Climatologist provides assessment of just concluded Hurricane season

By: Aabigayle McIntosh

Despite threats of a very late tropical cyclone, the official 2024 hurricane season, which was quite active, as it ended November 30th.

That’s the assessment from Climatologist Dale Destin in his latest blog post.

He explained the season is responsible for over 400 deaths and over US$222 billion in damage, the second costliest on record.

“268Weather adjudged the season’s activity above normal with an accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) index of 162. The ACE gives a snapshot of the overall season’s activity, capturing in one index the number, intensity and duration of all named storms”.

“Notwithstanding the above-normal season, it was quiet for Antigua and Barbuda with only a half-baked tropical storm in Ernesto affecting the area. Tropical Storm Ernesto impacted parts of Antigua and Barbuda with 55 mph winds with gusts to 68 mph. As a minimal storm, it caused minimal damage”, Destin said.

He stated further that the 2024 hurricane season, with an ACE of 162, was the 21st most active on record dating back 173 years to 1851. It also ranks 5th for the most hurricanes; 9th for the most major hurricanes and 13 for the most named storms.

The Atlantic basin saw 18 named storms in 2024. Eleven of these storms became hurricanes and five intensified to major hurricanes (winds of 111 mph or greater). The Atlantic seasonal activity fell within the predicted ranges for named storms and hurricanes issued by 268Weather, especially for those forecasts issued in June, July and August.

An average season produces 14 named storms, 7 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes.

Destin notes, the strongest tropical cyclone for the season was Hurricane Milton with peak wind of 180 mph. However, Hurricane Beryl was the deadliest and most impactful, it took 73 lives and caused over US$120 billion.

The most memorable hurricane for the season was Beryl, which became the earliest-forming Category 5 hurricane on record.