The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1, 2024, and ends November 30, 2024.
For millions of residents living along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, the calendar carries an extra layer of meaning. While the first day of summer is marked by solstices and barbecues, the date that truly dictates the rhythm of life is June 1.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) selected these dates because they encompass more than 97% of all tropical cyclone activity. Historically, June 1 represents the statistical shift when ocean temperatures become warm enough (typically 26.5°C or 80°F) and wind shear low enough to support organized thunderstorm development.
For decades, the season ended on October 31. But after a major hurricane hit Miami in November 1935, the bureau extended the season to November 30. To answer the original question simply: Hurricane season starts on June 1 in the Atlantic.
The Eastern Pacific basin (east of 140°W) officially opens for business on . This earlier date exists because this region warms up faster than the Atlantic. The Pacific hurricane season also ends on November 30, often with storms drifting toward the Hawaiian archipelago as "post-season" threats. The Northern Atlantic: The "Cape Verde" Caveat Even within the Atlantic, the start date is somewhat theoretical. A tropical storm forming in the Gulf of Mexico in early June is rare but possible. However, the "true" start of the intense hurricane activity—the long-track Cape Verde storms—does not begin until mid-August.