Above-average water temperatures in the Atlantic basin could mean an earlier start to hurricane season this year. (Credit: Mike Mareen/Adobe Stock)
The U.S. will see a hurricane season on par with last year’s historically destructive one, according to a new report from AccuWeather.
AccuWeather forecasters are predicting 13 to 18 named storms for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. About seven to 10 of those storms could strengthen into hurricanes, and three to five could become Category 3 or higher hurricanes.
About three to six storms are expected to impact the U.S. this year, while the others could impact Central America, the Caribbean, or Bermuda or remain out in the ocean.
“Everyone needs to start planning and preparing for hurricane season,” said Jonathan Porter, AccuWeather chief meteorologist, in a statement. “Climatology, weather patterns, water temperatures, and many other factors all point to yet another active Atlantic hurricane season with more tropical storms and hurricanes forming, compared to the historical average.”
Last year saw 18 named storms and 11 hurricanes. Of those, five hurricanes and one unnamed subtropical storm made landfall. Those storms caused combined damage of $500 billion, according to AccuWeather estimates.
The U.S. has averaged 14 named storms and seven hurricanes annually over the last 30 years. But climate change has driven water temperatures higher in recent years, intensifying storms.
“In just the past five years, we’ve seen water temperatures in the Atlantic, Caribbean and the Gulf warm to levels never seen before in recorded history,” said Brett Anderson, AccuWeather senior meteorologist and climate expert, in a statement. “That extra energy can supercharge tropical storms and hurricanes.”
Above-average water temperatures in the Atlantic basin could mean an earlier start to hurricane season this year. While the season officially starts on June 1, storms could start forming in May.
Texas, Louisiana, the western coast of Florida, North Carolina and Atlantic Canada will face the highest risk of direct impacts this season, according to AccuWeather. But inland states could feel the effects too: Hurricane Beryl created more than 60 tornadoes from the Texas coast to upstate New York, and Hurricane Helene caused catastrophic flooding in the mountains of North Carolina.
“Hurricane season preparedness is not just for coastal states,” said Alex DaSilva, AccuWeather’s lead hurricane expert, in a statement. “The history books show that hurricanes and tropical storms that track inland have caused devastating flooding and spun up tornadoes from New England and the Great Lakes to parts of the Plains, and occasionally even soaked parts of the Southwest.”
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