The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30 each year, with maximum hurricane activity occurring in early- to mid-September. While 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 2023 hurricane season is expected to be less active than normal for the first time in seven years.
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.
Explore related topics
Compare home insurance quotes in hurricane-prone areas
Read more
Home insurance calculator: Estimate costs in coastal areas
Read more
Best flood insurance companies of 2023
Read more
Is 2023 going to be a bad hurricane season?
Going into the 2023 hurricane season, Tropical Storm Risk (TSR) — one of the industry’s watched hurricane forecasting teams — is predicting a season that's 15% below the 30-year norm. [2]
Below are the TSR predictions for the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season:
Around 13 named storms
Around 6 of those could become hurricanes (wind speeds of 74 mph or higher)
Around 3 major hurricanes — Category 3, 4, or 5 (wind speeds of 111 mph or higher)
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.
Hurricane season and insurance moratoriums
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:
Enhancing your home insurance dwelling coverage by adding extended or guaranteed replacement cost coverage to your policy
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.
Frequently asked questions
Does home insurance cover hurricanes?
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.
Author
Pat Howard
Managing Editor & Licensed Home Insurance Expert
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.
Editor
Jennifer Gimbel is a senior managing editor and home insurance expert at Policygenius, where she oversees our homeowners insurance coverage. Previously, she was the managing editor at Finder.com and a content strategist at Babble.com.
Expert reviewer
Britta M. Moss, CPCU, SCLA, AIC-M, has over 25 years of insurance industry experience. In her work as a property and casualty claim consultant, she provides consultation and expert witness services in claim handling standards, practices, and norms. She has been retained by law firms representing plaintiffs and those representing insurer defendants involved in disputes or litigation regarding coverage analysis, investigation, liability determination, damage evaluation, negotiation and settlement. She is a graduate of The Ohio State University.
Questions about this page? Email us at editorial@policygenius.com.