The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season gets underway Sunday, when the calendar flips to June.
The National Weather Service is predicting an above-average season with 13 to 19 named storms; among them, six to 10 hurricanes, with three to five major hurricanes.
Their word for it – last year, they were spot-on.
“The results that came in final — the named storms, the hurricanes, the major hurricanes, the accumulated psychonic energy or ACE — all fell within NOAA’s predicted ranges,” says Laura Grimm, acting NOAA administrator.
LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says warmer sea surface temperature is one factor indicating an above-average season.
“The West African monsoon is expected to be a little more active than normal,” says Keim. “That’s where these thunderstorms form and send these seeds or tropical waves out in the Atlantic, which ultimately can form into a hurricane.”
Louisiana, particularly its coastal areas, is expected to be especially vulnerable.
“Once these storms form, it’s anybody’s guess where they go,” says Keim. “So there’s no telling whether we’re going to see an east coast sort of a season or a gulf coast kind of a season.”
Keim urges residents to take the season seriously by preparing early and stressing the importance of staying informed and following all storm warnings and evacuation orders.
The National Weather Service and NOAA are both prepared to keep people informed at all times with the latest life-saving information.
“The NOAA Hurricane Hunters are prepared to fly their P3 and G4 aircraft into and around hurricanes,” says Grimm, “with researchers onboard collecting invaluable data that helps forecasters make accurate predictions and gives scientists a better understanding of storm processes.”
Grimm says NOAA is also improving its process in predicting how storms intensify.
“NOAA research, in partnership with Cooperative Institute, Marine and atmospheric studies at the University of Miami, are deploying new small aircraft drone systems, atmospheric profilers and underwater gliders,” Grimm says.
High winds are not the only deadly hazard when it comes to hurricanes and tropical storms; storm surge is also blamed for countless deaths in each storm.
Grimm says as such, NOAA is also enhancing how it issues storm surge watches and warnings.
“NOAA’s National Hurricane Center will use an updated hazard services application by the NOAA’s Global Systems Lab to issue storm surge watches and warnings, which alert people of flooding caused by storms,” says Grimm.
With conditions ripe for significant storm activity, Keim says early and thorough preparation is essential for safety throughout the 2025 hurricane season.
“All it takes is one hurricane to ruin your whole season,” says Keim. “So, just be prepared.”
Andrew Greenstein contributed to this report.
