2024 Atlantic hurricane season (Kindofameme)

The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season was the second most active hurricane season on record behind 2005. During the season, a near-record 22 named storms formed over a six-month period, 11 of which intensified into hurricanes, and 7 of which became major hurricanes, a record tied only by 1961 and 2005. The impacts of the season were some of the most catastrophic since 2017, with total damages estimated at $53.37 billion, and an estimated 1,275 deaths. 2024 was also the first season to feature multiple Category 5 hurricanes since 2017.

Forecasts initially called for a near to slightly above-average season, however as the season progressed conditions became increasingly favourable, with very little wind shear to disrupt the formation of storms. This contributed to the record-tying number of major hurricanes. 2024 also marked only the second time that the naming list ran out during a season, the other being 2005, with the use of Alpha in November.

The first Category 5 hurricane of the season, Isaac, caused an estimated $39 billion in damages when it hit southern Texas, narrowly beating Ike in 2008 for the position of sixth costliest hurricane on record. Patty also strengthened to Category 5 status, causing an estimated $12 billion in damages across its path through the Caribbean and Florida, and became the fifteenth costliest storm on record. These two storms alone were responsible for the majority of the destruction and deaths. The mainland US, as well as the Caribbean, took the brunt of the destruction during the season; Florida in particular saw three major hurricane landfalls, from Leslie, Nadine and Patty respectively.

Seasonal forecasts
Ahead of and during the season, several national meteorological services and scientific agencies forecast how many named storms, hurricanes, and major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson scale) will form during a season and/or how many tropical cyclones will affect a particular country. These agencies include the Tropical Storm Risk (TSR) Consortium of University College London, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Colorado State University (CSU). The forecasts include weekly and monthly changes in significant factors that help determine the number of tropical storms, hurricanes, and major hurricanes within a particular year. Some of these forecasts also take into consideration what happened in previous seasons. On average, an Atlantic hurricane season between 1981 and 2010 contained twelve tropical storms, six hurricanes, and three major hurricanes, with an Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) index of between 66 and 103 units.

Pre-season outlooks
On December 9, 2023, Colorado State University (CSU) issued their first forecast for the 2024 season. They predicted a near-average season with 12 named storms, 6 hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes. They cited an ongoing El Niño as well as generally unfavourable conditions persisting in the Atlantic basin. A day later, Tropical Storm Risk (TSR) issued their forecast, also predicting a near-average season with 13 named storms, 7 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes. In April, in response to changing conditions in the Atlantic basin, CSU and TSR issued updated forecasts. On April 15, CSU issued an updated forecast predicting an above-average season with 15 named storms, 8 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes. TSR also forecast an above average season, citing the deterioration of the El Niño and the emergence of warmer sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic. A month later, on April 25, NOAA issued their first forecast calling for a near to above-average season, with between 13 to 17 named storms, between 6 to 10 hurricanes, and between 1 to 4 major hurricanes.

Mid-season outlooks
On June 1, the official start of the season, CSU issued another forecast, keeping their numbers the same as the previous forecast. On June 8, the UK Met Office (UKMO) issued their forecast, predicting 17 named storms, but they did not predict the number of hurricanes and major hurricanes. Two months later, on August 2, 2024, CSU issued an updated prediction, increasing their numbers substantially to 19 named storms, 9 hurricanes and 5 major hurricanes, citing the lack of an El Niño, a receding Saharan Air Layer, and generally favourable conditions for tropical cyclogenesis. A week later, on August 9, NOAA issued their updated mid-season outlook calling for a well above-average season, with 15-19 named storms, 6-11 hurricanes and 3-5 major hurricanes, citing similar reasons, and also noting that the season could be the most active since 2017. A day later, on August 10, TSR upgraded their forecast numbers markedly to 19 named storms, 12 hurricanes and 6 major hurricanes, the reason being an unexpected shift in the favourability of the Atlantic basin in the weeks leading up to August. A month later, on September 10, the final mid-season outlook was issued by NOAA, now calling for a hyperactive season with nearly double the numbers of a normal season. The numbers forecast were raised slightly to 16-19 named storms, 7-13 hurricanes and 4-6 major hurricanes. Although NOAA's final outlook was fairly accurate, it still fell short of the actual activity in terms of named storms and major hurricanes.

Timeline
<!--|The season officially began on June 1, 2024 and ended on November 30, 2024. However, the formation of tropical cyclones is possible at any time of the year, shown by the formation of Tropical Storm Alberto on May 12 before the official start of the season.

The previous year's activity had been significantly affected by a moderate El Niño, but by February the equatorial Pacific began to show signs of cooling which would inhibit the development of storms in the Pacific. Atlantic sea surface temperatures were also slightly above average, progressively getting warmer as the months progressed. Despite this, forecasters noted the presence of a large Saharan Air Layer (SAL) and above-average wind shear in the Atlantic which curtailed substantial development in the first few months of the season.

The season got off to an early start with the formation of Alberto on May 12. June was somewhat above-average with Beryl and Chris, but after this, an unexpected lull occurred in July in which no tropical cyclones formed for exactly a month. However, the formations of Four and Five were a sign that conditions could be favourable enough for an active season.

But by the end of July, profound developments took place. Firstly, the Saharan Air Layer began to recede, leaving a favourable environment in the tropical Atlantic. Secondly, the equatorial anomalies began trending towards a La Niña, causing a slowing of the trade winds in the Atlantic and below-average wind shear across the basin. In their mid-season outlook, NOAA noted that the 2024 season had 'extreme' potential as a result of a more favourable environment overall, with conditions being analogous to that of 2005.

In August, activity did indeed start to pick up. Florence became the first major hurricane of the season after striking Puerto Rico as a Category 2, with two more Category 1 hurricanes following. Isaac, which formed soon after, was one of the strongest hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic basin, reaching a minimum pressure of 906 millibars and becoming the 10th most intense hurricane in the basin on record, narrowly eclipsing Maria of 2017. It made landfall at 160 mph in southern Texas, becoming one of the strongest US hurricane landfalls ever recorded and causing 37 billion dollars in damages.

Thereafter, activity increased going into September with an unusual streak of landfalls occurring. Leslie made landfall in Cuba as a Category 2, and finally Florida as a Category 3. Nadine took a similar track, paralleling the west coast of Florida as a Category 4 and causing catastrophic storm surge in Tampa Bay. Oscar was also a devastating major hurricane, causing over $1 billion in damages.

Later in the month, Patty formed and began to strengthen rapidly in the face of a favourable environment, becoming a Category 4 hurricane on approach to Puerto Rico. It made a direct landfall on the territory, becoming the most powerful storm since Maria to hit the island. Several other Caribbean islands were also affected by its track. Upon approach to Cuba, it became a Category 5 hurricane, and made landfall in southern Florida as a strong Category 4.

After September, the exceptionally high levels of activity began to recede as upper-level winds strengthened. However, one storm, Tony, strengthened unexpectedly to a major hurricane, becoming the seventh of the season. William and Alpha, both forming in November, finally brought an end to the catastrophic 2024 season, and marked only the second time the NHC naming lists ran out, the other being 2005.-->

Season effects
This is a table of all of the storms that have formed during the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. It includes their names, duration, peak strength, areas affected, damage, and death totals. Deaths in parentheses are additional and indirect (an example of an indirect death would be a traffic accident), but were still related to that storm. Damage and deaths include totals while the storm was extratropical, a wave, or a low, and all of the damage figures are in 2024 USD.