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2025 Atlantic hurricane season is expected to be busy: How that could impact Tennessee
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting an active Atlantic hurricane season in 2025, and like in 2024, we could see impacts here in Tennessee.
The Atlantic hurricane season goes from June 1st to November 30th. During the typical season, there are 14 named storms, with seven of those strengthening to a hurricane, and three of them becoming major hurricanes.
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The forecast from NOAA is for 13-19 named storms, 6-10 of those hurricanes, and 3-5 major hurricanes.
Remember, a storm gets named when it reaches a minimum tropical storm strength. That means it has sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph. Hurricanes have winds over 74 mph, and major hurricanes have winds over 111 mph.
Hurricanes are rated on the Saffir-Simpson scale. This means the wind speed of the storm determines the category. The scale goes from category 1 to 5.
NOAA says there are a couple of factors that caused them to forecast an active season. They said the neutral El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) can lead to an increase in storms in the Atlantic. ENSO is the ocean current in the southern Pacific Ocean, and it can impact the Atlantic Hurricane season as well as our weather during the winter.
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The other reason they are forecasting an active hurricane season is that the sea surface temperatures in the Gulf and the Atlantic are warmer than normal. Warm sea surface temperatures are what help fuel hurricanes.
Above normal activity has been common over the last several years. Eight out of the last 10 years have seen 15 or more named storms, and in 2020, we saw the most active Atlantic hurricane season on record, with 30 storms!
In the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, there were 18 named storms, 11 of which were hurricanes, and 5 strengthened to major hurricanes.
Last hurricane season, we saw impacts from 3 hurricanes here in Tennessee. The biggest impacts came from Hurricane Helene, with the historic/devastating flooding in East Tennessee. Hurricane Francine brought heavy rain and a low tornado threat to middle Tennessee. Hurricane Beryl caused tornadoes in Arkansas and heavy rain in West Tennessee.
It's rare to see impacts from three hurricanes in Tennessee, but with the active forecast, we could see tropical impacts this year.
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The main threats from hurricanes here in Tennessee are flooding and tornadoes. By the time hurricanes reach the Volunteer State, they are typically weakened to just tropical depression strength. This means damaging winds aren't a threat like they are when they first make landfall.
During the months of August, September, and October, tornadoes are extremely rare in Tennessee, but if we see the remnants of a hurricane, we can get tornadoes. They are typically weak, short-lived tornadoes of EF-0 or EF-1 strength.
Here is a list of the names for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season.
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