Hurricane season closing without any storms making landfall in continental U.S.

Key Concepts

• Bermuda High: A high-pressure system in the open Atlantic Ocean that significantly influences the steering winds and tracks of tropical storms and hurricanes.
• Recurving Storms: Tropical cyclones that, due to atmospheric steering patterns like the Bermuda High, curve away from a direct westward path towards land, often turning northward or eastward into the open ocean.
• Major Hurricanes: Tropical cyclones classified as Category 3, 4, or 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, characterized by sustained winds of at least 111 miles per hour (178 km/h).
• Dropsondes: Small, instrument-laden packages parachuted from hurricane hunter aircraft to collect real-time atmospheric data (e.g., wind speed, temperature, humidity, pressure) from various altitudes down to the ocean surface.
• Ocean Heat Content: A measure of the total heat energy stored in the upper layers of the ocean, which serves as a primary energy source ("jet fuel") for the intensification of tropical cyclones.
• Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE): A metric used to express the total energy generated by all named tropical cyclones over an entire hurricane season. It accounts for both the number of storms and their intensity and duration.

Overview of the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season

The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, which officially ended on Sunday, was notable for two primary reasons: the absence of any hurricane landfalls in the continental United States for the first time in a decade, and the exceptional intensity of the storms that did form, particularly those impacting the Caribbean. According to the National Hurricane Center, the season saw a total of 13 named storms, which is slightly fewer than the average of 14. Out of these, five became hurricanes, and four intensified into major hurricanes (Category 3, 4, or 5) with sustained winds of at least 111 miles per hour. Remarkably, three of these four major hurricanes reached Category 5 strength, a rare occurrence that has only happened once before, approximately 20 years ago.

Reasons for No US Landfall

CBS News meteorologist and tropical weather expert David Yman explained that the lack of direct US landfalls was primarily due to the specific configuration of upper-level steering winds and the position of the Bermuda High pressure system in the open Atlantic. This year, the Bermuda High's placement led to a "season of what we call recurving storms." Instead of being driven westward towards the Gulf of Mexico and potential landfalls in states like Texas or Florida, most storms curved northward or eastward before making impact on the US mainland. This pattern is evident on storm track plots, showing a high concentration of storms just off the US East Coast but few entering the Gulf.

Impact on the Caribbean: Hurricane Melissa

While the continental US was largely spared, areas of the Caribbean were not as fortunate. Hurricane Melissa was the last named storm of the season and struck Jamaica in late October. It was described as "the strongest one to ever hit that island in modern wreckage keeping history," causing significant devastation and killing at least 90 people across the region. Melissa was also one of the strongest Atlantic storms on record, achieving the strongest ever directly measured hurricane wind gust of 252 mph. This measurement was taken by a dropsonde deployed from a NOAA Hurricane Hunter plane at approximately 800 feet above the ocean surface, illustrating the extreme intensity of some storms this season, even if not a direct surface wind.

The Role of Climate Change

The question of climate change's influence on this season's hurricane activity was addressed, with David Yman confirming its role. While there is ongoing debate about the precise future effects, the current body of scientific research suggests a trend towards fewer Atlantic hurricanes each season but more intense storms when they do occur. This season exemplified that trend. A fundamental reason for this intensification is the observation of record hot ocean temperatures and ocean heat content, which act as "jet fuel" for developing storms, providing ample energy for rapid and extreme strengthening.

Characterizing the Season: Fewer but More Intense Storms

The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season will be remembered as one with fewer storms than normal but significantly more intense ones. Despite the total number of named systems (13) being slightly below the average (14), the overall energy generated by these storms was remarkably high. This is quantified by the Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE), a metric that sums up the total energy created by massive storms over the entire season. Even with a lower-than-normal number of storms, the season recorded a higher ACE value, primarily driven by the extreme intensity and longevity of storms like Category 5 Hurricane Melissa. This indicates that while the quantity of storms was down, their quality (intensity and destructive potential) was exceptionally high.

Conclusion

The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season presented a paradox: a decade-long reprieve for the continental US from hurricane landfalls, contrasted sharply with devastating, record-breaking impacts in the Caribbean, particularly from Hurricane Melissa. This unusual pattern was attributed to specific atmospheric steering mechanisms, notably the Bermuda High, which caused storms to "recurve" away from the US coast. Furthermore, the season provided compelling evidence for the influence of climate change, manifesting as a trend towards fewer but significantly more intense hurricanes, fueled by record-high ocean temperatures. The elevated Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) despite a below-average number of named storms underscores the season's defining characteristic: a shift towards a smaller number of exceptionally powerful and destructive tropical cyclones.