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Track The Tropics has been the #1 source to track the tropics 24/7 since 2013! The main goal of the site is to bring all of the important links and graphics to ONE PLACE so you can keep up to date on any threats to land during the Atlantic Hurricane Season! Hurricane Season 2024 in the Atlantic starts on June 1st and ends on November 30th. Do you love Spaghetti Models? Well you've come to the right place!! Remember when you're preparing for a storm: Run from the water; hide from the wind!

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
Category Wind Speed Storm Surge
  mph ft
5 ≥157 >18
4 130–156 13–18
3 111–129 9–12
2 96–110 6–8
1 74–95 4–5
Additional Classifications
Tropical Storm 39–73 0–3
Tropical Depression 0–38 0
The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is a classification used for most Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of "tropical depressions" and "tropical storms", and thereby become hurricanes. Source: Intellicast

Hurricane Season 101

The official Atlantic Basin Hurricane Season runs from June 1st to November 30th.

A tropical cyclone is a warm-core, low pressure system without any “front” attached. It develops over tropical or subtropical waters, and has an organized circulation. Depending upon location, tropical cyclones have different names around the world. The Tropical Cyclones we track in the Atlantic basin are called Tropical Depressions, Tropical Storms and Hurricanes!

Atlantic Basin Tropical Cyclones are classified as follows:

Tropical Depression: Organized system of clouds and thunderstorms with defined surface circulation and max sustained winds of 38 mph or less.

Tropical Storm: Organized system of strong thunderstorms with a defined surface circulation and maximum sustained winds of 39-73 mph.

Hurricane: Intense tropical weather system of strong thunderstorms with a well-defined surface circulation. A Hurricane has max sustained winds of 74 mph or higher!

The difference between Tropical Storm and Hurricane Watches, Warnings, Advisories and Outlooks

Warnings:Listen closely to instructions from local officials on TV, radio, cell phones or other computers for instructions from local officials.Evacuate immediately if told to do so.

  • Storm Surge Warning: There is a danger of life-threatening inundation from rising water moving inland from the shoreline somewhere within the specified area. This is generally within 36 hours. If you are under a storm surge warning, check for evacuation orders from your local officials.
  • Hurricane Warning: Hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 mph or greater) are expected somewhere within the specified area. NHC issues a hurricane warning 36 hours in advance of tropical storm-force winds to give you time to complete your preparations. All preparations should be complete. Evacuate immediately if so ordered.
  • Tropical Storm Warning: Tropical storm conditions (sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph) are expected within your area within 36 hours.
  • Extreme Wind Warning: Extreme sustained winds of a major hurricane (115 mph or greater), usually associated with the eyewall, are expected to begin within an hour. Take immediate shelter in the interior portion of a well-built structure.

Please note that hurricane and tropical storm watches and warnings for winds on land as well as storm surge watches and warnings can be issued for storms that the NWS believes will become tropical cyclones but have not yet attained all of the characteristics of a tropical cyclone (i.e., a closed low-level circulation, sustained thunderstorm activity, etc.). In these cases, the forecast conditions on land warrant alerting the public. These storms are referred to as “potential tropical cyclones” by the NWS.
Hurricane, tropical storm, and storm surge watches and warnings can also be issued for storms that have lost some or all of their tropical cyclone characteristics, but continue to produce dangerous conditions. These storms are called “post-tropical cyclones” by the NWS.

Watches: Listen closely to instructions from local officials on TV, radio, cell phones or other computers for instructions from local officials. Evacuate if told to do so.

  • Storm Surge Watch: Storm here is a possibility of life-threatening inundation from rising water moving inland from the shoreline somewhere within the specified area, generally within 48 hours. If you are under a storm surge watch, check for evacuation orders from your local officials.
  • Hurricane Watch: Huriricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 mph or greater) are possible within your area. Because it may not be safe to prepare for a hurricane once winds reach tropical storm force, The NHC issues hurricane watches 48 hours before it anticipates tropical storm-force winds.
  • Tropical Storm Watch: Tropical storm conditions (sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph) are possible within the specified area within 48 hours.

Advisories:

  • Tropical Cyclone Public Advisory:The Tropical Cyclone Public Advisory contains a list of all current coastal watches and warnings associated with an ongoing or potential tropical cyclone, a post-tropical cyclone, or a subtropical cyclone. It also provides the cyclone position, maximum sustained winds, current motion, and a description of the hazards associated with the storm.
  • Tropical Cyclone Track Forecast Cone:This graphic shows areas under tropical storm and hurricane watches and warnings, the current position of the center of the storm, and its predicted track. Forecast uncertainty is conveyed on the graphic by a “cone” (white and stippled areas) drawn such that the center of the storm will remain within the cone about 60 to 70 percent of the time. Remember, the effects of a tropical cyclone can span hundreds of miles. Areas well outside of the cone often experience hazards such as tornadoes or inland flooding from heavy rain.

Outlooks:

  • Tropical Weather Outlook:The Tropical Weather Outlook is a discussion of significant areas of disturbed weather and their potential for development during the next 5 days. The Outlook includes a categorical forecast of the probability of tropical cyclone formation during the first 48 hours and during the entire 5-day forecast period. You can also find graphical versions of the 2-day and 5-day Outlook here

Be sure to read up on tons of more information on Hurricane knowledge, preparedness, statistics and history under the menu on the left hand side of the page!

TrackTheTropics Resource Links

CONUS Hurricane Strikes

1950-2017
[Map of 1950-2017 CONUS Hurricane Strikes]
Total Hurricane Strikes 1900-2010 Total Hurricane Strikes 1900-2010 Total MAJOR Hurricane Strikes 1900-2010 Total Major Hurricane Strikes 1900-2010 Western Gulf Hurricane Strikes Western Gulf Hurricane Strikes Western Gulf MAJOR Hurricane Strikes Western Gulf Major Hurricane Strikes Eastern Gulf Hurricane Strikes Eastern Gulf Hurricane Strikes Eastern Gulf MAJOR Hurricane Strikes Eastern Gulf Major Hurricane Strikes SE Coast Hurricane Strikes SE Coast Hurricane Strikes SE Coast MAJOR Hurricane Strikes SE Coast Major Hurricane Strikes NE Coast Hurricane Strikes NE Coast Hurricane Strikes NE Coast MAJOR Hurricane Strikes NE Coast Major Hurricane Strikes

2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season Forecasts

The 2021 hurricane season begins June 1st!

April 28, 2021 – The official start of the 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season is now a month away and just like in 2020 MOST major organizations are forecasting an ABOVE AVERAGE ACTIVE Season! The only organization not forecasting an above average season is PSU. I will cover these […]

2020 Hurricane Season Forecasts

– Published April 30, 2020 – Updated: May 9, 2020 (Accuweather update) – Updated: May 21, 2020 (NOAA Forecast below)

The 2020 hurricane season begins June 1st!

May 1st, 2020 – The official start of the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season is now a month away and ALL major organizations are forecasting an ABOVE AVERAGE ACTIVE […]

2019 Active Hurricane Season Comes To An End

The 2019 Season has offically come to an end. The Season as far as numbers go was an active above average one. It was marked by tropical activity that churned busily from mid-August through October. The season produced 18 named storms, including six hurricanes of which three were “major” (Category 3, 4 or 5). NOAA’s […]

2019 Hurricane Season Forecasts

The 2019 hurricane season begins June 1st!

Before the 2018 hurricane season started, Most forecasting groups called for a below-average season due to cooler than normal sea surface temperatures in the tropical Atlantic and the anticipated development of an El Niño. However, the anticipated El Niño failed to develop in time to suppress activity, and […]

2018 Atlantic Hurricane Season Officially Ends

2018 Hurricane Season Tracking Map

The 2018 Atlantic hurricane season is OVER! Despite almost all major forecasting groups calling for a BELOW average season this year was actually an ABOVE average season and was the third consecutive above-average damaging season. These groups were banking on cooler than normal sea surface temperatures in the tropical Atlantic and the anticipated development of […]

2018 Hurricane Season Forecasts

2018 Hurricane Season Forecasts

The 2018 hurricane season begins June 1.

Most initial forecasts project that the number of storms will be above average, and several forecasts indicate an above-average likelihood that a major hurricane will make landfall in the Caribbean, the Gulf Coast, or the US East Coast. For residents still picking up after the hurricanes Harvey, Irma, […]

3 new changes for the 2018 Hurricane Season

1.) Annual update to the track forecast error cone.

One of the biggest changes this hurricane season will be adjustments to the NHC’s hurricane track map, or what most people call “The Cone of Uncertainty”. The cone will shrink.

The size of the tropical cyclone track forecast error cone for the Atlantic basin will be […]

5 Major Changes In 2017 Coming to Hurricane Season Forecasts

5 major changes and improvements coming to the 2017 Hurricane Season Forecasts

As the 2017 Hurricane Season approaches the NHC has announced 5 major changes coming in 2017, with some of the improvements having been in the works for decades!

1.) The Issuing Of Watches, Warnings and Advisories Before Storms Even Form.

The NHC will issue advisories for systems that have yet to develop but pose a […]

Still Watching For Possible Tropical Development In Gulf Between June 5th and June 10th…

***MODEL WATCH*** Good afternoon y’all!! For the past couple weeks I have been talking about a possible storm in the Gulf at the beginning of June to start the 2014 Hurricane Season and models still continue to show this possibility…

Here is the latest GFS that just ran today 5-30-14 12Z showing a possible […]

Continuing to Monitor The NW Carribbean For Possible Development…

***MODEL WATCH 5-26-14*** The GFS, FIM and CMC today continue to show development coming out of the Caribbean somewhere between June 2nd – 6th timeframe. The CMC today is the most aggressive showing a possible Tropical Storm in the Gulf June 3rd an…d the GFS just showing a disturbance/depression at most. Right now with models […]

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Tropical Intensity Index

Tropical Intensity Index

Saharan Air Layer (Dry Air)

Saharan Air Layer (SAL)
Saharan Air Layer (SAL)

Current Sea Surface Tempatures


t Sea Surface Temps

Sea Surface Temperature Anomaly


Sea Surface Temperature Analomy

Tropical Cyclone Heat Potential

Wind Shear
Wind Shear
Tropical Cyclone Heat Potential

Current Wind Shear


Wind Shear
Wind Shear

Shear Tendency Past 24 Hours


Wind Shear

Vertical Wind Shear

Vertical Wind Shear
Vertical Wind Shear

Current Wind Direction

ASCAT Data (Ascending/Descending)


Ascending ASCAT

Descending ASCAT

Atlantic Sea Height / Waves

Atlantic Sea Height / Waves
Atlantic Sea Height / Waves

Global / Atlantic Wave Heights

Atlantic Wave Heights Atlantic Wave Heights Atlantic Wave Heights