The 2025 Atlantic hurricane Season runs from June 1 through November 30. Throughout the season, the U.S.
By Communications and Publishing May 29, 2025
The 2025 Atlantic hurricane Season runs from June 1 through November 30. Throughout the season, the U.S. Geological Survey is prepared to aid coastal and inland communities by informing critical decisions before, during, and after hurricanes, which can help save lives and protect property.
Forecasters predict an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season this year. There is a 30 percent chance of a near-normal season, a 60 percent chance of an above-normal season, and a 10 percent chance of a below-normal season, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Prediction Center’s 2025 Atlantic hurricane season forecast. NOAA anticipates 13 to 19 named storms with winds of 39 mph or higher; six to 10 of those may become hurricanes with winds of 74 mph or higher, and three to five could become major hurricanes with winds of 111 mph or higher.
When a hurricane or tropical storm is expected to hit the U.S. or its territories, the USGS offers a wide range of scientific capabilities and tools to help decision-makers, emergency managers, and communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from the storm’s impacts.
These capabilities include the following:
- Forecasting coastal changes
- Tracking storm surges and coastal flooding
- Measuring river levels and flow to assess inland flooding
- Determining flood heights and areas of inundation
- Identifying and mapping landslides and potential landslide hazard areas
- Coordinating access to hazard data, tools, imagery, elevation data and essential maps
- Estimating where non-native aquatic species spread by floodwaters
The extensive reach of USGS hurricane science not only equips emergency managers and decision-makers with accurate and timely information, but also supports local, state, and federal agencies as they respond to storms this season and for years to come.
“With each storm that approaches, lessons learned from past hurricanes increase our knowledge for the future,” said Athena Clark, USGS Coastal Storm Team leader. “As our understanding of hurricane impacts continues to grow, so too does the USGS’s ability to provide valuable science that helps safeguard people and property, enhance recovery efforts, and strengthen communities’ resilience in the face of future storms.”
Before the Storm: Coastal change Forecasting and Sensor Deployments
In the days leading up to a hurricane, USGS coastal change experts use models like the Coastal Change Hazard Forecast and the Total Water Level and Coastal Change Forecast Viewer to forecast storm impacts on sandy beaches and dunes. When storm surge and waves erode dunes, coastal communities and infrastructure behind the dunes can be exposed to flooding risks. As storms approach, scientists forecast coastal changes to assess erosion and flooding threats. These forecasts assist emergency managers in making vital decisions regarding evacuation routes, road usage, and pre-positioning cleanup equipment.
“USGS coastal change experts are incorporating new elevation data from areas impacted last year by Hurricanes Helene and Milton on Florida’s west coast,” said Kara Doran, a USGS oceanographer and leader of the Coastal Change Hazards Storm Team. “Feeding this information into our models will help us provide the most accurate coastal change forecasts this hurricane season.”
Section of Sanibel Island before Hurricane Ian
Section of Sanibel Island after Hurricane Ian
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Another important piece of the USGS’s pre-storm work is installing scientific instruments along the coast to measure a storm’s impacts.
Video Transcript
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Depending on the predicted timing of a storm’s landfall, USGS field crews often deploy storm-tide sensors along the coast within a hurricane’s projected path. Storm tide, caused by strong winds and tidal changes, can rapidly elevate water levels, leading to flooding and drowning risks. These sensors collect crucial information on storm surges, wave heights, and coastal flooding, improving future storm models and enhancing warning accuracy for communities.
As a hurricane approaches, dozens of specialized storm-tide sensors may be deployed along at-risk coastlines. Attached to resilient structures, such as bridges and piers, these devices gather data on surge, wave height and frequency, and flooding intensity.
“This isn’t just data collection; it’s a lifeline for communities,” said Clark, highlighting how the information collected by storm tide sensors helps inform relief agencies like the Federal Emergency Management Agency to target their efforts in the hardest hit areas.
The value of storm-tide sensor data extends long after hurricane season ends. This information can be used to design structures that better withstand future floods, assess the effectiveness of dunes and wetlands in reducing storm damage, and inform land-use practices and building codes that lead to more resilient coastal communities
Storm tide sensor data for current or past storms can be viewed on the USGS Flood Event Viewer.
