Midpoint Update: 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season

Now that we’ve reached the midpoint of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season with five named storms, let’s take a look at the impacts of a few of the most recent: Hurricanes Beryl, Debby and Ernesto. Finally, we’ll look ahead to the remainder of the season and NOAA’s updated predictions.

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Hurricane Beryl

Record-breaking Hurricane Beryl became the earliest Category 5 hurricane and the second Category 5 on record (after Hurricane Emily in 2005) during the month of July in the Atlantic Ocean. It initially made landfall on the island of Carriacou in Grenada as a Category 4 hurricane before peaking as a Category 5 storm over the Caribbean. Beryl again made landfall in Tulum, Quintana Roo, as a Category 2 storm and then weakened to a tropical storm. Over the Gulf of Mexico, it strengthened back to a Category 1 and made landfall near Matagorda, Texas.

In total, Hurricane Beryl caused 64 fatalities and nearly $7 billion in damages, according to preliminary estimates. Despite only being a Category 1 storm, Beryl had a devastating impact on Texas with severe flooding and wind damage. It also caused extensive power outages, leaving nearly 3 million Texas homes and businesses without electricity for days during sweltering heat.

Following the storm, the Texas attorney general launched an investigation into Houston’s electric utility, CenterPoint Energy. Texas is the only state to have its own power grid, yet weakened infrastructure has made it particularly vulnerable to high winds. As extreme weather conditions continue to increase due to climate change, the state will need to invest in making its grid more resilient, such as by strengthening power lines and poles that are easily damaged by strong winds.

Hurricane Debby

On August 5, Category 1 Hurricane Debby made landfall near Steinhatchee, Florida. It dumped heavy rains over the state as well as parts of Georgia and North and South Carolina. The storm is responsible for 10 fatalities and nearly $2 billion in damages. It also had some unexpected side effects: Heavy rains from the storm lifted most of South Carolina out of drought, and it caused more than $1 million worth of cocaine to wash up on a Florida beach.

Hurricane Ernesto

The fifth named storm and third hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, Ernesto peaked as a Category 2 before weaking due to wind shear to a Category 1 and making landfall in Bermuda. Afterward its path took it up the East Coast of the United States and Canada, creating dangerous rip currents.

NOAA provides midseason update

This “above normal” season could bring 17 to 24 names storms, 8 to 13 hurricanes and 4 to 7 major hurricanes, according to NOAA’s updated outlook. Factors contributing to an above-average Atlantic season include warmer than average sea surface temperatures, reduced vertical wind shear, weaker tropical Atlantic trade winds and an enhanced west African monsoon. Additionally, La Nina may develop in the coming months, bringing cooler sea surface temperatures that can weaken wind shear, allowing storms to develop and intensify quickly.

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