Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | 29 September 2024 |
Extratropical | 7 October 2024 |
Dissipated | 13 October 2024 [1] [2] |
Category 4 major hurricane | |
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
Highest winds | 145 mph (230 km/h) |
Lowest pressure | 934 mbar (hPa);27.58 inHg |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | 1 |
Injuries | 9 |
Damage | >$82.8 million (2024 USD) |
Areas affected | |
Part of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane and 2024–25 European windstorm seasons |
Hurricane Kirk,known as Storm Kirk while extratropical,was a large and powerful tropical cyclone that caused significant damage in portions of Western Europe after transitioning into a European windstorm. The eleventh named storm,seventh hurricane,and third major hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season,Kirk originated from a broad area of low pressure near Cape Verde. Showers associated with the system became better organised,and satellite imagery on 29 September showed that the storm had intensified into a tropical depression;it became Tropical Storm Kirk the next day.
Favourable atmospheric and oceanic conditions fostered strengthening,though this trend levelled off after Kirk became a hurricane on 1 October. A period of renewed rapid intensification brought Kirk to peak intensity as a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson scale,with winds of 230 km/h (145 mph),on 4 October. Gradually curving to the northeast,Kirk weakened after peak intensity due to cooler sea surface temperatures,dry air,and wind shear,while also gaining size with latitude;it became an extratropical cyclone on 7 October. As it moved eastwards towards Western Europe,Kirk became the fifth storm of the 2024–25 European windstorm season. Additionally,6 tornadoes occurred as it made landfall in Europe. [3]
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) first forecast the possibility of tropical cyclogenesis in the eastern tropical Atlantic on 27 September. [4] The next day, the NHC began monitoring a broad area of low pressure associated with a tropical wave producing limited shower activity west of Cabo Verde, noting that environmental conditions were favourable for development. [5] As showers and thunderstorms associated with the disturbance became better organised, [6] satellite imagery on 29 September revealed that the disturbance's circulation was becoming better defined. [7] As a result, by 21:00 UTC that day, it developed into Tropical Depression Twelve. At that time, a prominent subtropical ridge to the depression's north steered the system westward. [8]
Organization was at first gradual as the depression continued to produce deep convection. [9] The depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Kirk at 15:00 UTC on 30 September, with satellite microwave imagery from a few hours earlier indicating that a nascent core with a partial eyewall had formed. [10] Shortly thereafter, Kirk's intensification paused, its structure improving little as it tracked west-northwest along the southwestern edge of the subtropical ridge. [11] This pause was short-lived, with intensification resuming on 1 October as the storm's satellite presentation improved. Signs of dry air on Kirk's western flank remained apparent, possibly introduced by some northerly mid-level shear. [12] Kirk's structure continued to improve on microwave imagery, and the storm intensified to a Category 1 hurricane at 21:00 UTC that day. [13] After an intrusion of dry air briefly interrupted further intensification, [14] continued improvements to Kirk's structure signalled a resumption in strengthening throughout 2 October. [15]
Kirk then initiated an episode of rapid intensification, becoming a Category 3 hurricane at 00:00 UTC on 3 October, [16] with satellite imagery displaying a ragged eye surrounded by multiple rotating convective bursts. [17] Soon after, yet another intrusion of dry air halted this period of rapid intensification, causing Kirk to weaken slightly. [18] This disruption was also short-lived, as the hurricane's structure quickly recovered, and by 21:00 UTC that day Kirk strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane. [19] Kirk then strengthened to its peak intensity early on 4 October, with sustained winds of 230 km/h (145 mph) and a minimum central pressure of 934 mbar (27.6 inHg); the NHC noted a well-defined circular eye 37 km (23 mi) wide surrounded by a ring of deep convection. [20] [21] Soon after, microwave imagery suggested an eyewall replacement cycle had initiated, causing the hurricane to begin weakening. As an outer convective band wrapped around the eyewall, Kirk's eye became cloud-filled and its cloud tops warmed. [22] Southwesterly shear and intrusions of dry air additionally contributed to weakening, with Kirk falling to Category 3 intensity at 09:00 UTC on 5 October. At the same time, the hurricane began a northward turn, influenced by a shortwave trough placed over the west-central Atlantic and the subtropical ridge to its east. [23] Kirk then weakened further to Category 2 intensity 24 hours later under the effects of increasing southwesterly shear, the vertical structure of its core becoming disrupted as a result. [24]
Another 12 hours later, at 21:00 UTC on 6 October, Kirk weakened to a Category 1 hurricane, with the NHC noting that its extratropical transition had begun. [25] Tracking over cooler waters as it progressed through its extratropical transition, the NHC noted that Kirk's core had rapidly degraded, [26] and by 19:00 UTC on 7 October, it had completed its transition to an extratropical cyclone as it tracked east-northeast over the northeastern Atlantic. [27] The extratropical cyclone then passed north of the Azores, before moving towards the west coast of France and Western Europe. [28] The system weakened as it progressed towards Sweden. [29]
The NHC issued advisories saying that waves from Kirk could create life-threatening conditions in Bermuda and the East Coast of the United States. [30] [31]
A red alert was issued in the western group of the Azores as swells generated by a weakening Hurricane Kirk were projected to batter the coastline. Some of the more eastern groups saw orange and yellow alerts issued. All fishing boats and ships at ports were removed from the coast and placed into safer areas. [30] [32]
France enforced a yellow rain warning for much of the country except for the far southeast of the country and regions on the English Channel. [33] An orange rain warning with an accompanying yellow wind warning was issued for parts of the northwest, including Paris, as well as for the Pyrenees on the Spanish border. A red warning was later added for Seine-et-Marne for flooding. [34] In Spain warnings were issued for widespread strong winds, with gusts potentially reaching hurricane force in parts of northern Spain, heavy rain, especially in Galicia and the western part of the Iberian Peninsula, and significant wave heights along the Atlantic coast. A red wind warning was issued for Picos de Europa where winds up to 86 mph (140km/h) where expected. [35] Many flights leaving Santander, A Coruña, Bilbao, Vigo, and Santiago were cancelled. [36] In Portugal, an orange coastal event warning was enforced due to the anticipated large wave heights of 5–6 metres (16–20 ft), with a yellow wind warning where, southwest winds with gusts of up to 75 km/h (47 mph), reaching up to 100 km/h (62 mph) in mountainous areas. [37] [38] Many flights were delayed or cancelled and parks were closed. [39]
Orange rain warnings were issued for all of Luxembourg in response to Kirk. [40] A yellow rain warning was issued for the entirety of Andorra. [41] Germany also issued orange rain warnings for many central areas, as well as a red rain warning encompassing many south-western areas. A orange wind warnings has also been issued for southern regions. [42] Switzerland as also issued yellow wind warnings for central and eastern parts of the country. [43] An amber warning was also issued in Belgium. [39] [44] Citizens in Limburg in the Netherlands were urged to prepare for flooding and heavy rainfall. [45]
More than 1 million people across coastal areas of Europe were placed under evacuation orders. [46]
In Porto, Portugal’s main northern city, the storm hit hardest, uprooting 400 trees. Cars were damaged, and rail services were interrupted near Barcelos, also in the north. The storm cut power to more than 300,000 households, according to the country's electricity supplier. Weather and civil protection officials, who had predicted winds of up to 75 mph (120 kilometres per hour) and heavy rain, placed the coast on a yellow alert as waves reached up to seven metres (23 feet) high. While not many homes were damaged, multiple vehicles were. The Linha do Minho was interrupted by falling trees. [47] In Vila Nova de Gaia, a crane was knocked over, damaging a large building. [48] Spanish weather officials issued an orange alert for the north and northwest of the country, warning of winds up to 87 mph (140 kilometres per hour) in the Asturias region. In Galicia, the northwest reported roads blocked by mudslides and fallen trees in urban areas. Portugal's civil protection authority reported over 1,300 incidents from Tuesday night to Wednesday, with three-quarters involving fallen trees in the north. Spain also experienced heavy winds and rainfall, with waves as high as seven metres crashing ashore, according to local media. Storm Kirk primarily wreaked havoc in the northern half of Spain. Strong gusts caused delays and cancellations in rail and air services, park closures, collapsed roofs, and damage from fallen trees. In Castile and León, 5 people were injured due to falling objects. These injuries were in Burgos, Soria, and Segovia. In Valladolid, a roof was completely blown off of a building, but no one was hurt. A total of 370 incidents were reported in the region. [49] A scaffolding tower collapsed due to hurricane-force winds in Berria, Cantabria. A foot bridge over the Douro River collapsed due to Kirk. [50] [51] Two people required medical attention after a car accident in Valladolid. [52] [39] Strong winds and heavy rainfall battered Andorra due to Kirk's circulation, with maximum gusts of 126 kilometres per hour (78 mph) in Port d'Envalira and rainfall of 34 millimetres (1.3 in). [53] Strong winds from Kirk severely impacted Portugal's apple production, with over 65% of the crops suffering damage. Losses from this are estimated to be in the "tens of millions of euros." (USD$10.9 million). [54] In Galicia, around 20,000 hectares of crops were damaged. Losses from this are estimated at around €69 million (USD$71.9 million). [55]
At least 5 tornado reports were reported in France. [56] An IF0.5 Tornado struck Rots, downing trees and damaging roofs and barns. [56] [57] [58] An IF1 tornado hit Brive-la-Gaillarde, downing trees, fences, and powerlines. [56] [59] Two waterspouts were observed near Flamanville. [56] Another IF1 tornado touched down in Cubry-lès-Faverney, damaging 8 houses, 3 vehicles, and 2 garages, causing one garage to collapse. [56] [60] In southern France, a storm swell near the port city of Sete, Hérault overturned three boats, killing one amateur sailor and leaving another two in critical condition. [61] Additionally, 64,000 people in the south of France were left without power, as reported by Enedis to AFP, while several departments saw roads cut off by floodwaters. The worst-hit area, Pyrenees-Atlantiques, saw 35,000 households lose electricity, with other southwestern and central eastern departments also affected. [62] [63] Over 67,000 more people were left without power after the storm pushed through. [64] The Grand Morin river swelled, leading to flooding along the coast. [65] The Paris-Montsouris weather station recorded 71 millimetres (2.8 in) of rainfall in 24h, a number not seen since 1920. The heavy rainfall led to widespread flooding across numerous regions in France. [66] Thousands of people were affected by the flooding. [67]
By midday on 10 October, over 48,000 homes were still without power, and 161 towns were under a flood warning. [68] [66]
The Ardennes of Belgium, Luxembourg, and France felt the most rain. Couvin in Belgium saw many buildings flooded, activating the Commune's emergency plan. [69] In Luxembourg, the heaviest rainfall was around the Upper Sûre Lake. A park in Mersch was flooded, but only few homes suffered damage. [70] Overall, damage in Belgium was minimal. [71] In Sweden, the regions of Västerbotten and Västernorrland, 50 millimetres (2.0 in) of rain fell. The rainfall led to many streams overflowing. A yellow and orange alert was issued in the country. [72] In Switzerland, the fire department carried out over 10 operations in St. Gallen due to high winds from Kirk. [73] High winds generated by Kirk were reported in Germany, with windspeeds reaching 65 kilometres per hour (40 mph). [74] The rail network between Stuttgart and Filderstadt was suspended due to a damaged overhead line. Winds from Kirk also knocked down trees, some of which also ended up on train tracks. In the southwest, falling trees caused 30 emergencies in which the fire department was involved. [75]
Tropical Storm Zeta was a very late-developing tropical storm that formed in the central Atlantic Ocean during the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season, one month after the season's official end. Becoming a tropical depression on December 30, and intensifying the following day into the season's 28th storm, Zeta continued into January 2006. It was one of only two Atlantic tropical cyclones to span two calendar years.
A post-tropical cyclone is a former tropical cyclone that no longer possesses enough tropical qualities to be considered a tropical cyclone. The word may refer to a former tropical cyclone undergoing extratropical transition or a tropical cyclone degenerating into a remnant low. A tropical cyclone degenerating into a trough or wave, or having its low level circulation dissipate overland, lacks a cyclonic circulation and is referred as remnants instead of a post-tropical cyclone. However, post-tropical cyclones or remnants can continue producing high winds and heavy rains.
The 2021 Pacific hurricane season was a moderately active Pacific hurricane season, with above-average activity in terms of number of named storms, but below-average activity in terms of major hurricanes, as 19 named storms, 8 hurricanes, and 2 major hurricanes formed in all. It also had a near-normal accumulated cyclone energy (ACE). The season officially began on May 15, 2021 in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, and on June 1, 2021, in the Central Pacific in the Northern Hemisphere. The season ended in both regions on November 30, 2021. These dates historically describe the period each year when most tropical cyclogenesis occurs in these regions of the Pacific and are adopted by convention. However, the formation of tropical cyclones is possible at any time of the year, as illustrated by the formation of Tropical Storm Andres on May 9, which was the earliest forming tropical storm on record in the Eastern Pacific. Conversely, 2021 was the second consecutive season in which no tropical cyclones formed in the Central Pacific.
The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season was a very active and extremely destructive Atlantic hurricane season which became the second costliest on record after 2017, inflicting at least $227 billion in damages and 400 deaths overall, most of which was caused by four systems: Beryl, Debby, Helene, and Milton. The season produced 18 named storms, 11 hurricanes, and 5 major hurricanes; it was also the first since 2019 to feature multiple Category 5 hurricanes. Additionally, the season had the highest accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) rating since 2020, with a value of 161.6 units. The season officially began on June 1, and ended on November 30. These dates, adopted by convention, have historically described the period in each year when most subtropical or tropical cyclogenesis occurs in the Atlantic Ocean.
Tropical Storm Nestor was a large but short-lived and disorganized tropical cyclone which caused widespread tornadoes and heavy rain in the Southeastern United States during mid-October 2019. The sixteenth depression and fourteenth named storm of the erratic 2019 Atlantic hurricane season, Nestor originated from a broad area of low pressure over the Western Caribbean. It emerged in the Gulf of Mexico and began to organize slightly, becoming Potential Tropical Cyclone Sixteen due to its threat to the Southeastern United States. It gained sufficient circulation to be designated Tropical Storm Nestor near the Florida Panhandle early on October 18, crawling to the northeast, and then finally transitioning into an extratropical cyclone due to strong shear from a nearby upper-level low before making landfall on the Florida Panhandle on October 19.
Hurricane Dolores was a powerful and moderately damaging tropical cyclone whose remnants brought record-breaking heavy rains and strong winds to California. The seventh named storm, fourth hurricane, and third major hurricane of the record-breaking 2015 Pacific hurricane season, Dolores formed from a tropical wave on July 11. The system gradually strengthened, attaining hurricane status on July 13. Dolores rapidly intensified as it neared the Baja California peninsula, finally peaking as a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson scale with winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) on July 15. An eyewall replacement cycle began and cooler sea-surface temperatures rapidly weakened the hurricane, and Dolores weakened to a tropical storm two days later. On July 18, Dolores degenerated into a remnant low west of the Baja California peninsula.
Hurricane Douglas was a strong tropical cyclone that became the closest passing Pacific hurricane to the island of Oahu on record, surpassing the previous record held by Hurricane Dot in 1959. The eighth tropical cyclone, fifth named storm, first hurricane, and first major hurricane of the 2020 Pacific hurricane season, Douglas originated from a tropical wave which entered the basin in mid-July. Located in favorable conditions, the wave began to organize on July 19. It became a tropical depression on July 20 and a tropical storm the following day. After leveling off as a strong tropical storm due to dry air, Douglas began rapid intensification on July 23, becoming the season's first major hurricane the following day and peaking as a Category 4 hurricane. After moving into the Central Pacific basin, Douglas slowly weakened as it approached Hawaii. The storm later passed north of the main islands as a Category 1 hurricane, passing dangerously close to Oahu and Kauai, causing minimal damage, and resulting in no deaths or injuries. Douglas weakened to tropical storm status on July 28, as it moved away from Hawaii, before degenerating into a remnant low on July 29 and dissipating on the next day.
Hurricane Genevieve was a strong tropical cyclone that almost made landfall on the Baja California Peninsula in August 2020. Genevieve was the twelfth tropical cyclone, seventh named storm, third hurricane, and second major hurricane of the 2020 Pacific hurricane season. The cyclone formed from a tropical wave that the National Hurricane Center (NHC) first started monitoring on August 10. The wave merged with a trough of low pressure on August 13, and favorable conditions allowed the wave to intensify into Tropical Depression Twelve-E at 15:00 UTC. Just six hours later, the depression became a tropical storm and was given the name Genevieve. Genevieve quickly became a hurricane by August 17, and Genevieve began explosive intensification the next day. By 12:00 UTC on August 18, Genevieve reached its peak intensity as a Category 4 hurricane, with maximum 1-minute sustained winds of 130 mph and a minimum central pressure of 950 millibars (28 inHg). Genevieve began to weaken on the next day, possibly due to cooler waters caused by Hurricane Elida earlier that month. Genevieve weakened below tropical storm status around 18:00 UTC on August 20, as it passed close to Baja California Sur. Soon afterward, Genevieve began to lose its deep convection and became a post-tropical cyclone by 21:00 UTC on August 21, eventually dissipating off the coast of Southern California late on August 24.
Hurricane Marco was the first of two tropical cyclones to threaten the Gulf Coast of the United States within a three-day period. The thirteenth named storm and third hurricane of the record-breaking 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, Marco developed from a fast-moving tropical wave west of the Windward Islands and south of Jamaica on August 20. The fast motion of the wave inhibited intensification initially, but as the wave slowed down and entered a more favorable environment, the system developed into a tropical depression, which in turn rapidly intensified into a strong tropical storm. Due to strong wind shear, Marco's intensification temporarily halted. However, after entering the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico on August 23, Marco briefly intensified into a hurricane, only to quickly weaken later that evening due to another rapid increase in wind shear. Marco subsequently weakened to a tropical depression before degenerating into a remnant low early the next morning. Marco's remnants subsequently dissipated on August 26.
Hurricane Paulette was a strong and long-lived tropical cyclone which became the first to make landfall in Bermuda since Hurricane Gonzalo in 2014, and was the longest-lasting tropical cyclone of 2020 globally. The sixteenth named storm and sixth hurricane of the record-breaking 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, Paulette developed from a tropical wave that left the coast of Africa on September 2. The wave eventually consolidated into a tropical depression on September 7. Paulette fluctuated in intensity over the next few days, due to strong wind shear, initially peaking as a strong tropical storm on September 8. It eventually strengthened into a hurricane early on September 13 as shear decreased. On September 14, Paulette made landfall in northeastern Bermuda as a Category 2 hurricane, while making a gradual turn to the northeast. The cyclone further strengthened as it moved away from the island, reaching its peak intensity with 1-minute sustained winds of 105 mph (169 km/h) and a minimum central atmospheric pressure of 965 mbar (28.5 inHg) on September 14. On the evening of September 15, Paulette began to weaken and undergo extratropical transition, which it completed on September 16. The hurricane's extratropical remnants persisted and moved southward then eastward, and eventually, Paulette regenerated into a tropical storm early on September 20 south of the Azores– which resulted in the U.S National Weather Service coining the phrase "zombie storm" to describe its unusual regeneration. Paulette's second phase proved short-lived, however, as the storm quickly weakened and became post-tropical again two days later. The remnant persisted for several days before dissipating south of the Azores on September 28. In total, Paulette was a tropical cyclone for 11.25 days, and the system had an overall lifespan of 21 days.
Subtropical Storm Alpha was the first subtropical cyclone ever observed to make landfall in mainland Portugal. The twenty-second tropical or subtropical cyclone and twenty-first named storm of the extremely active and record-breaking 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, Alpha originated from a large non-tropical low that was first monitored by the National Hurricane Center on 15 September. Initially not anticipated to transition into a tropical cyclone, the low gradually tracked south-southeastward for several days with little development. By early on 17 September, the low had separated from its frontal features and exhibited sufficient organization to be classified as a subtropical cyclone, as it approached the Iberian Peninsula, becoming a subtropical storm around that time. Alpha then made landfall just south of Figueira da Foz, Portugal during the evening of 18 September, then rapidly weakened as it moved over the mountainous terrain of Northeastern Portugal. The system degenerated into a remnant low on 19 September, when it was last noted.
Tropical Storm Beta was a tropical cyclone that brought heavy rainfall, flooding, and severe weather to the Southeastern United States in September 2020. The twenty-third tropical depression and twenty-third named storm of the record-breaking 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, Beta originally formed from a trough of low pressure that developed in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico on September 10. The low moved slowly southwestward, with development hampered initially by the development of nearby Hurricane Sally. After Sally moved inland over the Southeastern United States and weakened, the disturbance became nearly stationary in the southwestern Gulf, where it began to organize. By September 16, the storm had gained a low-level circulation center and had enough organization to be designated as Tropical Depression Twenty-Two. The system held its intensity for a day due to the influence of strong wind shear and dry air, before eventually attaining tropical storm strength. It slowly moved northward and intensified to a mid-range tropical storm before dry air and wind shear halted its intensification. Beta then became nearly stationary on September 19, before starting to move west towards the Texas coast the next day, weakening as it approached. On September 21, Beta made landfall near Matagorda Peninsula, Texas as a minimal tropical storm. It subsequently weakened to a tropical depression the next day before becoming post-tropical early on September 23. Its remnants moved northeastward, before the center elongated and merged with a cold front early on September 25.
Hurricane Gamma was a tropical cyclone that brought heavy rains, flooding, and landslides to the Yucatán Peninsula in early October 2020. The twenty-fifth depression, twenty-fourth named storm and ninth hurricane of the extremely active 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, Gamma developed from a vigorous tropical wave that had been monitored as it was entering the Eastern Caribbean on September 29. The wave moved westward and slowed down as it moved into the Western Caribbean, where it began to interact with a dissipating cold front. A low formed within the disturbance on October 1 and the next day, it organized into a tropical depression. It further organized into Tropical Storm Gamma early the next day. It continued to intensify and made landfall as a minimal hurricane near Tulum, Mexico, on October 3. It weakened over land before reemerging in the Gulf of Mexico. Gamma then briefly restrengthened some before being blasted by high amounts of wind shear, causing it to weaken again. It made a second landfall as a tropical depression in Nichili, Mexico on October 6 before dissipating as it was absorbed by the approaching Hurricane Delta.
Hurricane Delta was a destructive tropical cyclone that became the record-tying fourth named storm of 2020 to make landfall in Louisiana, as well as the record-breaking tenth named storm to strike the United States in that year. The twenty-sixth tropical cyclone, twenty-fifth named storm, tenth hurricane, and third major hurricane of the record-breaking 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, Delta formed from a tropical wave which was first monitored by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) on October 1. Moving westward, the tropical wave began to quickly organize. A well-defined center of circulation formed with sufficiently organized deep convection on October 4, and was designated as Tropical Depression Twenty-six and soon thereafter, Tropical Storm Delta. Extremely rapid intensification ensued throughout October 5 into October 6, with Delta becoming a Category 4 hurricane within 28 hours of attaining tropical storm status. The rate of intensification was the fastest in the Atlantic basin since Hurricane Wilma in 2005. After peaking in intensity however, an unexpected increase in wind shear and dry air quickly weakened the small storm before it made landfall in Puerto Morelos, Mexico as a Category 2 hurricane with 105 mph (169 km/h) winds. It weakened some more over land before emerging into the Gulf of Mexico, where it was downgraded to a Category 1 hurricane. After that, it began to restrengthen, regaining Category 3 status late on October 8. It then turned northward and reached a secondary peak intensity of 953 mbar (28.14 inHg) and winds of 120 mph early on October 9. Delta then began to turn more north-northeastward into an area of cooler waters, higher wind shear, and dry air, causing it to weaken back to Category 2 status. Delta then made landfall at 23:00 UTC near Creole, Louisiana with winds of 100 mph (160 km/h) and a pressure of 970 mbar (29 inHg). The storm began to weaken more rapidly after landfall, becoming post-tropical just 22 hours later.
Hurricane Zeta was a late-season tropical cyclone in 2020 that made landfall on the Yucatán Peninsula and then in southeastern Louisiana, the latest on record to do so at such strength in the United States. Zeta was the record-tying sixth hurricane of the year to make landfall in the United States. The twenty-seventh named storm, twelfth hurricane and fifth major hurricane of the extremely active 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, Zeta formed from a broad area of low pressure that formed in the western Caribbean Sea on October 19. After battling wind shear, the quasi-stationary low organized into Tropical Depression Twenty-Eight on October 24. The system strengthened into Tropical Storm Zeta early on October 25 before becoming a hurricane the next day as it began to move northwestward. Hurricane Zeta made landfall on the Yucatán Peninsula late on October 26 and weakened while inland to a tropical storm, before moving off the northern coast of the peninsula on October 27. After weakening due to dry air entrainment, Zeta reorganized and became a hurricane again, and eventually a Category 2 hurricane, as it turned northeastward approaching the United States Gulf Coast on October 28. It continued to strengthen until it reached its peak intensity as a major Category 3 hurricane with 115-mile-per-hour (185 km/h) sustained winds and a minimum pressure of 970 mbar (28.64 inHg) as it made landfall at Cocodrie, Louisiana, that evening. Zeta continued on through Mississippi and parts of Alabama with hurricane-force winds. Zeta gradually weakened as it accelerated northeastward, and became post-tropical on October 29, as it moved through central Virginia, dissipating shortly afterwards off the coast of New Jersey. After bringing accumulating snow to parts of New England, the extratropical low-pressure system carrying Zeta's remnant energy impacted the United Kingdom on November 1 and 2.
Hurricane Iota was a devastating late-season tropical cyclone which caused severe damage to areas of Central America already devastated by Hurricane Eta two weeks prior. The 31st and final tropical cyclone, 30th named storm, 14th hurricane, and record-tying seventh major hurricane of the record-breaking 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, Iota originated as a tropical wave that moved into the Eastern Caribbean on 10 November. Over the next few days, the wave began to become better organized and by 13 November, it developed into a tropical depression north of Colombia. The depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Iota six hours later. The storm was initially impacted by some wind shear, but a center relocation and relaxed shear allowed Iota to quickly strengthen into a hurricane on 15 November, after which it underwent explosive intensification, peaking as a high-end Category 4 hurricane, with wind speeds of 155 mph (249 km/h). After weakening slightly, Iota made landfall in northeastern Nicaragua as a mid-range Category 4 hurricane, becoming the strongest recorded hurricane to make landfall in Nicaragua in November. Iota then rapidly weakened as it moved inland, dissipating on 18 November.
In 2024, tropical cyclones have been forming in seven major bodies of water, commonly known as tropical cyclone basins. Tropical cyclones are named by various weather agencies when they attain maximum sustained winds of 35 knots. So far, 119 systems have formed this year, with 83 of them being named. The most intense storm of the year so far is Hurricane Milton, with a minimum barometric pressure of 897 hPa (26.49 inHg). The costliest tropical cyclone so far is Hurricane Helene, with a damage total of at least $113.5 billion, most of which coming from the Southeastern United States. Meanwhile, the deadliest tropical cyclone to date is Typhoon Yagi, which caused at least 844 fatalities in Southeast Asia and South China.
Hurricane Enrique was a Category 1 Pacific hurricane that brought heavy rainfall and flooding to much of western Mexico in late June 2021. The fifth named storm and first hurricane of the 2021 Pacific hurricane season, Enrique developed from a tropical wave the entered the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Nicaragua on June 22. In an environment conducive for intensification, the disturbance moved west-northwestward and developed into a tropical storm by 6:00 UTC on June 25, as it was already producing winds of 40 mph (65 km/h), and received the name Enrique. Enrique strengthened steadily within an environment of warm waters and low-to-moderate wind shear while continuing its northwestward motion. By 12:00 UTC on June 26, Enrique had intensified into a Category 1 hurricane as the storm turned more northwestward. Nearing the coast of Mexico, Enrique reached its peak intensity around 6:00 UTC the following day, with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 972 mbar (28.7 inHg). Enrique, passing closely offshore west-central Mexico, maintained its intensity for another 24 hours as it turned northward toward the Gulf of California. Turning back to the northwest on June 28, increasing wind shear and dry air caused the hurricane to weaken. Enrique dropped to tropical storm status at 18:00 UTC that day, and further weakened to a tropical depression on June 30 just to the northeast of Baja California. The depression was absorbed into a larger low pressure area to the southeast later that day.
Tropical Storm Fred was a tropical cyclone which affected much of the Greater Antilles and the Southeastern United States in August 2021. The sixth tropical storm of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season, Fred originated from a tropical wave first noted by the National Hurricane Center on August 4. As the wave drifted westward, advisories were initiated on the wave as a potential tropical cyclone by August 9 as it was approaching the Leeward Islands. Entering the Eastern Caribbean Sea after a close pass to Dominica by the next day, the potential tropical cyclone continued northwestward. By August 11, the disturbance had formed into Tropical Storm Fred just south of Puerto Rico, shortly before hitting the Dominican Republic on the island of Hispaniola later that day. The storm proceeded to weaken to a tropical depression over the highly mountainous island, before emerging north of the Windward Passage on August 12. The disorganized tropical depression turned to the west and made a second landfall in Northern Cuba on August 13. After having its circulation continuously disrupted by land interaction and wind shear, the storm degenerated into a tropical wave as it was turning northward near the western tip of Cuba the following day. Continuing north, the remnants of Fred quickly re-organized over the Gulf of Mexico, regenerating into a tropical storm by August 15. Fred continued towards the Florida Panhandle and swiftly intensified to a strong 65 mph (105 km/h) tropical storm before making landfall late on August 16 and moving into the state of Georgia. Afterward, Fred continued moving north-northeastward, before degenerating into an extratropical low on August 18. Fred's remnants later turned eastward, and the storm's remnants dissipated on August 20, near the coast of Massachusetts.
Hurricane Grace was the strongest tropical cyclone to make landfall in the Mexican state of Veracruz. Grace impacted much of the Leeward Islands and Greater Antilles as a tropical storm, before causing more substantial impacts in the Yucatán Peninsula and Veracruz as a hurricane. It was the seventh named storm, second hurricane, and first major hurricane of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season. Originating from a tropical wave in the Main Development Region, the primitive system tracked west-northwest across the Atlantic Ocean towards the Antilles, becoming a tropical depression on August 14. It strengthened into Tropical Storm Grace later the same day, but weakened back to a depression due to an unfavorable environment. After moving near Haiti as a tropical depression, it strengthened back to a tropical storm and became a hurricane on August 18, reaching an initial peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a pressure of 986 mbar (29.12 inHg). It weakened back to a tropical storm after its landfall in the Yucatán Peninsula and emerged into the Bay of Campeche, entering a very favorable environment for intensification hours later. Grace then rapidly intensified into a Category 3 hurricane with winds of 120 mph (190 km/h) in about 24 hours. The storm made its final landfall in the state of Veracruz at peak intensity and quickly degenerated into a remnant low over mainland Mexico on August 21; however, its remnants later regenerated into Tropical Storm Marty in the Eastern Pacific on August 23.