The hurricane season lull may not last — just look at last year
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The Atlantic hurricane season has been quiet so far — but don't bet on it staying that way.
Why it matters: Hurricane Gabrielle, which became the second hurricane of the season last Sunday, snapped a 20-day streak without an active storm system, according to the Weather Channel.
- "It's very unusual to have no systems develop between late August and mid-September," Fox Weather hurricane specialist Bryan Norcross tells Axios.
Stunning stat: This is the second time since 1950 that no named storms formed during peak hurricane season — between Aug. 29 and Sept. 15 — National Weather Service meteorologist Ernesto Rodríguez told the Associated Press.
Yes, but: Just last year, there was a "very similar lull in the middle of the season and then storms came roaring back," Norcross said.
- "It's possible that something like that will happen again."
Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida's Big Bend area on Sept. 27, 2024, as a Category 4 storm.
- It was responsible for killing 248 people across several states, with 175 direct deaths, according to the National Hurricane Center.
- There were a total of 34 deaths in Florida attributed to the storm, per the NHC.
A few weeks later, Hurricane Milton made landfall on Oct. 9 near Siesta Key as a Category 3 storm.
- The NHC says Milton was directly responsible for the deaths of 12 people in Florida and three in Mexico. The storm caused a total of 27 indirect deaths in the U.S.
The bottom line: "We're right in the heart of the Florida hurricane season right now," Norcross says.
- The season officially ends Nov. 30.
The latest: With Hurricane Gabrielle already out in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, meteorologists are tracking two other tropical disturbances — Tropical Storm Humberto and Invest 94L — one of which is projected to pass near Florida.
- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted 13 to 18 named storms this season, with five to nine of those becoming hurricanes, the AP reported.
1 tip to go: Norcross, the legendary Miami meteorologist, shared his most essential hurricane tip that he says most people don't know.
- When you're expecting a hurricane to impact your area, fill a bunch of Ziploc bags three-fourths of the way with water and stuff as many as you can in your freezer.
- It will extend the cold life of your fridge by a few days and give you water to drink when the ice melts.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends a minimum of 1 gallon of water per day for each member of your family.
- Store at least a three-day supply of water for each person. Apart from his freezer tip, Norcross likes to buy a few jugs of water and fill up plastic containers with more.
- "You don't have to have bottled water," Norcross says.