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Back in May, government forecasters predicted an “above-normal” hurricane season — but if anything, it’s been much quieter than normal.
The mid-September peak of the season didn’t see a single named storm, and the Caribbean is only now seeing its first named system of the year.
But those living in areas prone to hurricane damage may still wonder if this is just the calm before the storm. And if not, where did all the hurricanes go?
Why is 2025’s hurricane season so quiet?
The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.
As of Oct. 21, there have been 13 named storms (systems with winds of 39 mph or higher) for the year, hitting the low end of forecasters’ prediction for 13 to 19 named storms.
But of those, only four developed into hurricanes, and not a single hurricane has made landfall in the U.S. so far — something that hasn’t happened in a decade.
According to National Weather Service meteorologist Ernesto Rodríguez and others quoted in a PBS report, possible reasons for this quiet year include:
- Strong wind shear (where wind speed or direction changes with altitude)
- Dry, stable air over the tropical Atlantic Ocean
- Lower-than-normal rainfall in West Africa
Of course, there’s still more than a month of hurricane season left, so residents of vulnerable areas remain on the watch, even as they continue to rebuild after 2024 hurricanes Helene and Milton.
And even without hurricanes, smaller storms can do plenty of damage, like the recent heavy rains that caused dozens of North Carolina Outer Banks homes to slide into the sea.
How to protect yourself and your home from tropical storms and hurricanes
This year’s quiet hurricane season comes after a busy one last year, and nobody knows what the weather will bring.
Storm damage costs are on a long-term rise, and this is pushing up the cost of home insurance. Flooding in particular is becoming more common, yet it’s not covered by standard homeowners policies — meaning you’ll need to pay for flood insurance separately.
If your home is in a vulnerable area, getting flood insurance is usually a good idea — but it may also be worth considering in places that are historically a little drier. As weather patterns change, flood disasters can affect new places, exemplified by Hurricane Helene’s devastation of Western North Carolina late last year.
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This post was previously published on VALUEPENGUIN.COM.
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Photo credit: iStock.com
