Guide to the 2022 hurricane season in the United States
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts an above-average Atlantic hurricane season in 2022, making it the 7th consecutive year that hurricane activity is expected to be above normal.
Pat Howard is a managing editor and licensed home insurance expert at Policygenius, where he specializes in homeowners insurance. His work and expertise has been featured in MarketWatch, Real Simple, Fox Business, VentureBeat, This Old House, Investopedia, Fatherly, Lifehacker, Better Homes & Garden, Property Casualty 360, and elsewhere.
The official Atlantic hurricane season is June 1st to November 30th each year, with maximum hurricane activity occurring in early- to mid-September. Although it is possible for a hurricane to form during any month of the year, just 3% of these storms occur outside of hurricane season, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). [1]
Key takeaways
Hurricane season runs June through November every year, with August through October being the peak months for tropical cyclone events.
The 2022 hurricane season is expected to be more active than normal, meaning there will be a greater frequency of storms than the century average.
Be sure to review your home and flood insurance policies before or early in hurricane season.
Many insurance companies won’t let coastal residents in impacted states update or purchase coverage once a tropical storm is officially named by the National Hurricane Center.
The NOAA is predicting another above average hurricane season. [2] Below are the predictions for the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season:
Around 14 to 21 named storms
Around six to 10 of those could become hurricanes (wind speeds of 74 mph or higher)
Around three to six major hurricanes — Category 3, 4, or 5 (wind speeds of 111 mph or higher)
The 2021 Atlantic hurricane season was the third most active in history, with 21 named storms and seven hurricanes making landfall. [3] This means the 2022 season may be on par with 2021, or slightly worse or better.
Experts at the NOAA point to the ongoing La Niña conditions (cooling of the eastern and central Pacific), warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, and weaker tropical Atlantic trade winds as the reasons behind another above-normal hurricane season. [4] If you live close to the Atlantic or Gulf Coast, make sure to prepare your home and review your homeowners insurance well in advance of a hurricane threat.
Which months have the most hurricanes?
August through October are considered the peak months during hurricane season. Around 78% of tropical storm days, 87% of minor hurricane days, and 96% of the major hurricane days occur during those months, with early to mid-September being the most active time for tropical storms, according to the NOAA.
Before hurricane season gets into high gear, be sure to double check your home and flood insurance policies and make any necessary changes before a storm rolls through. Changes you may want to make before or early on in hurricane season include:
Lowering your windstorm, named storm, or hurricane deductible to an amount you can better afford
Purchasing a separate windstorm insurance policy if wind and hail are excluded from your homeowners insurance
Purchasing a flood insurance policy or endorsement
You’re generally able to update and purchase new lines of coverage during hurricane season, but insurers are less lenient when a tropical storm is moving toward your state.
Once a hurricane warning is issued by your state, it's common for insurance companies to issue moratoriums on updating or purchasing coverage, which means you won’t be able to adjust, add, or purchase coverage or additional policies until after the storm has passed. For that reason, it’s important to review and update your insurance policies well in advance of a hurricane threat.
Take a deeper dive into hurricane season in different states across the U.S.
Homeowners insurance covers your home and personal belongings if they’re damaged by hurricane winds, but generally won’t cover any flood damage caused by hurricane storm surge. If you live in a coastal flood zone, you’ll need flood insurance to fully protect your home and belongings from hurricane damage. Residents in high-risk areas of Texas may also have a wind exclusion in their home insurance policies. If that’s the case, you’ll need a separate windstorm insurance policy to supplement that gap in coverage.
When is hurricane season in Florida?
Hurricane season in Florida is the same as the rest of the continental U.S. — June through November with peak activity in early to mid-September.
Do I need separate hurricane insurance?
While it would be convenient for coastal residents if such an insurance product existed, unfortunately there isn’t an all-in-one hurricane insurance policy. However, by combining home, flood, and — when applicable — windstorm insurance, you can fully protect your house against catastrophic hurricane damage.
References
Policygenius uses external sources, including government data, industry studies, and reputable news organizations to supplement proprietary marketplace data and internal expertise. Learn more about how we use and vet external sources as part of our
Pat Howard is a managing editor and licensed home insurance expert at Policygenius, where he specializes in homeowners insurance. His work and expertise has been featured in MarketWatch, Real Simple, Fox Business, VentureBeat, This Old House, Investopedia, Fatherly, Lifehacker, Better Homes & Garden, Property Casualty 360, and elsewhere.
