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Last year, AccuWeather delivered a particularly accurate forecast for the Atlantic hurricane season, with its meteorologists’ prediction of an above average number of forms with direct impacts to the United States.
This year, the forecast is for a predicting a dynamic and potentially volatile Atlantic hurricane season this year (their words, not ours), with several similarities to last year’s storm season.
And for that reason, it behooves event owners and destinations to stay alert. The Atlantic hurricane season officially starts on June 1 and runs through Nov. 30.
“Everyone needs to start planning and preparing for hurricane season. Climatology, weather patterns, water temperatures, and many other factors all point to yet another active Atlantic hurricane season with more tropical storms and hurricanes forming, compared to the historical average,” AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter said. “We expect fewer named storms this year compared to last year. The total number of storms is not truly what defines a hurricane season; it is the impacts to land and populated areas. It only takes one landfall to create a devastating season.”
The AccuWeather 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season Forecast predicts 13-18 named storms this year, with seven to 10 of those storms expected to strengthen into hurricanes. Three to five of those storms are predicted to strengthen into major hurricanes, which is a Category 3 hurricane or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Category 3 hurricanes have maximum sustained winds of 111-129 mph.
AccuWeather hurricane experts predict that three to six storms can directly impact the U.S. this year.
Because of the forecast, event owners may wish to consider event cancellation insurance. But let's be very clear on this: Cancellation insurance is not like Amazon Prime, where something can be ordered and received the next day; in fact, insurance needs to be taken care of long before a hurricane (or any other event) threatens a tournament, John Sadler of Insurance told SDM last year.
“If you are talking about Event Cancellation or Weather insurance, it can be purchased well in advance," notes Sadler. "But carriers have a two-week window within which they won’t offer insurance. In other words, you can’t buy the coverage knowing that a hurricane may be on the way.”
Advance preparation is likely the best course of action, and 2025 is no exception. AccuWeather hurricane experts say early tropical development in May is possible this year due to exceptionally warm water temperatures expected across much of the Atlantic basin.
AccuWeather hurricane experts say Texas, Louisiana, the western coast of Florida, North Carolina and Atlantic Canada face a higher risk of direct impacts this hurricane season, compared to the historical average.
"Similar to last year, northern and eastern portions of the Gulf Coast and the Carolinas are at a higher-than-average risk of direct impacts this season," AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva explained. "Atlantic Canada and the northeastern Caribbean are also at an increased risk of direct impacts."
Preparation For Tropical Threats
AccuWeather hurricane experts say people in areas far from the Atlantic and Gulf coasts should prepare for potential tropical impacts this year. Records show that tropical storms, tropical rainstorms and hurricanes from the Atlantic basin have tracked across 34 states in the central and eastern U.S. since 1900.
The farthest west a tropical storm from the Atlantic basin has ever tracked was in New Mexico. But tropical storms and tropical rainstorms since 1900 have tracked as far inland as Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan.
Full information on the AccuWeather forecast can be found here.
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