Latest Hurricane News

2024 Hurricane Season Has Been More About Storm Tracks Than Number Of Storms

At a Glance

Hurricane Helene will be the seventh named storm out of nine to make landfall this hurricane season.
Helene will mark the fourth U.S. Gulf Coast hurricane landfall in 2024.
While storm formation is slightly behind schedule this season, where the storms are tracking should be the focus.

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While overall hurricane numbers may seem slightly down so far this season, many more notable statistics are up.

So far, the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season has been more about where the storms have tracked, rather than the number of storms.

Storm Tracks
(This image shows where all the named storms in the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season have tracked.)

The 2024 hurricane season has brought nine named storms so far as of Thursday. According to climatology, 10 named storms usually form by Sept. 22, bringing this season slightly behind schedule as far as numbers go.

Of the nine named storms that have formed this hurricane season, a whopping seven have impacted land, and that number could climb in the coming days as Isaac could impact the Azores. Gordon was the only storm that hasn't affected land directly so far.

Helene's Florida landfall will mark the fourth hurricane to strike the U.S. Gulf Coast this season: Beryl, Debby, Francine and now Helene.

There have only been five other hurricane seasons on record to have four U.S. Gulf Coast landfalls, according to Phil Klotzbach, meteorologist at Colorado State University. The most hurricanes to make a Gulf Coast landfall in a single season was six in 1886.

HOUMA, LOUISIANA - SEPTEMBER 12: People assess wreckage after Hurricane Francine swept through the area on September 12, 2024 in Houma, Louisiana. Hurricane Francine was upgraded to a Category 2 hurricane when it made landfall yesterday afternoon along the Louisiana coast. Francine brought upward wind speeds of 90mph, flooding, rolling blackouts and widespread damage along the coast. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images) — This image shows storm damage in Houma, Louisiana after Category 2 Hurricane Francine made landfall in September.
(Getty Images)

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Hurricane Season Isn't Over

There’s still a little more than two months left to go in hurricane season and the tropics are clearly heating up. Colorado State University's most recent forecast for this hurricane season calls for 23 named storms, 12 hurricanes and six major hurricanes.

Hurricane season runs through Nov. 30; this year is a reminder that a “busy season” is not determined by the number of storms, but rather where the storms strike.