The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season is here. What to know about forecasts, emergency alerts
The 2025 hurricane season, which runs June 1-Nov. 30, is predicted to have above-normal activity — with 17 named storms, including nine hurricanes, four of which could be major.
Colorado State University's early predictions show a 65% probability of a hurricane making landfall in Florida and a 35% chance of it being a major hurricane, over a Category 3. CSU further broke down the probabilities and Florida's East Coast, including the Florida Peninsula, has a 26% probability, which is 5% higher than the average.
Last year, there were 18 named storms during the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, according to NOAA's National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service.
Five were major hurricanes with winds over 111 mph; 11 were hurricanes with winds of 74 mph or greater; and Florida got hit with three hurricanes: Debby, Helene and Milton.
Leading up to Hurricane Milton's landfall on Florida's Gulf Coast, at least 14 tornadoes spawned throughout the Treasure Coast, resulting in six people dying at Spanish Lakes Country Club Village in St. Lucie County.
Leading up to this hurricane season, over 880 workers were cut from NOAA in February, which includes the National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center, USA Today reported. Another 1,000 employees were later included in President Trump's plan to cut costs in fiscal year 2026.
Whether you're a lifelong or longtime Floridian or recently moved to the Sunshine State, here's what you need to know about preparing for hurricane season.
The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30.
The season peaks around mid-August and late October because the waters in the equatorial Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico get warm enough to help support tropical wave development. (President Donald Trump signed an executive order calling the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America.)
Here are the CSU predictions for 2025 (compared to an average season):
Named storms: 17 (14 on average)
Named storm days: 85 (69 on average)
Hurricanes: 9 (7 on average)
Hurricane days: 35 (27 on average)
Major hurricanes: 4 (3 on average)
Major hurricane days: 9 (7 on average)
Accumulated Cyclone Energy index (ACE measures overall activity): 155 (123 on average)
ACE in the western half of the Atlantic basin: 93 (73 on average)
Net tropical cyclone activity (NTC): 165 (135 on average)
The National Hurricane Center this year will institute these changes to its prediction methods:
May issue earlier advisories up to 72 hours — instead of 48 hours — before a system with storm surge and/or tropical storm-force winds
Will narrow the cone of uncertainty by 3-6%
Will use new symbols on weather maps representing the cone of uncertainty.
An experimental cone of uncertainty launched in 2024 displayed watches and warnings for inland counties for the first time, as well as for coastal counties.
Before that, the National Weather Service issued hurricane and tropical storm watches and warnings for inland counties, but the National Hurricane Center's maps didn't show them, only those for coastal counties.
Based on feedback, the National Hurricane Center decided to add a symbol this year — diagonal pink and blue lines — for counties where both a hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning are in effect.
Since 1953, the National Hurricane Center has released a list of names in alphabetical order for Atlantic tropical storms before each season begins, which it recycles every six years. But it retires names of storms that are excessively deadly or costly, if it would be insensitive or inappropriate to use them again.
These are the 2025 Atlantic tropical cyclone names:
Andrea
Barry
Chantal
Dexter
Erin
Fernand
Gabrielle
Humberto
Imelda
Jerry
Karen
Lorenzo
Melissa
Nestor
Olga
Pablo
Rebekah
Sebastien
Tanya
Van
Wendy
Knowing if you live in an evacuation zone and where your evacuation routes are is vital if you need to leave quickly.
Each county has designated evacuation zones, typically on barrier islands and in low-lying, flood-prone areas, especially for mobile homes and other unsafe structures.
If you're unsure if you live in one, each county has an interactive map on its website showing evacuation zones and the best routes to take, whether an evacuation is ordered or if you're just being precautionary to relocate somewhere safer. Just type in your address to see if you fall within an evacuation zone in Indian River, Martin or St. Lucie.
Hurricane shelters are opened if a storm threat is imminent, but they should be considered a refuge of last resort. The Treasure Coast has 39 shelters, which include four animal-friendly one and three for special needs.
The shelters are designed to house residents of the barrier islands, low-lying or flood-prone areas, evacuation zones, mobile or manufactured homes, or those without shelter.
Pre-registration for special needs shelters is available online on each county's website.
The special-needs shelter is at Anderson Middle School, 7000 S.E. Atlantic Ridge Drive in Stuart. The pet-friendly shelter is at Willoughby Learning Center, 5150 S.E. Willoughby Blvd in Stuart. There are eight others:
Port Salerno Elementary School at 3260 S.E. Lionel Terrace
Warfield Elementary School at 15260 S.W. 150th St., Indiantown
Jensen Beach Elementary School at 2525 N.E. Savannah Road
Palm City Elementary School at 1951 S.W. 34th St.
J.D. Parker Elementary School at 1050 S.E. 10th St., Stuart
Citrus Grove Elementary School at 2527 S.W. Citrus Blvd., Palm City
Indiantown Middle School at 16303 S.W. Farm Road
Jensen Beach High School at 2875 N.W. Goldenrod Road
The special-needs shelter is at the Havert L. Fenn Center, 2000 Virginia Ave. in Fort Pierce, and the two pet-friendly shelters are at Fort Pierce Westwood High School, 1801 Panther Lane in Fort Pierce, and Treasure Coast High School, 1000 S.W. Darwin Blvd. in Port St. Lucie. There are 11 others:
Lakewood Park Elementary School at 7800 Indrio Road
Fort Pierce Central High School at 4101 S. 25th St.
Parkway Elementary School at 7000 N.W. Selvitz Road, Port St. Lucie
Samuel S. Gaines Academy K-8 at 2250 S. Jenkins Road, Fort Pierce
West Gate K-8 at 1050 N.W. Cashmere Blvd., Port St. Lucie
Chester A. Moore Elementary at 827 N. 29th St., Fort Pierce
Floresta Elementary at 1501 S.E. Floresta Drive, Port St. Lucie
Bayshore Elementary at 1661 S.W. Bayshore Blvd., Port St. Lucie
Oak Hammock K-8 at 1251 S.W. California Blvd., Port St. Lucie
Port St. Lucie Community Center at 2195 S.E. Airoso Blvd.
Morningside Elementary at 2300 S.E. Gowin Drive
The special-needs shelter is at Treasure Coast Elementary School, 8955 85th St. in Sebastian, and the pet-friendly shelter is at Liberty Magnet Elementary School, 6850 81st St. in Vero Beach. There are 13 others:
Sebastian Elementary School at 400 Sebastian Blvd.
Fellsmere Elementary School at 50 N. Cypress St.
Sebastian River Middle School at 9400 County Road 512
Sebastian River High School at 9001 90th Ave.
Pelican Island Elementary School at 1355 Schumann Drive, Sebastian
Storm Grove Middle School at 6400 57th St., Vero Beach
Gifford Middle School at 4530 28th Court
VBHS Freshman Learning Center at 1507 19th St., Vero Beach
Glendale Elementary School at 4940 8th St., Vero Beach
Oslo Middle School at 480 20th Avenue S.W., Vero Beach
Osceola Magnet School at 1110 18th Avenue S.W., Vero Beach
Indian River Academy at 500 20th Street S.W., Vero Beach
Vero Beach Elementary School at 1770 12th St.
Tornadoes can strike at any point during the year, but Florida twisters are most common in spring and summer.
They are categorized by the Enhanced Fujita Scale based on their winds:
EF0: 65-85 mph
EF1: 86-110 mph
EF2: 111-135 mph
EF3: 136-165 mph
EF4: 166-200 mph
EF5: Over 200 mph
The Treasure Coast was hit with at least 14 tornadoes before Hurricane Milton made landfall, which resulted in six deaths in the Spanish Lakes Country Club Village mobile home community northwest of Fort Pierce. The most destructive tornado was an EF3 with winds from 136-165 mph that touched down in St. Lucie and Indian River counties.
People living in manufactured homes and low-lying, flood-prone areas should have a storm emergency plan and disaster kits ready to go if tornado, flood or hurricane threats hit the area, said St. Lucie County Public Safety Director Ron Guerrero.
Here's what the different tornado alerts mean and tornado safety tips to follow, in the event of one:
Tornado watch: Possibility of tornadoes in or near the watch area.
Tornado warning: A sighting or weather radar indicating a tornado. Try to move to an interior room on the lowest level in a sturdy building and stay away from windows.
Tornado emergency: Issued when a violent tornado has touched down in the watch area.
Here are some safety dos and don'ts if you find yourself caught in a tornado, according to NOAA:
Seek shelter immediately, especially if in a mobile home, vehicle or outdoors. Move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris.
If you're driving, it is recommended to find shelter in a ditch or remain in your vehicle and cover your head.
If in a mobile home, get to a sturdy shelter as soon as possible. If not, take shelter in a nearby ditch, low spot or underground culvert. Make sure to lie flat covering your head with your hands.
Stay as low as possible by moving into an interior room on the lowest level of a sturdy building, making sure to stay away from windows, doors and outdoor walls. Interior rooms can be bathrooms, closets or halls with no windows.
Use your hands, pillows, heavy coats, blankets, quilts, or helmets to shield your head from flying debris.
Leading up to a storm, make sure to be prepared with an emergency kit with these items, according to NOAA:
Backpack or storage tub to hold your supplies
Bottled water, one gallon per person is recommended
Non-perishable food and a can opener for canned foods
Flashlight with extra batteries
First aid supplies
Bandages
Ointment
Disinfectant wipes
Any daily or prescription medication taken
Tissues
Toilet paper and bags with ties for personal sanitation
Paper and pen or pencil (to take notes, play games, etc.)
Sleeping bag or warm blanket
Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
Personal hygiene items
Whistle to signal for help
Important documents (identification, insurance information, banking information, wills, etc.)
Emergency reference materials such as a first aid book
Battery-powered radio and a NOAA weather radio
Formula and diapers for infants
Extra pet food
A dust mask or cotton T-shirt to help filter the air
Plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
Cups and utensils
A change of clothes for each person in your home
Rain gear
Cash
Paper towels
Fire Extinguisher
Cards or games
Do not stay outside; get to shelter as quickly as possible
Avoid being by windows, doors and outside walls
Do not wait until you see or hear the tornado
Do not open windows or doors
Do not take shelter under a highway overpass if you're caught in a tornado while in your car
You can sign up for emergency alerts on your phone at ready.gov/alerts.
Check with your service provider to find out if your cell phone or mobile device is compatible with receiving wireless emergency alerts. However, not all wireless service providers offer wireless emergency alerts, and some participating service providers may not offer it on all mobile devices, according to the Federal Communications Commission.
NWS recap: 11 tornadoes confirmed, 3 more suspected on the Treasure Coast
Exclusive look: Inside Spanish Lakes after Hurricane Milton killed six people
If you do not receive emergency alerts, check with your service provider to see if your mobile device is compatible. If it is, and you still don't receive messages, check out your user manual, or if you have an iPhone, follow these steps:
Go to settings and click on the notifications tab.
Scroll to the bottom of the screen.
Under government alerts, turn the type of alert on or off.
Each county has its own alert system. You can sign up for AlertMartin, AlertSt.Lucie and Alert Indian River on the Indian River, Martin and St. Lucie county websites.
Part of preparing for a hurricane is knowing what government agencies to contact in an emergency.
Phone: 772-226-3900
Website: ircgov.com/emergencyservices
Facebook: facebook.com/IndianRiverEOC
Twitter: twitter.com/IndianRiverEOC
Phone: 772-462-8100
Website: stlucieco.gov/departments-and-services/public-safety/disaster-preparedness
Phone: 772-287-1652
Website: martin.fl.us/EM
Twitter: twitter.com/MartinCountyEMA
Phone: 772-569-6700
Website: ircsheriff.org
Facebook: facebook.com/ircsheriff
Twitter: twitter.com/IRCSheriff
Phone: 772-220-7000
Website: sheriff.martin.fl.us
Facebook: facebook.com/MartinCountySheriffsOffice
Twitter: twitter.com/MartinFLSheriff
Phone: 772-462-7300
Website: stluciesheriff.com
Facebook: facebook.com/stluciesheriff
Twitter: twitter.com/stluciesheriff
Phone: 772-978-4600
Website: vbpd.org
Facebook: facebook.com/VeroBeachPD
Twitter: twitter.com/VeroBeachPD
Phone: 772-646-6309
Website: cityoffellsmere.org/police
Facebook: facebook.com/FellsmerePD
Twitter: twitter.com/FellsmerePD
Phone: 772-589-5233
Website: sebastianpd.org
Facebook: facebook.com/SebastianPoliceDepartment
Twitter: twitter.com/PoliceSebastian
Phone: 772-467-6800
Website: cityoffortpierce.com/1016/Police-Department
Facebook: facebook.com/FortPiercePD
Twitter: twitter.com/FortPiercePD
Phone: 772-871-5000
Website: cityofpsl.com/government/departments/police
Facebook: facebook.com/PortStLuciePolice
Twitter: twitter.com/PSLPolice
Phone: 772-287-1122
Website: cityofstuart.com/police
Facebook: facebook.com/StuartPoliceDepartment
Twitter: twitter.com/cityofstuart
Phone: 772-226-3993
Website: ircgov.com/emergencyservices/firerescue
Phone: 772-621-3400
Website: slcfd.com
Facebook: facebook.com/slcfd
Twitter: twitter.com/StLucieFireDist
Phone: 772-288-5710
Website: martin.fl.us/FireRescue
Facebook: facebook.com/MartinCountyFireRescue
Twitter: twitter.com/martincountyfr
Phone: 772-288-5360
Website: cityofstuart.us/188/Fire-Rescue
Gianna Montesano is TCPalm's trending reporter. You can contact her at gianna.montesano@tcpalm.com, 772-409-1429, or follow her on X @gonthescene.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Hurricane 2025 season forecast shows Florida storm predictions
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