The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season is shaping up to be one of the most active on record, with AccuWeather's Hurricane Experts warning of a "super-charged" season that could spawn a near-record number of storms.
AccuWeather's team of Long-Range Forecasters is predicting a staggering 20-25 named storms in the Atlantic basin this year, including 8-12 hurricanes and 4-7 major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher), well above the 30-year historical averages of 14 named storms, seven hurricanes, and three major hurricanes.
AccuWeather's Expert Forecasters estimate a 10-15% chance of 30 or more named storms this season, which would be truly unprecedented.
Regions at higher risk of direct impacts include the Texas coast, Florida Panhandle, South Florida, and the Carolinas.
Join AccuWeather's Lead Hurricane Forecaster, Alex DaSilva, on Thursday, April 11, 2024, at 1 PM ET for an in-depth look at what is fueling the intense hurricane season and the areas at the highest risk. He will be joined by an AccuWeather client, Ron Derrick, Senior Corporate Emergency Manager for Whataburger.
Potential for exhausting the name list
With so many predicted storms, AccuWeather experts warn that meteorologists could run out of names to use for tropical systems this season. The standard list of 21 names (excluding Q, U, X, Y, and Z) may not be enough, potentially requiring the use of a supplemental list established by the World Meteorological Organization in 2021. In 2005 and 2020, the hurricane naming system stretched to its limits for the first time on record, leading to the use of the Greek alphabet.
Businesses along the U.S. Coast and the Caribbean should be prepared for a potentially record-breaking Atlantic hurricane season in 2024. Companies should take the hurricane threat seriously and begin preparing now.
Key steps to take include:
AccuWeather also predicts hurricane tracks more accurately than the National Hurricane Center by 2-3%. AccuWeather predicted the intensity of both Hurricanes Ian and Nicole more accurately than the National Hurricane Center by 11-14%. AccuWeather has even been cited by Congress for superior forecasting accuracy in hurricanes.
Learn more about how you can be better prepared this hurricane season by contacting one of our experts to see why AccuWeather's Hurricane Warning Service is a must-have for your business.