All things to know about hurricane season

2024’s hurricane season looks to be one of the strongest on record, and SERVPRO^® is here to provide an outlook. Whether you live right on the coast or inland, it is never too early to prepare and begin gathering information about these intense, oncoming storms in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

How Many Hurricanes are Predicted in 2024?

Colorado State University and The Weather Channel forecast 23 named storms and 11 hurricanes in 2024. This is dramatically higher than usual, as historically, each year averages about 14 named storms. The official 2024 Atlantic hurricane outlook from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) calls for a slightly higher named storm count for the season. Their meteorologists predict a total of 17 to 25 total named storms with 4 to 7 of those storms becoming major hurricanes

Did you know category 3 hurricanes are considered major? Colorado State University predicts 5 major hurricanes in 2024, while The Weather Channel predicts 6.

Keep in mind, even a tropical storm, tropical depression, or category 1 or 2 hurricane can pose severe risk, threatening your safety and causing major damage to your property. Review our guide for hurricane preparation to make sure you are ready whenever disaster strikes, and learn about the five different hurricane categories in our companion article.

What Makes the 2024 Hurricane Season Different?

As The Weather Channel notes, the 2024 hurricane season is predicted to be one of the most active on record. According to their researchers, this is the most aggressive prediction since outlooks began in 2006, and there are two primary reasons for the significant forecast:

El Niño may become La Niña.
1. As Climate.gov notes, El Niño is weakening, and conditions have increased the odds of La Niña forming in the June-August period in 2024 to 55%. Notably, the La Niña weather system has less wind shear than its brother system, and is more conducive to thunderstorms and rising, erratic air. This could contribute to the rapid creation of hurricanes.
The Atlantic Ocean is experiencing record-setting warm temperatures.
1. While Hurricane Season begins on June 1 (when ocean temperatures tend to reach 80º Fahrenheit, or 26.7º Celsius), temperatures in 2024 are already at levels normally reserved for summertime. As The Weather Channel notes, a hurricane grows stronger if the water is warmer and deeper.

What are the 2024 Tropical Cyclone Names?

The National Hurricane Center has put out its list of the 2024 names for the Atlantic, Eastern North Pacific, and Central North Pacific Oceans. There are 21 total for the Atlantic, 24 for the Eastern North Pacific, and 12 for the Central North Pacific.

The Atlantic tropical storm names include:

Alberto
Beryl
Chris
Debby
Ernesto
Francine
Gordon
Helene
Isaac
Joyce
Kirk
Leslie
Milton
Nadine
Oscar
Patty
Rafael
Sara
Tony
Valerie
William

Visit the National Hurricane Center resource page to learn more about the Eastern North Pacific and Central North Pacific tropical storm names (did you know the names through 2029 have already been determined?).

Are Any Hurricanes Predicted to Hit the West Coast?

La Niña typically causes fewer hurricanes to hit the West Coast than normal. Considering hurricanes in this region are already rather rare, it is less likely California and surrounding states will experience hurricane landfall. However, it is always wise to be prepared no matter the time of year, which includes following local and national weather for the latest information.

Why are Hurricanes Rare on the California Coast?

According to Climate.gov, hurricanes are so rare on the West Coast—specifically California—because of the currents and cool ocean water in this region. Additionally, trade winds blow from the east to west; given hurricanes can be steered by trade winds, this makes them less likely to hit the West Coast, as trade winds generally blow away from this region.

SERVPRO Offers 24-Hour Emergency Hurricane Cleanup Services

Hurricanes can leave entire communities and regions devastated. But with strategically placed large loss teams around the country, SERVPRO is prepared to respond to any size disaster at all hours of the day. In fact, there are 2270 SERVPRO locations in the United States and Canada, comprised of various Disaster Recovery Teams^®, so find your local SERVPRO today and reach out whenever you need premier cleanup, restoration, and construction services.

Established in 1967, SERVPRO has grown to become the #1 choice in fire and water cleanup and restoration* for a reason. No matter the size of your property damage after a hurricane, tropical storm, or more, reach out anytime. We look forward to helping you get back on your feet with our variety of proprietary chemicals, cleaning equipment, and over five decades of knowledge and experience with storm damage cleanup.