2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season Ends with Increased Major Storms Causing Devastation
The 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season was highly active, concluding with 18 named storms, 11 hurricanes, and 5 major hurricanes impacting the United States. Notably, Hurricane Beryl caused severe devastation in Houston and Hurricane Helene resulted in over 200 fatalities along the East Coast. Federal support totaling $1.6 billion was provided to Texas after disaster declarations in response to severe storms and Hurricane Beryl’s impact.
The 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season has concluded, revealing a notably active year characterized by several impactful storms that struck the United States. This season witnessed the formation of 18 named storms, of which 11 escalated into hurricanes, including five classified as major hurricanes. Despite the total number of storms being lower than initial forecasts, the United States experienced an above-average frequency of significant hurricane landfalls, as noted by meteorologist Eric Berger from Space City Weather.
The season saw severe consequences, particularly from Hurricane Beryl, which impacted the Houston area in July, resulting in extensive power outages and a tragic loss of life exceeding 40 individuals. Following Beryl, the Atlantic experienced an unexpected period of inactivity during August and part of September, which is typically a peak time for hurricanes. Berger remarked on the anomaly, stating that during this period, the hurricane season had not yet reached its usual intensity.
However, late September brought the arrival of Hurricane Helene, which severely affected multiple states along the East Coast, culminating in over 200 fatalities across North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Virginia. Just weeks later, on October 9, Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida as a Category 3 storm, adding to the devastation. Collectively, the two storms are reported to have claimed at least 250 lives and caused damages exceeding $50 billion, as per Associated Press reports.
Throughout this challenging year, Texas received substantial federal assistance amounting to approximately $1.6 billion due to two separate Presidential Disaster Declarations—one concerning severe storms and flooding in May and another following the damaging effects of Hurricane Beryl in July.
The Atlantic Hurricane Season typically runs from June 1 to November 30 and is characterized by the formation of storms in the Atlantic Ocean. Meteorologists employ advanced models to predict storm activity and intensity. The 2024 season forecast did expect a certain number of storms; however, the notable aspect was not necessarily the total storms, but the higher-than-anticipated number of major hurricanes impacting the U.S. territory, which highlights the increasing significance of hurricane preparedness and response mechanisms in affected states.
In summary, the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season was markedly intense, resulting in significant impacts on the United States, particularly in Texas and along the East Coast. With a total of 18 named storms and a notable count of major hurricanes, the season left behind a tragic toll in terms of human life and economic damages. Effective preparation and response to such disasters remain a critical focus for local and federal authorities, as evidenced by the substantial federal aid provided to affected states.
Original Source: www.houstonpublicmedia.org
