NOAA Forecasts Busy Hurricane Season for 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasts a busy hurricane season for 2025, predicting 13 to 19 named storms could develop in the Atlantic. The season runs from June 1 to November 30.

NOAA officials announced their forecast on Thursday, indicating that between three to five of these storms may become major hurricanes, with sustained winds reaching 111 miles per hour or faster. Experts attribute this potential increase in storm activity to various climatic factors, including shifts in the Pacific Ocean’s climate pattern.

“Hurricanes are almost like the engine in your car,” said Daniel Guilford, a scientist at Climate Central. “They are giant engines that take energy in and then convert that energy into wind.” Guilford emphasized that warmer ocean waters contribute to storm intensity by providing energy and increasing moisture levels in the air.

According to NOAA, higher sea surface temperatures enhance the likelihood of more powerful storms. “A hurricane is going to be able to spin faster if it has more fuel available,” added Guilford. Rising sea levels, which are also linked to climate change, make coastal areas more vulnerable to flooding when storms strike.

In 2024, NOAA had already noted an extraordinary hurricane season, with 18 named storms and 11 hurricanes. Last year’s deadliest hurricane, Helene, caused significant destruction, highlighting the danger associated with such storms. Concerns grow regarding the impact of budget cuts on NOAA’s forecasting capabilities, with more than 1,400 personnel having left the agency.

“Our worst nightmare is that weather forecast offices will be so understaffed that there will be needless loss of life,” former National Weather Service directors warned in a letter to the American people.

However, Ken Graham, NOAA’s National Weather Service Director, assured the public that current forecasting models are reliable. “We have the data that we need,” he said, emphasizing that hurricane hunters are ready for the upcoming season.