Hurricane season comes to a close, final numbers reflect above-average season
Saturday marked the end of the 2024 Atlantic basin hurricane season. Despite an extended mid-season lull, a resurgence in activity capped off an above-average season overall. There were 18 named storms in total, with 11 becoming hurricanes and 5 of those storms reaching major hurricane status (category 3 or higher). An average season is marked at 14 storms, 7 hurricanes, and 3 major hurricanes.
Courtesy: NOAA
Notable Hurricanes that Impacted the US
The season will be most remembered by 3 major hurricanes. Hurricane Beryl became the earliest category 5 storm on record in the Atlantic. Although it made landfall as a much weakened category 1 storm in Texas, the storm brought extensive flooding from storm surge to the Texas and Louisiana coast. In late September, hurricane Helene made landfall as a category 4 storm along the Florida gulf coast, but brought catastrophic flooding from rainfall and wind damage well inland. The most severe impacts stretched from the gulf coast to the mountains of North Carolina. Helene was the deadliest storm since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, causing 150 deaths (most of which occurred in North and South Carolina). On the heels of Helene, Hurricane Milton made landfall along Florida’s gulf coast as a category 3 storm in early October. Milton brought torrential rain and destructive storm surge, but it may be most remembered for the unprecedented tornado outbreak that spawned 46 tornadoes across Florida, some of which that were much stronger than the typical tropical cyclone induced tornado.
Little Impact on Delmarva
The remnants of Hurricane Helene and Debby were the only tropical systems to have any impact on Delmarva this season. In August, Debby’s remnants tracked to the west of the area. Severe storms impacted much of the Mid-Atlantic region, but Delmarva was spared the worst as tornado touchdowns occurred just west and north of the peninsula. In late September, Helene’s main remnants tracked well south and west of Delmarva, but isolated torrential rain bands did reach the area, causing flash flooding in Ocean City.
