Houston, mainland U.S. dodged hurricanes this year

The 2025 hurricane season is about to end on Nov. 30 without a single mainland U.S. landfall for the first time in a decade.

Why it matters: That's welcome news for hurricane-prone areas like Houston, but doesn't mean future years will be equally calm — especially as climate change continues to warm the oceans, essentially creating hurricane fuel.

The big picture: Just because this year's Atlantic hurricanes steered clear of the continental U.S. doesn't mean it was a gentle season.

• Hurricane Melissa slammed into Jamaica as a category 5 hurricane on Oct. 28 after rapidly intensifying over warm ocean waters, with maximum sustained winds of 185 mph.
• Melissa caused at least $10 billion in damage and nearly 100 known deaths as it ravaged the Caribbean; those numbers may yet rise.
• It was one of the most intense Atlantic hurricanes on record, with a lowest recorded pressure of 892 mb. (Lower pressure is correlated with stronger storms; only a handful on record have made it below 900 mb.)

Caveat: It's possible to get hurricanes outside the official season, but it's rare.

What we're watching: How FEMA responds to a possible hurricane next season, which starts June 1.

• Acting FEMA administrator David Richardson recently left his post after he was criticized for being absent after deadly flooding ravaged Central Texas, and for lacking the qualifications necessary for the role.
• His departure leaves FEMA in limbo. President Trump has suggested massive overhauls of the agency and leaving individual states largely responsible for disaster recovery.