May — Before the Season: Your Prep Window
The season doesn't officially begin until June 1, but storms can and do form in May. In recent years, pre-season storms have become more frequent. Historical average May storms: 0.1 named storms.
What you should be doing in May: Purchase flood insurance now (30-day waiting period before coverage activates), review and update your homeowner's and wind coverage, build or restock your hurricane supply kit, identify your evacuation route and destination, and sign up for free storm alerts.
June — Season Opens, Activity Is Usually Light
June is typically quiet, but "typically" is not "always." Hurricane Audrey (1957) struck Louisiana in June and killed over 400 people. Historical average June activity: 0.5 named storms, 0.1 hurricanes. June storms often lack the deep Atlantic fetch to become major, but proximity to land can compress the warning window dangerously.
July — Activity Picks Up Slightly
The Atlantic basin begins to wake up in July. The Main Development Region (MDR) is warming. African easterly wave activity increases. Historical average July activity: 1.0 named storms, 0.3 hurricanes.
August — Major Hurricane Season Begins in Earnest
August is when the Atlantic begins producing the large, long-track Cape Verde hurricanes. The ocean is at its warmest. Wind shear is typically at its lowest. Historical average August activity: 2.3 named storms, 1.1 hurricanes, 0.5 major hurricanes. Hurricane Andrew (1992) struck South Florida on August 24. Hurricane Harvey (2017) made its first landfall on August 25.
September — Peak of Hurricane Season
September 10 is the statistical peak of the Atlantic hurricane season. Historical average September activity: 3.5 named storms, 1.7 hurricanes, 0.9 major hurricanes. Notable September storms: Hurricane Maria (September 20, 2017), Hurricane Dorian (September 1, 2019 Bahamas landfall), Hurricane Florence (September 14, 2018).
October — Second Peak of Activity
Activity typically diminishes from its September peak in October, but remains well above average. Historical average October activity: 2.0 named storms, 0.9 hurricanes, 0.4 major hurricanes. Hurricane Michael (October 10, 2018) struck the Florida Panhandle as a catastrophic Category 5. Hurricane Sandy made its catastrophic Northeast US impact on October 29, 2012.
November — Season Winding Down But Not Over
November storms are relatively rare but historically significant. Historical average November activity: 0.5 named storms, 0.2 hurricanes. The official season ends November 30, but storms have formed in December.
Quick Reference: Month-by-Month at a Glance
| Month | Avg Named Storms | Avg Hurricanes | Action Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| May | 0.1 | — | Complete all prep |
| June | 0.5 | 0.1 | Fully ready |
| July | 1.0 | 0.3 | Monitor actively |
| August | 2.3 | 1.1 | Full vigilance |
| September | 3.5 | 1.7 | Highest alert |
| October | 2.0 | 0.9 | Sustained vigilance |
| November | 0.5 | 0.2 | Wind down |
Track active storms all season on our Live Storm Tracker. Read the full 2026 Season Forecast. Learn about Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) to understand how season activity is measured.