The Calm Before the Storm: 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season Kicks Off

Hold onto your hats, folks, because the Atlantic hurricane season officially starts today! And let me tell you, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting some wild weather this year, with whispers of “record-breaking” storm activity already making the rounds.

What’s Your Hurricane History?

Ever wondered if your neck of the woods has a history with hurricanes? You might be surprised! We’ve got this super cool tool (insert tool here) that lets you trace hurricane activity near you all the way back to the mid-nineteenth century. Yeah, you heard that right!

Now, you might think, “Hurricanes? In the Midwest? Get outta here!” But believe it or not, even those landlocked states can feel the remnants of a hurricane that’s blown itself out over land. Think heavy rain, gusty winds – you know, the works.

But let’s be real, it’s those coastal areas that get the brunt of it. We’re talking about places like the Florida Panhandle, the Outer Banks – those beautiful stretches of coastline that also happen to be hurricane magnets. And speaking of magnets, did you know that Florida alone accounts for a whopping forty percent of all US hurricane landfalls? Talk about being in the line of fire!

A Blast From the Past: Hurricanes Through the Years

Since the mid-nineteenth century, over three hundred hurricanes have made landfall in the US. That’s like, a whole lot of hurricanes! To break it down, we’re talking an average of almost twenty hurricanes every ten years.