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Here’s what the ‘peak’ of hurricane season means

Hurricane season lasts from June to November with peak activity usually between mid-August and mid-October

Tropical climatology

ORLANDO, Fla. – Sept. 10 is the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season, historically the date when the most tropical storms and hurricanes occur.

Tropical Climatology

During early-to-mid September, conditions are ideal for forming tropical cyclones:

  1. Sea-surface temperatures are at their highest
  2. Upper-level winds in the tropical Atlantic are calmer
  3. There’s less Saharan dust and disturbances often come off Africa’s coast

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All of those factors creates ideal conditions for hurricanes during this time of year.

Although Sept. 10 is the peak, about 60% of hurricane season still remains until Nov. 30.

Generally, the period from August to early October is the most active, with September being the busiest month.

So far, we’ve seen six named storms, four of them hurricanes and one a major hurricane.

Hurricane names

Forecasters from Colorado State University and NOAA are predicting a very active season, with up to 23 named storms expected due to record-warm Atlantic waters, La Niña conditions in the Pacific, and low wind shear.


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