The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season has been marked by unprecedented activity, featuring 18 named storms, 11 hurricanes, and 5 major hurricanes, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Notably, Hurricane Beryl made landfall in Texas as a category 5 hurricane on July 8, setting a record as the earliest category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic basin. Following Beryl, Hurricane Helene struck Florida on September 26 as a category 4 storm, resulting in catastrophic flooding and hundreds of fatalities, making it the deadliest hurricane to hit the continental U.S. since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Hurricane Milton, the last of the season, made landfall in Florida on October 9, rapidly intensifying and producing 46 tornadoes. Meteorologists have raised concerns about the increasing frequency and intensity of hurricanes, emphasizing the need for enhanced scientific research to understand these trends.
This season's unusual activity prompts further analysis of factors such as sea surface temperatures and climate phenomena like El Niño and La Niña, which could influence future hurricane patterns.