Hurricane season begins. Above-normal activity predicted. Here’s your guide.

Last updated on June 18th, 2025 at 06:46 pm

Floridians should expect above-normal storm activity for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, which begins June 1 and continues until November 30, according to the annual forecast by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The agency is predicting 13 to 19 total named storms with maximum sustained winds of 39 mph or higher, including six to 10 hurricanes with winds greater than 74 mph and three to five major hurricanes (Category 3+) with winds of 111 mph or higher, NOAA said.

The Pacific hurricane season begins May 15 and, as of June 18, had already seen five named storms. The Atlantic has so far been quiet.

The NOAA forecast is consistent with projections by hurricane researchers at Colorado State University, who last month predicted 17 named storms, including nine hurricanes, four being Category 3 or above.

NOAA is the umbrella agency of the National Weather Service and the Miami-based National Hurricane Center.

Both NOAA and the CSU researchers based their predictions on multiple factors:

1. The impact of El Nina or El Nino currents are neutral this year, meaning that they are unlikely to influence storms as they do in a normal year.
2. Ocean surface temperatures across the eastern and central Atllantic Ocean are generally warmer than normal, “but not as warm as they were last year at this time,” CSU researchers said.
3. Long-range forecasts indicate wind-shear conditions, which interfere with hurricane development, are weak this year.
4. Potential for higher activity from the West African Monsoon, a primary starting point for Atlantic hurricanes, NOAA said.

“All of these elements tend to favor tropical storm formation,” NOAA forecasters noted in a statement issued at the beginning of the Atlantic hurricane season.

The Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1 and ends on November 30. In Florida, we usually see one or two early storms in late June, then a lull until the second half of August when activity picks up.

In 2024, we saw 11 hurricanes, including five major hurricanes with winds above 110 mph. Three of those major hurricanes — Debby, Helene and Milton (pictured above) — slammed Florida and caused extensive damage. The 2024 season produced a total of 18 named storms.

“This outlook is a call to action: be prepared,” said NOAA’s National Weather Service Director Ken Graham. “Take proactive steps now to make a plan and gather supplies to ensure you’re ready before a storm threatens.”

Florida’s Legislature did not approve a sales tax holiday for hurricane supplies this year. Last year, there were two, two-week periods of tax exemptions for residents to purchase disaster supplies.

Related stories

Why the tropics have been unusually calm and what that means for hurricane season, Washington Post, 6/15/2025

It just takes one storm, South Florida SunSentinel, 6/11/25

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Tropical Weather Outlook (Live Updates)

• There are no tropical cyclones at this time.
  June 20, 2025
• Atlantic Tropical Weather Outlook
  June 19, 2025

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2025 Hurricane Names

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Preparation for the next storm

It’s best to prepare now without the pressure of an incoming storm, long lines and high demand for supplies.

Keep your vehicle’s gas tanks reasonably full at all times during hurricane season so you can avoid the inevitable lines at gas stations when a storm approaches. A good refill marker is half a tank.

Maintain your yard and remove dead trees and yard debris from your property. There is no worse feeling than “I should have done it sooner” as a storm approaches.

If your home faces the threat of flooding, buy bags of top soil that can be used around ground-level door openings. After hurricane season, use the topsoil to enrich your lawn and gardens for the dry winter months ahead.

Test your generator

Your generator has probably been sitting in your garage since the last time you used it. There are compelling reasons to test it now. If your generator doesn’t start or runs rough, you still have time to get it to your small-engine shop for maintenance.

A few generator tips:

• Dump the old gas, if you haven’t done so already. Best practice is to empty the tank at the end of hurricane season.
• Use ethanol-free gasoline. Gasoline in your car contains ethanol, but ethanol is not good for your generator’s engine.
• Check the oil, drain and replace. There should be a dip stick.
• Run the generator 5 minutes once every month or two during hurricane season. Ideally, you should start it up once a month throughout the year, but few do. (I’m guilty, too.)

Caution: Test the generator outdoors. Carbon dioxide emissions can kill you if the fumes are trapped in the house or garage.

Stay connected

Your ability to communicate with others can be severely compromised after a hurricane. Most of us have already dumped our self-powered landline phones in favor of cellular. But cell towers may be knocked out in hurricanes.

You also may lose internet service, especially if it’s provided by above-ground cable, and it’s likely you’ll lose the electricity that powers computers and Wi-Fi routers in your home.

Many newer models of cell phones have access to satellite service in emergencies. Consider that option the next time you upgrade your phone.

Keep your cell phones fully charged at all times. Buy a spare battery pack (or two) for recharging your phone and keep it charged.

For those so inclined, especially if you live in a remote area, a ham radio is a great way to communicate when all else fails.

Hurricane Shelf Checklist

Every Florida resident should have a hurricane shelf for recurring storm needs:

• Flashlights and battery-powered lanterns
• Fresh batteries of all sizes (Replace at least every two years)
• Weather radio with AM/FM, battery-operated or hand crank. (See recommendations below)
• First aid kit.
• Mosquito repellent.
• Tool kit includes a hatchet or axe, duct tape, hammer, nails, saw, can opener, pocket knife and a multi-tool.
• Blue tarps! Cord, rope for tying the tarps down.
• Fire extinguisher.
• Sterno kit, restock.
• Matches in a waterproof container.
• If you still have a landline, add a corded phone to your kit. The old-style landline is self-powered, making it critical when power is knocked out to your house.

Hurricane Supplies Checklist

Food and water should be replaced annually. Use supplies after hurricane season and replace over the winter. Gasoline should also be fresh. When hurricane season is over, dump gas containers in your car; refill containers next year.

• Water: Bottled drinking water should stay fresh for a year when stored in a cool, dark space, so refresh your supply at the beginning of each season and use it up in the off-season. Fill up pots and pans to boost supplies as a storm approaches.
• Water containers: For storing tap water to bathe and flush toilets. These can be filled at the last minute, but you should already own the containers.
• Gasoline: Keep your car’s gas tank full. Buy gas containers now for a backup supply and generators. Fill them at the first hint of a storm for use after the storm.
• Food: A pantry full of non-perishable foods, canned and packaged, is standard procedure in Florida. Stock up now, especially if you have special dietary needs.
• Paper goods: Stock up on TP, paper towels, paper plates this month. There won’t be any left on store shelves if you wait for the threat of a storm.
• Plastic goods: Plastic garbage bags and plastic eating utensils, plastic storage bags and heavy-duty trash bags for yard debris.
• Prescription drugs: Stay at least a month ahead on prescriptions.
• Disinfectant: Replenish your supply of disinfectants and hand sanitizers.

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Florida Emergency Management Checklist

Download this checklist and print it (PDF)

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Hurricane Evacuation Checklist

You should have an evacuation plan before you need it…

• Know the locations of local shelters. Counties and cities publish their revised lists of shelters each year by June 1, the beginning of hurricane season. People with special needs or pets should go to shelters set up to accommodate them.
• If you are bringing a pet to a shelter that allows pets, have a go-bag with documentation of vaccinations and pet license. All dogs and cats in Florida must be licensed.
• Have a go-bag ready with clothing for three days and a sleeping bag for each person. Don’t expect cots to be available at shelters.
• If you are leaving town, consider now where you will go, how to get there, and what you’ll need. Book hotel rooms early. If you have camping gear, have it ready to go.
• Fill your vehicle‘s gas tanks and be prepared for slow-moving traffic.
• Before leaving your house, unplug appliances and shut off electricity, gas lines and your main water supply.
• If you are worried about flooding, place sandbags and towels around vulnerable doorways and raise furniture and valuables off the floor. Bags of topsoil from your local nursery or home improvement store make excellent sandbags and can be spread on your lawn and garden later.
• Don’t leave home without putting up your shutters.
• Lock the house when you leave.

Hurricane Shelter Checklist

You may not think you’ll need to go to a shelter, but if you suddenly find “the big one” heading your way, have a go-bag ready for each person in your household.

Shelters don’t have much to offer, and most won’t allow pets, so identify shelters in your area that accept pets if you have them.

Every county in Florida should release a shelter plan on June 1 each year at the beginning of hurricane season. Shelter locations may have changed over the past year.

Your go-bag should contain:

• Clothing for 2-3 days
• Personal hygiene items, toothbrush, toothpaste
• Sleeping bag, air mattress, pillow
• Books and games
• Medications
• Identification (driver’s license)
• Cash
• Snacks
• Flashlight
• Pet licenses and proof of vaccinations.

Riding out the storm at home

• Designate a “safe room” with strong walls and least exposed to outside elements (no windows, for example.)
• Fill bathtubs with water for flushing toilets.
• Fill pots, pans and other kitchen containers with water for drinking and washing.
• Unplug appliances you don’t need but leave circuit breakers on until the house loses power. When you lose power, turn off breakers. Turn back on when power is restored.
• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. Fill plastic storage bags 3/4 full with water and place in the freezer. Leave space in bags for water to expand.
• Have a cooler on standby for items you use frequently to avoid opening and closing the fridge.

What not to do…

• Do not use candles or open flames inside your home. Fire-Rescue is way too busy to respond to your fire.
• Do not use generators indoors. Engine exhaust kills.

Camper evacuation tips

• Pack up and get ready to move on a moment’s notice.
• Florida State Parks and campgrounds within the forecast cone will close when a storm warning is issued. You will have to leave. Think about where you will go ahead of time.
• Inland states such as Georgia and Alabama open emergency campgrounds in state parks, fairgrounds and race tracks for evacuees. Here are links to Georgia State Parks. Atlanta Motor Speedway. Alabama State Parks. Mississippi State Parks
• Get an early start so you’re not stuck in traffic fleeing an approaching storm.

Boats and Recreational Vehicles

If you have an RV in storage…

If you are storing your RV, you should ask about their policy in a storm. Some RV storage facilities will require you to remove it, but if you wait until the last minute, you will never get through on the phone.

One year, I had to remove my travel trailer from storage, so I brought it home and sheltered it between my house and my neighbor’s.

Another year, I left it in the storage lot. A Cat 2 storm hit my house squarely, knocking out power for two weeks. The travel trailer, 25 miles away, was untouched. I brought it home and lived in it.

If you have a boat in storage…

• Ask about your storage lot’s policies with an approaching storm.
• If allowed, use ground anchors to tie it down.
• If your boat damages other boats, you will likely be held responsible. Check your insurance policy for coverage.
• Some storage lots may require you to remove the boat.

If you have a boat in the water

• If you are in a marina, ask about the marina’s storm policies. Many marinas will require you to remove your vessel.
• If your boat is staying in the water, tie it down securely but allow for major tide changes.
• If your boat can be removed from the water, decide how and where you can store it in a storm. Sometimes that means moving the boat inland. Sometimes it means putting it in your garage or sheltering it between houses and using ground anchors.

What about kayaks and paddle boards?

Kayaks, canoes and paddle boards in your yard may become missiles that can damage property or injure people. Tie them down securely or move into a sheltered space, such as your garage.

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After the storm

With today’s political climate and massive cuts to government services, don’t expect much help after the storm. Government safety nets are disappearing and self-reliability is paramount. This means better preparation than you may have needed in years past.

If you followed storm-preparation guidelines before the storm, you should be in good shape for two weeks after the storm. That’s how long it took for power to be restored at my house after the last hurricane hit my home.

Aside from power outages, anticipate that roads may be blocked for several days — even weeks — after a storm by fallen trees and debris. Good preparation allows you to stay put until life returns to normal.

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Online resources

• Federal Emergency Management Administraation (FEMA): After the storm.
• Florida Disaster Site: www.floridadisaster.org

Note: The Trump administration has indicated it plans to abolish FEMA, so this resource may not be available when you need it. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, meanwhile, says Florida is ready to assist you, with or without FEMA. In light of the politics, you should rely on your own judgment and preparation — and even be prepared to help your neighbors.

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