The 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season was an above average, but not erratic season that occurred in the Atlantic. However, it was once again another destructive season, with 4 major hurricanes, 3 which ended up making landfalls on the mainland as strong hurricanes. For the first time since 2014, the season began on time, in June.
2024 was the first season to see the National Hurricane Center deem a system as an extra-tropical cyclone the entire time, that being Rafael, which was originally a six hour long tropical storm that was named near Nova Scotia. Sara also became one of the strongest Category 4 hurricanes to ever make landfall in Cuba in the month of November.
The season would end up seeing four names, Francine, Helene, Joyce and Sara becoming retired for the damages they would end up causing.
Seasonal forecasts[]
| Source | Date | Named storms |
Hurricanes | Major hurricanes | |
| Average | 12.1 | 6.4 | 2.7 | ||
| Record high activity | 58 | 33 | 14 | ||
| Record low activity | 4 | 2† | 0† | ||
| ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– | |||||
| TSR | December 11, 2023 | 23 | 11 | 6 | |
| CSU | April 4, 2024 | 20 | 10 | 5 | |
| TSR | April 5, 2024 | 18 | 9 | 4 | |
| NCSU | April 16, 2024 | 19-22 | 9-12 | 4-7 | |
| TWC | May 6, 2024 | 18 | 9 | 3 | |
| UKMO | May 21, 2024 | 13* | 6* | 2* | |
| NOAA | May 23, 2024 | 17-21 | 8-11 | 4-6 | |
| TSR | May 30, 2024 | 18 | 9 | 4 | |
| CSU | June 4, 2024 | 19 | 9 | 4 | |
| UA | June 11, 2024 | 16 | 7 | 3 | |
| TSR | July 4, 2024 | 18 | 8 | 4 | |
| CSU | July 9, 2024 | 17 | 9 | 4 | |
| CSU | August 5, 2024 | 17 | 9 | 4 | |
| TSR | August 6, 2024 | 19 | 9 | 4 | |
| NOAA | August 8, 2024 | 16-20 | 6-9 | 3-5 | |
| ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– | |||||
| Actual activity | 17 | 9 | 4 | ||
| * June–November only. † Most recent of several such occurrences. (List of Atlantic hurricane records) | |||||
Multiple sources from around the country gave predictions on what the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane season could look like. This was kicked off starting with the TSR in the end of 2023, which predicted that 23 named storms would happen, 11 becoming hurricanes, and 6 of them being majors. Predictions halted until April, and due to more signs that the world was becoming fully normal, predictions were lowered in general, with Colorado State University, CSU, predicted 20 named storms, 10 hurricanes, and 5 major hurricanes. TSR's second forecast dropped their forecast significantly, only calling for 18 named storms, 9 hurricanes, and 4 major hurricanes. Almost two weeks later, North Carolina State University, gave their range, gave a forecast higher than the trends, calling for 19-22 named storms, 9-12 of them becoming hurricanes, and 4-7 of them becoming major hurricanes, with the university noting that just because it looked like things were getting back to normal, didn't mean that the activity in general would fall back to their normal standards. May kicked off with more predictions, with The Weather Company predicting 18 named storms, 9 hurricanes, and 3 major hurricanes to form. UKMO released their forecast shortly after, predicting a very tame season, with only 13 named storms, 6 hurricanes, and 2 major hurricanes. Two days later, on May 23, NOAA released their outlook, sighting there was a 90% chance of seeing an above average season. CSU didn't modify their forecasts much throughout June or July, neither with TSR, with NOAA's final forecast being in line with the others.
Seasonal Summary[]
A timeline of the events that occurred in the year of 2024 throughout the Atlantic basin.
Systems[]
Tropical Storm Alberto[]
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | June 4 – June 6 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min) 998 mbar (hPa) |
For the first time in a decade, the system started after June 1, with the formation of the first tropical depression of the year forming on June 4 as a result as a complex area of pressure situation in a zone of warm sea surface temperatures and a lot of moisture. The now depression finished turning eastward, as the pre-cursor was moving in a northward direction. After multiple buoy reports and better defined spiral features were spotted, the system had become Tropical Storm Alberto. Only slight strengthening ensued before Alberto ended up making landfall in Crystal River, Florida with winds of 45 mph. Gradual weakening ensued as it continued to move eastward, and by the time Alberto exited the Floridian coast, Alberto had weakened into a depression. Conditions were not conducive for re-intensification, and the cyclone had degenerated into a remnant low around noon June 6. Damage with Alberto was relatively light, with $30 million being attributed by the storm. 2 also died, 1 being from 1 rip currents, and 1 being from a weak tree falling into a house by one of the gusts associated with the storm.
Tropical Storm Beryl[]
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | June 17 – June 23 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min) 998 mbar (hPa) |
A tropical wave that was hindered by wind shear and dry air traversed throughout the Atlantic for over a week and a half, before it found a good place to develop in the Caribbean, specifically, ENE of Honduras. Warming sea surface temperatures in its path, as well as somewhat low wind shear allowed the small low pressure system to gain a defined center, in which ASCAT scans proved to exist. Upon further evidence, advisories on Tropical Depression Two were initiated at noon UTC June 17. Due to the clash between the small size of the depression, as well as the wind shears being a bit unfavorable for that size, development was slow. However, wind shear loosened a bit, and it allowed the depression to slowly strengthen into Tropical Storm Beryl by 12:00 UTC the next day. Slow strengthening continued with Beryl, until it made landfall on the state of Quintana Roo, located in Mexico, around 15:15 UTC June 19. Beryl's structure collapsed inland, and by the time it exited into the Bay of Campeche, it had been a weak depression. However, the cyclone got itself back together, and slow strengthening endured once more, up to its final landfall in Mexico as a 50 mph storm around 00:00 UTC June 22. Gradual weakening ensued once Beryl made its final landfall, and the storm dissipated over the mountains. Beryl caused relatively moderate damage, with $210 million in damage tolls being attributed to the storm. 5 people also died due to flooding reasons, primarily from its second landfall.
Tropical Storm Chris[]
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | June 28 – June 30 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 60 mph (95 km/h) (1-min) 995 mbar (hPa) |
A non-tropical area of low pressure formed west of the island of Bermuda. Slow development of the system occurred as the system moved through the somewhat favorable conditions, that was only being fueled by the fact that sea surface temperatures in that area were warmer than average, After consistent buoy reports and scans showed tropical storm force winds, the National Hurricane Center begun their issuance on advisories on Tropical Storm Chris at 00:00 UTC June 28. Chris remained on a northeast trek, where intensifying was very little, due to it entering an area with slightly more shear. However, as Chris continued to power northeast, making a slight turn towards the north, the cyclone experienced baroclinic processes which allowed the storm to reach an intensity of 60 miles per hour before the system was deemed extra-tropical. The remnants of Chris did not last long, as they were absorbed by a more powerful system right at the beginning of July. Minor rip currents affected Newfoundland, but no damage or fatalities were caused by said currents.
Hurricane Debby[]
| Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | July 24 – August 2 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 100 mph (155 km/h) (1-min) 980 mbar (hPa) |
A tropical wave exited the coast of Africa in mid-July. Development was stinted due to dry air intrusions, particularly from the remnants of a small plume of Saharan dust that had exited the coast a week earlier. Eventually, slow development occurred within the system, and NHC ended up tagging it as an invest soon after. By then, the invest went into somewhat favorable conditions, with 29 degrees centigrade waters. Despite that, there were still pockets of moderate wind shear, which would not be able to support quick strengthening. However, the system persisted, and on July 24, at 18:00 UTC, the system was marked Tropical Depression Four. The depression took some time to get itself a more consolidated center, but when it finally became a tropical storm on the 26th, getting the name of Debby, it was found that the center had been found farther west. Debby's strengthening was slow as it progressed through wind shear, as well as the fact that the storm in general was pretty broad. However, an area of high pressure located in the Yucatán Peninsula, Debby was steered to the north, where it found favorable conditions, in which Debby ended up strengthening into a Category 1 hurricane on July 28, before it made landfall in western Hispanola. It's tenure as a hurricane was short lived, as it made a second landfall in Rio Seco, Cuba, where it weakened back into a strong tropical storm. However, it entered in an environment with more atmospheric instability, which lead the system to strengthen once again, slowly due to its decent size. Debby passed through the Bahamas, before strengthening further into a weak Category 2 hurricane, despite the poor satellite appearance of the storm. The status lasted for 12 hours due to Debby's inner core beginning to collapse, with Debby making landfall at 05:45 UTC August 1. The storm quickly weakened inland as it lost tropical characteristics, and by noon the next day, all that was left of Debby was a remnant low. The remnant low drifted northwest for eighteen hours before there was no circulation present at all with the storm. Moderate damage was caused throughout the Caribbean and the Carolinas, with damage totaling around $2.3 billion. 9 people died- 2 in Cuba, 3 in Hispanola, 1 in the Bahamas, and 3 in North Carolina, all being from flash flooding or rip currents. No countries requested Debby to be retired, thus it will continue its name into 2030.
Hurricane Ernesto[]
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | August 5 – August 12 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 85 mph (140 km/h) (1-min) 982 mbar (hPa) |
A tropical wave exited the coast of Africa in early August, in generally favorable conditions. Slow organization of the wave occurred once it went into water, and eventually, a closed circulation and ASCAT scans over the system proved that the wave had officially become the fifth depression of the year on August 5 at 12:00 UTC. The depression had a run in with some dry air, which caused its low level circulation to be visible for some time. However, the depression later went on into an environment with more moisture, which allowed the depression to organize and strengthen into Tropical Storm Ernesto during the wee hours of the 7th as it got caught into the subtropical ridge. The cyclone continued in a gradual northwestern direction as it slowly strengthened under 26-27 degrees Celsius sea surface temperatures, By August 10, enough convection blow ups as well as a mid-level eye proved that the storm had then become a hurricane. However, Ernesto was moving into cold waters and thus, extra-tropical transition stated as a result. Baroclinic processes helped strengthen to an 85 mph storm before it weakened slightly, becoming fully extra-tropical by the morning of August 12. The remnants turned northeastward and continued to the east of Greenland before it was absorbed by a powerful extra-tropical system.
Hurricane Francine[]
| Category 4 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | August 10 – August 20 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 140 mph (220 km/h) (1-min) 939 mbar (hPa) |
A tropical wave exited behind the wave that would form Hurricane Ernesto traversed the main development region, not being caught into the subtropical ridge like its predecessor was. However, the wave encountered some moderate shear which hindered development for some time. However, shear decreased, and the wave began developing an elongated center of low pressure, with convection gradually developing with it. By August 10 at 00:00 UTC, the system was designated as the sixth tropical depression of the season. The depression continued weather, and by the time its center had consolidated, and a scan showing gale-force winds, Six was upgraded to Tropical Storm Francine at 12:00 UTC the same day. Francine continued on its westward path, passing through the Leeward Islands, specifically in between Dominica and Martinique. By August 12 at 06:00 UTC, Francine was upgraded to a hurricane south southwest of the island of Puerto Rico. Soon, the cyclone made a slight southerly jog as it battled some shear once again. However, sea surface temperatures below the system increased, and allowed for strengthening to continue again. Francine eventually became a Category 2 hurricane at midnight August 14, as its latitude began to increase again as it followed a ridge causing a gradual turn to the north. By 06:00 UTC the following day, the storm had quickly intensified into a Category 4 hurricane as its direction shifted northward. Francine peaked as a 140 mph hurricane verified by reconnaissance, before making its first landfall in the small island south of Cuba. Due to it being a forested area, little damage was seen there. However, the cyclone was not affected much and Francine still made landfall southeast of San Cristobal at around 0:20 UTC August 16. The core remained intact inland, and weakened to a 120 mph Category 3 hurricane by the time it entered waters once more. However, the system was unable to restrengthen due to increasing westerly shear and thus, by the time it made landfall in Manasota Key, Florida at 22:45 UTC the same day, Francine was hardly a Category 2. The storm weakened considerably inland, and by the time it exited back into the Western Atlantic, winds were back down to tropical storm force. A disrupted core prevented strengthening back into a hurricane, and winds slowly decreased as it paralleled the Carolina's. However, it eventually turned north where some baroclinic processes allowed for the system to strengthen slightly once more before it turned extra-tropical on August 20. The post-tropical cyclone eventually made landfall just east of the Maine-Canada border.
Damage in Cuba was severe, with a storm surge of 8.7 feet impacting San Cristobal. Florida received moderate damage, mainly from storm surge, and flooding. The Carolina's did end up seeing the outer bands of Francine but nothing tropical storm force. A tropical storm warning was required for eastern sections of Maine, but there was little impact from the storm in the state. Overall, the system caused $27.1 billion in damage, with 41 deaths, most being in Cuba, and with rip currents associated with the system.
Hurricane Gordon[]
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | August 16 – August 23 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 80 mph (130 km/h) (1-min) 989 mbar (hPa) |
An area of non-tropical low pressure developed about 350 miles southwest of Bermuda. Over the next few days, the system slowly moved, gradually developing tropical characteristics. By 06:00 UTC, satellite estimates had shown the system had become Tropical Depression Seven. Forecasters originally thought that the extremely slow nature of the system would cause the system to open back into a trough of low pressure, but yet the depression persisted in the harsh conditions it was presented with, and by the afternoon hours of the 17th, the depression was upgraded to Tropical Storm Gordon. After the turn southeast was complete, the storm's speed began to increase as steering currents began to become more apparent. Favorable conditions and sea surface temperatures of around 28 degrees Celsius allowed for steady strengthening of the system, and by the morning hours of August 20, Gordon intensified into the fourth hurricane of the season. The hurricane had turned to the northeast, reaching a peak intensity of around 80 mph. Gordon stabilized at this intensity for about a day and a half before it began to enter cooler waters, thus causing the storm to weaken. As it weakened, Gordon began to turn extra-tropical, and by the time the process completed during the early hours of August 23, the system was still producing 45 mph winds. It's tenure as a post-tropical low did not last long as it was absorbed by a more powerful low.
Hurricane Helene[]
| Category 5 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | August 28 – September 9 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 160 mph (260 km/h) (1-min) 927 mbar (hPa) |
A tropical wave exited the coast of Africa throughout the later sections of mid-August. Development was slow to occur due to dry air entangling with the wave for several days, as well as the low pressure that developed being extremely broad. As a result, it took nearly a week for it to develop, when convection started ramping up with it as it moved north of Hispaniola. As a result of this, and the potential threats it had to the Caribbean, the system was designated as Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight. The potential tropical cyclone continued to track in a WNW path, and it eventually developed into Tropical Depression Eight late August 28. The newly formed depression passed through the far southern Bahamas, while recon began to investigate the system. After evidence of a more defined center, as well as multiple barbs of gale-force winds, the system was upgraded to Tropical Storm Helene by 06:00 UTC August 29. Helene quickly intensified in very favorable conditions, becoming a Category 1 hurricane the same time August 30. This intensification period was stopped short however due to a landfall in central Cuba, specifically near Cayo Romano. Land interaction caused Helene to weaken some during its pass before it entered back into the ocean. Unfortunately, a new obstacle, wind shear, was in its path, and slow weakening continued as the cyclone barreled towards the Yucatán Peninsula. Eventually, Helene did affect the area as a 50 mph storm before turning back northwest, where conditions were extremely ripe for develop. The storm took complete advantage of this, and what followed after was a case of rapid strengthening starting early September 3. After its gradual strengthening as a hurricane once more, Helene went from a 100 mph Category 2 hurricane to a Category 5 with sustained winds of 160 mph in a matter of 30 hours. As the cyclone turned northward, its interaction with the eastern coast of Texas caused Helene to lose some of its momentum, and by the time it made landfall in Palacios, Texas on September 6, it was already down to 145 mph. The storm turned east, continuing to rapidly weaken, before curving back northeast due to a ridge created by an area of low pressure centered in the Upper Plains. What was left of Helene soon degenerated into a remnant low which traversed the eastern Ohio Valley, before dissipating over the Appalachian mountains of Pennsylvania.
Catastrophic damage was most in the coastal areas of Freeport and Galveston, which were lashed by the inner eyewall of Helene. Storm surge also hit the coasts hard, with onshore flow severely hampering those on the western side. Flooding was also a major factor with Helene given the large size of the system, and thus things were even more problematic. Upon the aftermath, both the governors of Texas and Louisiana declared the parts hit the most a disaster area, and that it would take years yet again. Overall, a contribution of around 200 billion dollars, as well as 473 fatalities in regard to it. Helene would later get retired in the spring of 2025 during the RA IV committee.
Tropical Storm Isaac[]
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | August 30 – September 4 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 60 mph (95 km/h) (1-min) 998 mbar (hPa) |
A small tropical wave exited behind the one that would later become Hurricane Helene. Conditions had become slightly better for faster development, and the small wave took advantage of it, gradually organizing. By August 30 at 00:00 UTC, scans had shown that the system had attained a defined circulation, and 30 knot winds, and thus the system was designated as Tropical Depression Nine. Gradual development of the depression continued and by 18:00 UTC the same day, multiple barbs of gale-force winds, as well as a ship near the center reporting such caused the depression to be upgraded to Tropical Storm Isaac. Isaac continued on its path generally westward, with little change in direction throughout the way. Isaac eventually peaked at around 60 mph before wind shear began to mess with the system September 2, causing the tropical storm to lose some of its strength. However, it persisted and slightly intensified again before dry air disrupted its storm completely, and by the time it reached the early hours of September 4, Isaac was no longer a classifiable storm. The remnants were traceable for about 12 hours before dry air finished off what was once started.
Hurricane Joyce[]
| Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | September 2 – September 14 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 105 mph (165 km/h) (1-min) 977 mbar (hPa) |
A complex area of low pressure partially formed by the remnants of a dying tropical wave developed tropical characteristics in favorable conditions, thus requiring the designation of Tropical Depression Ten by September 2 at 06:00 UTC. The depression curved northwestward, as a more defined center formed, thus causing the upgrade to become Tropical Storm Joyce. Joyce curved back westward, where it ran into some problems briefly, with its lower-level circulation being exposed partially. However, an explosive burst of convection in better conditions allowed for the circulation to be hidden again, and development soon continued. By September 5, Joyce had reached hurricane status, and it's forward speed was beginning to slow down due to a lack of steering currents near Puerto Rico. Conditions were still favorable and Joyce consequently became a Category 2 hurricane as a result. Soon, landfall occurred at peak intensity with winds of 105 mph. A mid-level eye was present upon landfall, but it never quite worked its way to the upper level. Nonetheless, land interaction with Puerto Rico, and it's continuously slowing down moving caused Joyce to rapidly weaken, and by the time it finally exited back into the waters, it was barely a tropical storm, with its entire western side suffering from an exposed circulation. However, Joyce persisted under still favorable conditions, and being picked up by a ridge from a high pressure system, Joyce's forward speed began to increase again. Joyce did manage to become a hurricane for a second time, but cooler waters weakened the system, and extra-tropical transition soon began afterwards. By September 14 at 06:00 UTC, Joyce was deemed fully extra-tropical, and advisories on the storm were discontinued. Joyce's impacts in Puerto Rico were devastating, with the entire power grid being knocked out yet again. Joyce also ranked as the second wettest tropical cyclone to strike Puerto Rico, with rainfall amounts up to 40.28 inches, only behind Tropical Depression Fifteen in 1970. As a result, Joyce caused in total $14 billion in damage, it being lighter than it could have been because half the island was still damaged from all the disastrous hurricanes from 2020 and 2021. 26 deaths were also to blame from the storm, all being from complications in regards to floods and drowning. Joyce would later go on to get retired in the spring of 2025, as Puerto Rico did end up requesting for its retirement.
Tropical Storm Kirk[]
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | September 6 – September 11 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min) 995 mbar (hPa) |
A non-tropical area of low pressure developed in the open waters of the Atlantic, barely moving as it progressed. Tropical energy fueled by a dying frontal system aided in the progress of Kirk, and due to a cold core being present within the system, it was designated as Subtropical Depression Eleven at 12:00 UTC September 6. The subtropical cyclone slowly developed as it made a turn northeastward, and eventually became Subtropical Storm Kirk the same day on September 7. Kirk continued under weak steering currents, and did not strengthen much due to it being a small system, and due to there being moderate wind shear in place. Kirk continued to rotate northwestward, where the core began to warm. This was when Kirk reached it's peak intensity of 50 mph winds, and the system was deemed fully tropical. However, it's status as a fully tropical storm did not last long, as the system began to entire an area of 30 knot wind shear, thus exposing the center of circulation of Kirk, and it was deemed only a tropical depression as it turned south and east. Eventually, upwelling and the shear was too much for the system, and by September 11 at 12:00 UTC, Kirk was downgraded to a remnant low. The remnants slowly drifted east until the circulation was completely disrupted by increasing amounts of shear.
Hurricane Leslie[]
| Category 3 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | September 13 – September 18 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 115 mph (185 km/h) (1-min) 964 mbar (hPa) |
A tropical wave exited the coast of Africa in early September. Little development occurred with the wave due to unfavorable conditions that caused the wave to struggle obtaining a closed center of circulation. Soon, the said wave crossed through the island of Puerto Rico, entering the western Atlantic. Eventually, the system began to flare up with isolated bursts of convection, thus causing the National Hurricane Center to designate it as an area of investigation. Conditions improved for the new area of low pressure gradually developed. Recon was sent in to investigate the system to see if it had obtained a closed center, and sure enough it did. As a result, advisories were initiated on Tropical Depression Twelve at midnight UTC September 13, moving northwest. The newly formed depression slowly tightened its elongated center, and buoy reports of gale-force winds caused the depression to be upgraded to Tropical Storm Leslie at 00:00 UTC September 14. The tropical storm quickly organized, with a spiral appearance rapidly developing within the system. Twenty-four hours after its naming, the storm had become a hurricane, and with no shear present, Leslie was going to take full advantage of the conditions. A central dense overcast lead away to clearing an eye, and by 18:00 UTC September 15, Leslie peaked as a Category 3 major hurricane with winds around 115 mph. It's status as a major hurricane was only six hours, as cooler waters began to take a toll on the system as it moved east. Leslie weakened significantly by the time it made a close pass with Nova Scotia, but turned extra-tropical as a 65 mph storm mid-day September 18. The extra-tropical low soon went on to impact Newfoundland before being absorbed by a more powerful extra-tropical storm. Leslie's small size lead to little damage in terms of impact, but one person in Nova Scotia was killed due to rip currents associated with the system.
Tropical Storm Milton[]
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | September 19 – September 23 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 60 mph (95 km/h) (1-min) 996 mbar (hPa) |
An area of non-tropical low pressure formed in the middle of the Atlantic, progressing northwestward. Absorbing remnant moisture left behind by the dead remnants of what was once Tropical Storm Kirk, the low was able to slowly gain tropical characteristics as it began to curve northeastward, and by 12:00 UTC September 19, the system was designated as the thirteenth tropical depression of the season. The depression gradually organized under marginally favorable sea surface temperatures, and twenty-four hours after being designated, the depression was upgraded to Tropical Storm Milton. The tropical storm continued on a northeast past, gradually strengthening to a 60 mph storm, before dry air entered its southwestern quadrant, thus causing it to weaken slightly as it tried to fix itself. It did end up succeeding, and Milton hit 60 mph one more time before cooler waters began to weaken the storm some as it began extra-tropical transition as it passed west of the Azores on September 22. By 18:00 UTC the following day, it was deemed that the system was fully extra-tropical, and advisories were discontinued. The only threat in the Azores by Milton was rip currents, which ended up harming nobody during the storm's pass.
Subtropical Storm Nadine[]
| Subtropical storm (NHC) | |
  | |
| Duration | September 22 – September 24 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min) 1001 mbar (hPa) |
A complex area of low pressure attached to a frontal boundary slid across the Ohio Valley, soon going into the northern Mid-Atlantic States. Eventually, the low pressure system made its way into the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. Detaching itself from the boundary, a closed circulation became defined, and due to the system showing a cold core, the system was designated as Subtropical Depression Fourteen on September 22 at 12:00 UTC. The depression accelerated eastward, soon intensifying slightly into Subtropical Storm Nadine. Nadine began to turn south, reaching its peak intensity of 45 mph. However, Nadine began to turn extra-tropical due to the cooler waters, and was deemed extra-tropical September 24 at 18:00 UTC, making it the second shortest lasting system so far that year, behind Arthur. The gale-force remnants continued northwestward before its circulation unraveled, and a center could no longer be traced. Nadine's pre-cursor remnants were responsible for moderate flooding across the Ohio Valley and southern New England states, where some areas picked up as much as 10" inches of rain as system passed through them.
Tropical Storm Oscar[]
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | September 28 – October 2 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min) 997 mbar (hPa) |
A low pressure system developed off the coast of the Florida towards the end of September. Conditions in the Gulf Stream were marginally conducive for development, with wind shear being on the moderate level. However, it began to enter an area of more conducive conditions, and development within the area of low pressure ensued. After a recon mission sent into the system, it was determined that the depression had become Tropical Depression Fifteen on September 28, at 06:00 UTC. The depression turned northeastward, paralleling the coast of North Carolina before a strong ridge and weaker steering currents caused the cyclone to turn north as it became Tropical Storm Oscar on the 29th. Oscar made a slow curl northwestward, reaching a peak intensity of 50 mph before upwelling caused by the cyclone began its demise as it made landfall in the Outer Banks with winds of around 45 mph on September 30. Oscar pursued inland, weakening into a depression 12 hours later, and degenerated into a remnant low by midnight October 2. The remnants continued up the Appalachian mountains before it dissipated over south-central Pennsylvania. Oscar caused moderate damage and flooding across eastern North Carolina and the Outer Banks, which ended up causing around $124 million in damage after post-analysis. 1 person did die as a result of rip currents a day before Oscar made landfall, but it should be noted multiple water rescues were made during Oscar's passage westward.
Tropical Storm Patty[]
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | October 8 – October 21 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 65 mph (100 km/h) (1-min) 991 mbar (hPa) |
A powerful extra-tropical low drifted about 200 miles to the ESE of the eastern tip of Newfoundland. The low strengthened, attaining hurricane-force winds as it moved to the southwest. However, at the same time, it appeared a new low level circulation, tropical in nature began to overtake the extra-tropical characteristics, and thus a tropical conversion took place, thus resulting in the National Hurricane Center designating Tropical Storm Patty as a 60 mph storm on October 8 at 00:00 UTC. Patty weakened as it struggled to sustain itself given its recent transformation, but eventually Patty stabilized as it moved in an east-northeast fashion. Patty's time in more favorable conditions did not last long, as southwesterly shear began to expose its low-level circulation in the southwestern quadrant. It was at this time a brief peak of 65 mph was recorded before shear began to take a hold of the system. However, Patty persisted before entering cooler waters after a pass by the Azores, while a curve towards the southeast took place. By October 13, it was deemed Patty had once again became extra-tropical, and thus advisories were discontinued on the storm. However, its baroclinic field did not last too long, as convection began to sprout close to the system once again, and Patty became a storm again, this time subtropical due to a cold core being found, by the 15th. During its extra-tropical tenure, Patty had made a u-turn and moved north-northwest. Another pass through the Azores were made and soon enough, Patty made an anti-cyclonic loop before transitioning into a fully tropical system again. It's tenure as a tropical storm was short as sharply cooler waters ahead of the storm caused Patty to become extra-tropical for the final time on October 21 at 00:00 UTC. Patty's damage was very minimal in the Azores and the main threat there was simply rip currents.
Tropical Depression Seventeen[]
| Tropical depression (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | October 26 – November 1 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min) 1005 mbar (hPa) |
The remnants of an Eastern Pacific invest that stalled for a week, failing to develop drifted slowly northeastward and into the Atlantic through the Panama Canal. Eventually, convection finally began to sprout in the storm, and given models had brought the system as a strong tropical storm to Honduras, advisories on Potential Tropical Cyclone Seventeen were initiated, and tropical storm warnings were initiated on what was thought to be a rapid development of the system. Sure enough, the system did become a tropical depression on October 26, but thanks to the circulation remaining elongated the entire time towards landfall, the depression only lasted a whopping 30 hours before degenerating into a remnant low. The remnants drifted northwestward before the remnant low decided to stall for unexplained reasons. As a result, a massive flood event which ended up killing tens of people ensued, as the remnant stuck for nearly two days, dropping up to 25 inches of rain in some locations, harshly impacting lower developed communities. Eventually, the remnant low entered the Gulf of Mexico, and slow development continued under 20 knots of wind shear. Persistence eventually lead to advisories being continued on Tropical Depression Seventeen on October 31 at 00:00 UTC. A center never consolidated, and it remained a depression up to its second landfall on October 31 21:50 UTC. The depression quickly weakened inland, degenerating into a remnant low just over eight hours later, ending another 30 hour life cycle of the storm. The remnants soon dissipated, and little trace of it could be seen by November 2. Damage associated to the lifespan of the storm was relatively light given it had two short and weak life spans, but damage from flooding was extensive from the remnants. Contributing to its lifespan, 16.7 million dollars of damage was observed, with 1 direct death from the depression.
Hurricane Sara[]
| Category 4 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | November 14 – November 22 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 150 mph (240 km/h) (1-min) 929 mbar (hPa) |
An area of disturbed weather, similar to the origins of Hurricane Paloma in 2008, continued over several days in the southern Caribbean. During this time, the center of circulation that eventually developed was found to be hardly moving. Eventually, a recon flight was sent in to see the status of this area of disturbed weather, with recon coming back with information that the system had a closed center, as well as gale force flight level winds, resulting in the system being designated Tropical Depression Nineteen on November 14 at 12:00 UTC. The depression had trouble organizing due to a necessary consolidation of a center, as well as sea surface temperatures not helping aid development that much. However, after an endlessly slow jog to the north, the depression ended up being named Tropical Storm Sara early November 16. Sara continued a slow movement, with its center passing just west of Jamaica. A weakening ridge caused Sara to turn towards the west, where conditions hampering development loosened, allowing Sara to intensify into a hurricane on November 18. For a brief amount of time, there was a slight southerly jog with Sara, but a gradual turn north soon occurred, and thanks to very warm sea surface temperatures near Cuba, Sara began to undergo a rapid period of intensification, exploding from a 90 mph storm into a 150 mph storm within 24 hours before it made landfall in western Cuba as a powerful 145 mph hurricane. Unfortunately, the terrain of Cuba did not affect Sara much, and it made an extremely close pass with Florida before turning northeastward, accelerating as extra-tropical characteristics began to develop within the weakening cyclone. By November 22 at 06:00 UTC, it was deemed fully extra-tropical, still having hurricane-force winds. Eventually the circulation began to get extremely elongated and a center could no longer be traced a day after, although the remnant moisture did aid in the development of a nor'easter which affected the New England coast on Thanksgiving. Sara was particularly damaging for western Cuba and eastern Florida, as well as the northern Bahamas, but given the fact they weren't as well repaired due to the monstrosity of damage brought upon by 2020 and 2021, and the fact that Francine had made landfall in a similar location in Cuba earlier that year, damage was lighter than it could have been, with 8 billion dollars clocked in. However, a death toll of 14 was spotted, 8 being in Jamaica due to flooding, 1 in Florida due to wind damage, and the rest being in Cuba from storm surge. Due to the damages, Cuba would later request the name Sara for retirement in the spring of 2025.
Other systems[]
Operationally, Tropical Storm Rafael was a 45 mph storm that lasted six hours, from November 8 at 06:00 UTC to 12:00 UTC. However, during post-analysis, it was determined that convection from the system was weak, and displaced from the center of circulation, with many features of that of an extra-tropical cyclone. Thus, during the Tropical Cyclone Report that occurs for each storm during the tropical cyclone season, the NHC specifically noted that Rafael was never a tropical cyclone, and due to the impacts that Sara had caused, there were no reasons as to switch the names around, thus causing Rafael to be ignored overall. Known storm2k poster, "Shell Mound" was particularly angered with the National Hurricane Center over this, calling them "stupid" for their "irreversible mistake" before trying to make a scene that the NHC should be "defunded." His statements ended up giving a 2-month block from storm2k.
Storm names[]
The following list of names was used for named storms that formed in the North Atlantic in 2024. The names not retired from this list will be used again in the 2030 season. This was the same list used in the 2018 season, with the exception of the names Francine and Milton, which replaced Florence and Michael. Francine, Milton and Sara were used for the first time in 2024.
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Retirement[]
On March 28, 2025, at the 47th session of the RA IV hurricane committee, the World Meteorological Organization retired the names Francine, Helene, Joyce, and Sara from its rotating naming lists due to the number of deaths and amount of damage they caused, and they will not be used again for another Atlantic hurricane. They will be replaced with Francesca, Hayden, Joanna, and Sabrina, respectively, for the 2030 season.
Season effects[]
| Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale | ||||||
| TD | TS | C1 | C2 | C3 | C4 | C5 |
This is a table of the storms and their effects in the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. This table includes the storm's names, duration, peak intensity, Areas affected (bold indicates made landfall in that region at least once), damages, and death totals. Deaths in parentheses are additional and indirect (an example of an indirect death would be a traffic accident), but are still storm-related. Damage and deaths include totals while the storm was extratropical, a wave or a low. All of the damage figures are in 2024 USD (the listed damage figure is in millions). Rafael is not included as it was not a tropical system.
| Storm name |
Dates active | Storm category at peak intensity |
Max 1-min wind mph (km/h) |
Min. press. (mbar) |
Areas affected | Damage (USD) |
Deaths | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alberto | June 4 – June 6 | Tropical storm | 45 (75) | 998 | Florida | $30 million | 2 | |||
| Beryl | June 17 – June 23 | Tropical storm | 50 (85) | 998 | Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico | $210 million | 5 | |||
| Chris | June 28 – June 30 | Tropical storm | 60 (95) | 995 | None | None | 0 | |||
| Debby | July 24 – August 2 | Category 2 hurricane | 100 (155) | 980 | Haiti, Cuba, The Bahamas, North Carolina, Mid-Atlantic States | $2.3 billion | 9 | |||
| Ernesto | August 5 – August 12 | Category 1 hurricane | 85 (140) | 982 | None | None | 0 | |||
| Francine | August 10 – August 20 | Category 4 hurricane | 140 (220) | 939 | Leeward Islands, Cuba, Florida, Southeast US Coast, New England | $27 billion | 41 | |||
| Gordon | August 16 – August 23 | Category 1 hurricane | 80 (130) | 989 | None | None | 0 | |||
| Helene | August 28 – September 9 | Category 5 hurricane | 160 (260) | 927 | Southern Bahamas, Cuba, Texas, US Gulf Coast, Tennessee Valley, Ohio Valley | $122 billion | 145 | |||
| Isaac | August 30 – September 4 | Tropical storm | 60 (95) | 998 | None | None | 0 | |||
| Joyce | September 2 – September 14 | Category 2 hurricane | 105 (165) | 977 | Anguilla, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico | $14 billion | 26 | |||
| Kirk | September 6 – September 11 | Tropical storm | 50 (85) | 995 | None | None | 0 | |||
| Leslie | September 13 – September 18 | Category 3 hurricane | 115 (185) | 964 | Nova Scotia, Newfoundland | $40 million | 1 | |||
| Milton | September 19 – September 23 | Tropical storm | 60 (95) | 995 | None | None | 0 | |||
| Nadine | September 22 – September 24 | Subtropical storm | 45 (75) | 1001 | None | None | 0 | |||
| Oscar | September 28 – October 2 | Tropical storm | 50 (85) | 997 | Carolinas, Mid-Atlantic | $124 million | 1 | |||
| Patty | October 8 – October 21 | Tropical storm | 65 (100) | 991 | Azores | Minimal | 0 | |||
| Seventeen | October 26 – November 1 | Tropical depression | 35 (55) | 1005 | Honduras, Mexico, Guatemala, US Gulf Coast | $14.6 million | 1 | |||
| Sara | November 14 – November 22 | Category 4 hurricane | 150 (240) | 929 | Jamaica, Cuba, Florida, Bahamas | $8 billion | 14 | |||
| Season aggregates | ||||||||||
| 18 systems | June 4 – November 22 | 160 (260) | 927 | $173.718 billion | 245 | |||||