Weather Quiz

 

A fall day in the nation's capital

True or False.

If 2025 finishes as a drier than average year, it would be DC’s third consecutive year with below average rainfall. That’s something that hasn’t happened in over 20 years.

2025 Atlantic hurricane benchmarks

 

Hurricane Humberto, September 2025 (Source: NOAA)

The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season has already featured nine tropical storms and three hurricanes. While none of the hurricanes made landfall, the United States did feel indirect impacts from Hurricane Erin with rip currents and coastal erosion up and down the East Coast.

Several notable benchmarks have been set this hurricane season. The three hurricanes so far – Erin, Gabrielle and Humberto – were each major hurricanes. That’s the first time since 1935 the first three hurricanes of the Atlantic season were major ones.  A “major” hurricane is defined as a Category 3 or greater on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, with sustained winds of at least 111 mph.

Hurricanes Erin and Humberto became Category 5 storms. That made last season and this season (2024-2025) the first time two Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes occurred in consecutive years since 1932-1933.

Category 5 hurricanes only form under the rarest of circumstances. However, they have occurred more recently over the last decade with 12 in the Atlantic Ocean. There has been at least one Category 5 hurricane during every season over the last nine years, except 2020 and 2021. For example, Hurricane Michael was a Category 5 storm when it made landfall in the United States in 2018. Also, 2022’s Hurricane Ian was just under Category 5 strength when it made landfall in Florida.

The current period of more frequent Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes is similar to a period from 2003 – 2007. A total of eight occurred during that five-year period and included storms like Isabel, Ivan, Katrina and Rita. Although none were Category 5 storms at their respective times of landfall, they were still destructive and deadly. 

In conclusion, Hurricanes Erin and Humberto combined to make this season one of only eight in the last century that multiple Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes have developed.

Dangerous tropical storms on the rise

 

Hurricane Erin, August 2025 (Source: NOAA)

The tropical Atlantic has become markedly busier since Gabrielle was named a tropical storm on September 17. That followed a multi-week stretch of no tropical activity. Prior to Gabrielle, the Atlantic had been without a named storm since Tropical Storm Fernand dissipated on August 28.

Gabrielle, meanwhile, became the second hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. At peak intensity in the central Atlantic, Hurricane Gabrielle reached Category 4 status with 140 mph sustained winds and a minimum central air pressure of 948 millibars (mb). This followed Hurricane Erin last month that was a Category 5 at peak intensity. This season was the first since 2011 that the initial two Atlantic hurricanes both became major, Category 3 storms.  Fortunately, neither Erin or Gabrielle had any direct impacts on the United States.

Starting with Gabrielle the tropical Atlantic has gotten much busier. Not only did Humberto reach hurricane status this morning, but an area of disturbed weather near the Bahamas is also expected to become Tropical Storm Imelda in the next few days. There is a great deal of uncertainty between how strong these systems could get and where they ultimately will track.

There have been other seasons where late-September and October were very busy. Last season was a good example with catastrophic Hurricanes Helene in late-September followed by Milton in October. Both storms rank among the Top 15 costliest hurricanes in the United States, according to NOAA.

October has also featured other very intense hurricanes such as 2005’s Hurricane Wilma which set a new record for strongest Atlantic hurricane on record (882 mb). Hurricane Milton was also a Category 5 storm last October and tied for fourth lowest air pressure (895 mb). Air pressure is considered a more accurate measure of hurricane intensity than wind speed. Although Hurricanes Milton and Wilma each had significant impacts in the United States, they fortunately weakened below Category 5 intensity prior to landfall. Each of these storms had their names retired by the World Meteorological Organization for being both destructive and deadly. 

While the tropical Atlantic was quiet throughout the first half of month, the hurricane season isn’t over yet. It’s vital to listen to your local authorities should your area be threatened by any tropical storm or hurricane.