Hurricane season is a term we hear often to describe the time of year when hurricanes typically happen. Hurricanes wreak havoc when they make landfall, sometimes destroying entire communities. This is why it’s important to know when hurricane season will hit your area.
What Is a Hurricane?
A hurricane, also known as a tropical cyclone, is a severe storm that forms over tropical or subtropical waters. When a hurricane makes landfall, it brings with it heavy rain, severe wind, and sometimes even treacherous hail. Hurricanes can result in loss of life, damaged property, storm surges, rip currents, and flooding. You should always pay attention to hurricane warnings and prepare accordingly.
I live in Atlantic Canada, and hurricanes happen here every year. Usually, Nova Scotia and PEI get the worst of them. In 2014, Hurricane Arthur took trees down and one even fell on our garage! It was my first major hurricane (they’re usually topical storms the the time they reach our area in New Brunswick), and it was scary! Trees bending down in the wind, our home was rattling, and we felt unsafe! Luckily, we maritimers were prepared with storm chips and beer but the clean-up after was brutal. It took the capital city of NB about a year before it was completely back to normal. But I recognize that other areas, like New Orleans (Hurricane Katrina), experienced much more devastation.
How Do Hurricanes Form In Hurricane Season?
Hurricanes form over large, warm ocean waters. Warm water and high humidity is the mix for a “perfect storm”. When these two factors combine, something called the Coriolis Effect comes to fruition. This means the rotation of the earth causes moving air and water to move to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and the left in the Southern Hemisphere. The Coriolis Effect is necessary for a hurricane to form. Low wind shear is another factor. Wind shear is the variation of the wind speed and direction with altitude. High wind shear starves off a hurricane, making it weaker. While low wind shear causes a hurricane to form and become stronger.
Hurricane Formation Steps
Tropical disturbance: A cluster of thunderstorms will form over a warm ocean, usually at 5 to 20 degrees altitudes.
Tropical depression: The group of thunderstorms becomes more organized, and the winds reach 38MPH. This is when a storm is considered a tropical depression.
Tropical Storm: The system intensifies, with winds reaching between 39 and 73MPH. This is when a storm is upgraded to a tropical storm, and given a cool name. In fact, in the past, male meteorologists gave hurricanes female names due to their “unpredictability”.
Hurricane: If the tropical storm reaches a sustained wind speed of 74MPH or higher, it is classified as a hurricane by meteorological services.
When Is Hurricane Season?
As discussed above, hurricane season is the time when hurricanes occur the most. The time for a hurricane season will vary by which region you are in. Here’s a breakdown:
Atlantic Basin (between North and South America on the West and Europe and Africa on the East): Hurricane Season is from July 1st to November 30th. Hurricane activity in these areas reaches its climax between August and October.
Eastern Pacific Basin (Western coast of Mexico & Central America): The hurricane season here is May 15 to November 30. The peak time for hurricanes is July to September.
Central Pacific Basin (this includes Hawaii): June 1st to November 30 is hurricane season. However, the peak activity between August and October.
Western Pacific Basin (including Northwest Pacific Ocean): Typhoon season is year-around here but the peak seasons vary here:
- Northwest Pacific (near Japan): June to December, peak between August and September.
- South China Sea: May to November, peak in August and September.
- Southwest Pacific (by Australia): November to April with the peak from January to March.
North Indian Ocean Basin (This includes the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea):
- Cyclone season: April to December with two peak seasons. The pre-monsoon season is from April to June, and the post-monsoon season is from October to December.
Southwest Indian Ocean Basin (includes the coast of Africa and the islands located in the Indian Ocean):
- Cyclone season is November to April with peak activity in January to March.
Australian Region (including Papua New Guinea, Australia, and the Solomon Islands):
- Cyclone season: November to April
- Peak season is from January to March.
Also, keep in mind that weather can be unpredictable, sometimes even for the hardworking scientists who study it. These times are simply guidelines and hurricanes are just like a tornado—unpredictable!
The Impact of Climate Change on Hurricane Season
Climate change has impacted our world in very negative ways. Severe weather events are one of the most obvious examples. Warmer climates lead to warm water and humidity over bodies of water which contributes to the formation of storms in hurricane season.
Rising sea levels due to climate change will add to the unfortunate outcome of severe flooding and high tides. Rainfall has intensified with climate change, which leads to more severe storms, and again, more flooding. Climate change also can alter the path that a hurricane takes, which can determine which areas are more severely impacted by these dangerous storm events.
Although the relationship between climate change and hurricanes is still being actively researched, there is a possibility they’re connected. Some studies suggest that we will see more category 4 and 5 hurricanes as climate change takes hold.
Hurricane Season Preparation
We will go more into detail about hurricane prep in an upcoming article, however, we would like to give you some quick tips! Prepping for any major event is important and hurricanes are no exception! Of course, we recommend getting “ready for anything” before hurricane season arrives, as other dangerous events can happen anytime!
If a hurricane suddenly hits your area this is what you should do:
- Take cover in a sturdy area, preferably up high just in case there are flash floods.
- Find out where your family members are, and advise them to go where it is safe.
- Stay away from windows, they could shatter and injure you!
- Stay out of flood waters, do not swim through them. Go somewhere safe and high until you’re rescued.
- Do not drive through flood waters.
- If the power goes out, keep your fridge closed.
Hurricane Season Preparation
You need to designate an area for you and your family to gather that is strongly built, with no windows. Put together a good emergency preparedness kit. This kit should have everything you need to survive for at least 72 hours, and enough water to last for 2 weeks! Remember, one gallon of water, per day, per person. You can keep these items in your safe room (if you have one).
Other items for your emergency haul:
- First Aid Kit
- Crank radio
- Flashlight
- Batteries
- Toilet paper
- Non-perishable food items
- Water (2 week supply, one gallon/day per person)
- If you have a baby—diapers and formula
- Anything you would want with you if you need to evacuate
- Entertainment items (puzzles, books, magazines, board games, deck of cards, crochet, knitting, etc)
These are just a few items that will prove useful to you during a hurricane but don’t be afraid to do some research and come up with ideas for your kit (just don’t forget the basics!).
What to Do in the Aftermath of a Hurricane
The hurricane has happened, you’re safe but you’re wondering what you should do next.
- If you have been evacuated, only return when it’s deemed safe by the authorities.
- Check on your family members, especially seniors who live alone to make sure they’re ok.
- Avoid downed power lines.
- Be mindful of any hurricane damage, like broken glass, downed trees, or debris.
- Save receipts for any repairs you need to do. The Red Cross or insurance may cover some of your expenses.
Hurricanes often bring dangerous flooding—not just during the storm, but in the hours and days that follow. Flash floods are one of the biggest threats, especially when heavy rainfall overwhelms drainage systems. To stay safe when waters rise, check out our full guide: Flash Flood Warning: The One Alert You Should Never Ignore. It breaks down exactly what to do the moment a flood alert hits and how to avoid the most common risks.
That’s a Wrap on Hurricane Season (For Now)
Hurricane season is a time of uncertainty but if you are prepped and ready to go—you will feel more confident to weather the storm! Making sure you and your loved ones know what to do in the event of a hurricane, keeping an eye (and ear!) on the news, keeping in contact with your loved ones and community, and having your emergency plan ready will ensure you’re ready for the worst a hurricane can bring.
Be aware, and stay safe!
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