The peak of the Atlantic hurricane season is September 10th.
What are the hurricanes of 2024? When is hurricane season in the Atlantic?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. Here is the list of names for 2024 as compiled by the World Meteorological Organization.
According to the latest Labor Day update, the National Hurricane Center is tracking three disturbances – in the Gulf of Mexico, near the Caribbean Sea and in the eastern Atlantic Ocean.
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A low pressure system in the Gulf of Mexico is located off the coast of Texas, bringing scattered rain showers. It is expected to move inland on Tuesday, the NHC said.
A tropical wave near the Lesser Antilles is expected to move across the Caribbean this week and its development is being monitored. Its progress should be closely watched by residents of the Gulf of Mexico, Texas and western Florida, AccuWeather meteorologists said.
“Conditions are expected to gradually become more favorable for development later this week and therefore this tropical wave will require close monitoring as we approach the peak of hurricane season,” said Alex DaSilva, AccuWeather’s senior hurricane forecaster.
A tropical wave off the west coast of Africa is forecast to move slowly across the eastern tropical Atlantic and is expected to reach the Cape Verde Islands in a day or two, the NHC said.
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Labor Day 2024 unusual when it comes to the tropics
AccuWeather meteorologists said Labor Day weekend is typically one of the busiest times in the tropics. The most active period of the Atlantic hurricane season runs from mid-August to mid-October, with the peak occurring on Sept. 10.
Although meteorologists are monitoring three disturbances, there are no named storms.
“If no named storms form over the Atlantic waters by Labor Day (Sept. 2), it would be the first time in 27 years that not a single named tropical storm formed in the basin between Aug. 21 and Sept. 2,” AccuWeather said.
The next named storm of the season will be Francine.
Here is the latest update from the NHC as of September 2, 8:00 a.m.:
What is out there and how likely is it to gain momentum?
- Gulf of Mexico: A broad and weak low pressure system just off the coast of central Texas continues to produce patchy rain showers along portions of the Texas coast and over the adjacent waters of the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. This system is expected to meander for about another day, and if it stays offshore, slow development is possible. On Tuesday, the low is expected to move inland, and further development is not expected. Regardless, heavy rains could cause flash flooding along portions of the Texas coast over the next few days.
- Probability of occurrence within 48 hours: 10 percent.
- Probability of occurrence within seven days: 10 percent.
- Lesser Antilles and Caribbean Sea: A tropical wave is producing disorganized thunderstorms and gusty winds over portions of the Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico, and adjacent eastern Caribbean waters. Environmental conditions are expected to become more favorable for development as the system reaches the western Caribbean and southwestern Gulf of Mexico late this week and over the weekend, and a tropical depression could form during this time.
- Probability of occurrence within 48 hours: 0 percent.
- Probability of occurrence within seven days: 40 percent.
- Eastern Tropical Atlantic: A tropical wave just off the west coast of Africa is producing random rain showers and thunderstorms. Environmental conditions are forecast to gradually become more conducive to development and a tropical depression may form in a few days as the disturbance slowly moves west-northwestward or northwestward across the eastern tropical Atlantic. This system could produce areas of heavy rain and gusty winds in parts of Cape Verde in a day or two.
- Probability of occurrence within 48 hours: 10 percent.
- Probability of occurrence within seven days: 40 percent.
What do the colored areas on the NOAA map mean?
The hatched areas on a tropical map indicate “areas where a tropical cyclone – that is, a tropical depression, a tropical storm or a hurricane – could develop,” said Jamie Rhome, deputy director of the National Hurricane Center.
The colors indicate how likely the development of a system could be: yellow stands for a low probability, orange for a medium probability and red for a high probability.
The National Hurricane Center generally does not issue tropical warnings until there is a named storm, but there is one exception.
“If a system is close to land and there is potential for development, the National Hurricane Center will not wait to issue warnings, even if the system has not yet developed into a full-blown storm. This gives residents time to prepare,” Rhome said.
Who is likely to be affected?
A tropical rainstorm in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico is currently bringing heavy rain and thunderstorms to the Texas and Louisiana coast that will last through Labor Day, according to AccuWeather.
It is currently too early to judge whether the other two tropical waves will impact Florida or the United States.
➤ Forecast of excessive precipitation
Meteorologists urge all residents to continue to monitor the tropics and stay prepared. This advice is especially important during what is expected to be a very active hurricane season.
Weather observations and warnings issued in Florida
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When is the Atlantic hurricane season?
The Atlantic hurricane season lasts from June 1 to November 30.
The Atlantic Basin includes the northern Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.
When is the peak of hurricane season?
The peak of the season is September 10, with peak activity occurring between mid-August and mid-October, according to the Hurricane Center.
National Hurricane Center map: What are meteorologists observing now?
Systems currently being monitored by the National Hurricane Center include:
Interactive map: Hurricanes and tropical storms that have passed near your city
Heavy rainfall forecast
What happens next?
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