2024's Relentless Hurricanes: A Season of Unprecedented Storms

Austin America Statesman

The 2024 hurricane season have created some historic moments with the very first hurricane of the season, hurricane Beryl, forming as early as June! This season will go down in history as one of the most intense and unusual. Countries in the Caribbean and North America were battered, leaving behind a trail of devastation.

There are 21 named storms for the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season and 9 named storms have become hurricanes so far. Notably, it was reported that we would receive two more hurricanes than we would normally get. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) had also reported that there would be an elevated level of hurricane activity in the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.

Among the most memorable hurricanes of the season was Hurricane Milton, which alarmingly made history as the second most powerful Atlantic hurricane on record in the Gulf of Mexico. Milton was also noted as the third hurricane to rapidly strengthen when it grew from a tropical storm to a category 5 hurricane in less than a day.

It tore through Florida as a category 5 hurricane, leaving 24 dead and millions in damages.

Another notable hurricane of the season was Hurricane Beryl, after surging from a tropical cyclone to a tropical storm in less than 24 hours, it became a hurricane on June 29th, making it the first hurricane of the season. It made landfall on the small island of Carriacou in Grenada as a dangerous category 4 hurricane. It subsequently intensified into a Category 5 storm over the Eastern Caribbean Sea. Maintaining much of its strength, Beryl tracked just south of Jamaica as a Category 4 hurricane on July 3rd. Jamaica, which had not experienced significant damage from a hurricane since 2012, was badly affected by Hurricane Beryl, resulting in extensive damages estimated at 41.6 million USD. Beryl eventually weakened and impacted the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico, and Texas.

The other hurricanes this year included: Hurricane Debby, Hurricane Ernesto, Hurricane Francine, Hurricane Helene, Hurricane Isaac, Hurricane Kirk, Hurricane Leslie, Hurricane Oscar, and Hurricane Rafael. We are yet to see further developments because the season will not be over until November 30.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts that the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season will also be very active. It is very important to be prepared because disaster can strike at any moment. Hurricane shutters are a great investment to protect you and your family during a storm or hurricane. Netlink Jamaica manufacture and install quality hurricane shutters that are effective against hurricanes up to category 5.