly 18 hurricanes per decade.

The most devastating hurricane in U.S. history remains the Galveston hurricane of 1900, which tragically claimed the lives of approximately 8,000 to 12,000 people, as reported by NOAA.

Throughout the past century, Hurricane Katrina emerges as the deadliest, resulting in a toll of at least 1,500 fatalities. Additionally, Katrina holds the title as the costliest storm, inflicting nearly $200 billion in damages when adjusted for inflation, as reported by NOAA.

Further reading: The country's leading hurricane forecaster issues 5 warnings as the perilous hurricane season commences.


What initiates the formation of hurricanes in June?

Hurricanes require warm ocean temperatures to develop, a condition typically met in the Atlantic during the summer and fall months.

Although the official hurricane season begins in June, the first storm may form even earlier. In fact, NOAA records show that the earliest observed Atlantic hurricane struck on March 7, 1908—an unnamed storm that arrived months before the season's official commencement.

NOAA data indicates that the Atlantic hurricane season reaches its peak in September, marked by heightened activity and a higher frequency of hurricanes making landfall, typically between mid-August and mid-October. Although hurricane landfalls in June are rare, tropical storms can still exert influence during this period.