The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season saw 18 named storms, 11 hurricanes, and five major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher), marking the ninth consecutive above-average season for the region. The year’s storms were fueled by the ongoing climate crisis, which continues to break records and lead to more extreme weather events, including rapidly intensifying tropical cyclones, heavy rainfall, and flooding.
One of the most notable events was Hurricane Beryl, which made history as the earliest Category 5 hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic basin. Striking in July, Beryl caused widespread devastation across the Caribbean. However, despite its severity, the impact on human life was significantly reduced due to advancements in early warning systems.
Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO), highlighted that while the hurricane caused extensive damage to homes and infrastructure, fewer lives were lost compared to previous storms. This reduction in fatalities was attributed to the improvements in early warning systems, which allowed for better preparedness and response to the storm’s threat.
The 2024 hurricane season was marked by extreme events and significant fluctuations in activity. After the devastation caused by Hurricane Beryl in July, storm activity slowed in August due to atmospheric conditions over Western Africa that hindered storm development. However, storm frequency and intensity surged in early September, with seven hurricanes forming after September 25, setting a record for late-season activity.
One of the most catastrophic storms of the season was Hurricane Helene, which made landfall in late September as a Category 4 hurricane on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Helene caused catastrophic flooding in the southern Appalachians, widespread wind damage across the eastern United States, and severe storm surge flooding along Florida’s coast. With over 150 direct fatalities, Helene became the deadliest hurricane to strike the United States since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
In October, Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key, Florida, as a Category 3 storm. It brought with it 46 tornadoes, torrential rainfall, and severe flooding, causing additional widespread damage. The combination of powerful storms and their aftermath illustrated the season’s extremes and the continuing impact of the climate crisis on hurricane activity.
Small island developing states in the Caribbean remain particularly vulnerable, with disproportionate impacts highlighting the need to scale up initiatives like the Early Warnings for All campaign, aimed at building resilience.
, marking the){kind=link}