SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — Hurricane season officially begins at the beginning of June, with an above-average season anticipated by one leading hurricane forecasting organization. Numerous events are being planned in the region to help residents prepare.
READ MORE: Brunswick County dog rescue plans storm shelter amid increased flooding concerns
For 42 years, Colorado State University’s hurricane researchers assess expected annual activity for hurricane season, which runs June 1 through Nov. 30. This year includes 17 named storms, up from the average of 14.4 between 1991 and 2020. Nine are suspected to become hurricanes, also up from 7.2 in the same 19-year timeline, four of which are anticipated to become major hurricanes, meaning a Cat 3 or higher.
“It takes only one storm near you to make this an active season for you,” said Michael Bell, one of the authors of CSU’s report.
Before a wave formed off the west coast of Africa on Monday, there had been little spring activity, an anomaly as normally three-and-a-half cyclones have formed by now. The slow start follows previous years 1973, 1983, 1984, 1998 and 2024, according to CSU meteorologist Phil Klotzbach. Still, 2024 ranked as one of the most active and third costliest hurricane seasons — $500 billion in damage and economic loss, according to AccuWeather — behind 2017 and 2005.
CSU’s 2025 predictions were released last month but will be updated as the season gets underway, on June 11, July 9, and Aug 6. Peak season is mid-September, with waters in the Atlantic significantly warmed through summer months to further fuel hurricanes.
NOAA’s historical hurricane track tool can be found here for residents to follow storms. It’s also a good time to replenish a hurricane kit, to include:
- First-aid kit
- Week’s worth of food, particularly nonperishables, and manual can-opener
- Weather radio and batteries
- Battery-powered light sources
- Prescription medicines
- Sleeping bag or blankets
- Change of clothes
- Hygiene items such as toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and deodorant
- Cash
- Pet supplies including food, water, bedding, leashes, muzzle and vaccination records
- Face masks and hand-sanitizer
In Leland, a Hurricane Expo will be hosted on Saturday, June 14, 10 a.m.to 2 p.m., at the Leland Cultural Center. A sample hurricane kit will be shared and suggestions will be offered on how to personalize a kit.
The Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) team from the Cooperative Extension in Brunswick County also is encouraging nutrition and food safety to be considered with hurricane meal kits. This includes developing a plan, shopping list and collecting recipes and shelf-stable foods — this means items that can be kept despite power outages and lack of refrigeration.
The Family and Consumer Science team is hosting classes — pre-registration open at the libraries — on safe hurricane meal kits for free to the public:
• June 6, 10 a.m. till 11 a.m. | Barbee Library, Oak Island
• June 10, 10 a.m. till 11 a.m. | Southwest Library, Carolina Shores
• June 24, 11 a.m. till noon | Rourke Library, Shallotte
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