Number of Atlantic Tropical Cyclones by Month (1851-2018)

Number of Atlantic Tropical Cyclones by Month 1851 2018

Source: NOAA Hurricane Research Division.

The northern Atlantic is an area of hurricane activity mainly impacting the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Eastern Seaboard. Atlantic tropical cyclones usually emerge in the mid The month of September represents peak cyclone activity over two dimensions, the first being the largest number of occurrences and the second being the largest share of hurricanes in relation to tropical cyclones, close to 40%. During that month, there are, on average, 2.4 hurricanes and 3.6 tropical storms each year, for a total of 6.08 events. This implies that there are, on average, 5.4 hurricanes per year, of which 1.75 will make landfall in the United States. Therefore, the closer to the peak activity month of September, the more cyclones and the probability of a hurricane.

Each time such an event takes place, transportation systems, from air travel to public transit, are impacted by closures and diversions. With the growth of cruises in the Caribbean, hurricanes can disrupt itineraries, even more so if a hurricane passes over a turn port such as Miami, Fort Lauderdale, San Juan, or Galveston, which are all in high-risk areas.