September was quiet for hurricane watchers this year, marking the first time in ten years that no hurricanes hit the U.S. coast during the month. This quiet spell follows a trend seen in seven of the last eight years, where entire hurricane seasons passed without a single hurricane making landfall in the United States, according to AccuWeather research.
The last time September saw no hurricanes land in the U.S. was in 2015, a year when forecasts predicted a calmer season. This year’s quiet September might seem surprising since many agencies expected an above-average number of storms for 2025. Yet, despite these predictions, the storms have stayed mostly offshore or missed land altogether.
Alex DaSilva, AccuWeather’s lead hurricane expert, explained that this season has been unusual. For example, Hurricane Erin reached major hurricane strength but kept a safe distance, staying about 200 miles from North Carolina’s coast. Another storm, Hurricane Imelda, brought heavy rains but avoided major flooding in the Southeast, partly because Hurricane Humberto was nearby. Humberto’s presence helped steer Imelda away from land by pulling the smaller storm out to sea.
So far, the 2025 season has had nine named storms, and experts expect more to come. But history suggests the chance of a hurricane making landfall in the final months of the season is quite low. The hurricane season runs until the end of November, but most activity happens before October.
Looking back since 2000, in years when September had no hurricane hits, almost no hurricanes hit the U.S. at all. The only exception was in 2002 when Hurricane Lili made landfall in Louisiana as a Category 1 storm in early October.
DaSilva reminded people not to drop their guard just because September was calm. Warmer ocean temperatures and higher ocean heat in the Atlantic could make it easier for storms to form later in the year. Wind shear, which can disrupt storms, is also expected to weaken through the fall.
October is usually quieter than September for hurricanes. Data from 1966 to 2024 shows there were more than twice as many named hurricanes in September compared to October. Still, October has had some very damaging storms. Just last year, Hurricane Milton hit Florida as a strong Category 3 hurricane in early October, causing insured losses estimated between $30 billion and $50 billion. In 2020, Hurricanes Delta and Zeta caused repeated damage in Louisiana during October.
Looking ahead, tropical storms are more likely to develop in the Southwest Atlantic or the Caribbean Sea later in the season. These storms often move toward Central America or head north toward the eastern Gulf of Mexico, threatening Florida and other southeastern states.
Jonathan Porter, AccuWeather’s chief meteorologist, emphasized that it only takes one big storm to cause serious damage. While September’s quiet spell is a relief, those living in hurricane-prone areas should still stay prepared for the rest of the season.
So, while we can breathe a little easier for now, the season isn’t over yet. The coming weeks could still bring unexpected storms, and it’s important to remain alert and ready.