Hurricane season in Florida runs from June 1 through November 30 every year, and the climatological peak falls on September 10. For Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach, the dangerous stretch is mid-August to late October, when nearly every major hurricane in our history has arrived.
The short answer, with dates
The Atlantic hurricane season is set by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Hurricane Center. The dates have been June 1 to November 30 since 1965, and they cover roughly 97 percent of all tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic basin.
Those six months are not equal. June and July storms tend to be weak and form close to home in the Gulf or western Caribbean. August flips the switch, September is the big month, and October stays dangerous for South Florida specifically because late-season storms often come at us from the southwest.
If you search “when florida hurricane season” or “hurricane season fl” in May, the practical answer is: you have a few weeks to buy shutters, fill prescriptions and learn your evacuation zone before the odds start climbing.
Month by month for South Florida
Here is how the season usually behaves, with the storms that locals still talk about.
| Month | Typical activity | Where storms usually form | South Florida examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| June | Low, mostly tropical storms | Gulf of Mexico, western Caribbean | Tropical Storm Alex, June 2022 (flooded Miami streets) |
| July | Low to moderate | Gulf, Caribbean, occasional Atlantic | Hurricane Dennis, July 2005 (passed west of the Keys) |
| August | Rising sharply | Main Development Region off Africa | Andrew, Aug 24, 1992 (Cat 5, Homestead); Katrina, Aug 25, 2005 (Cat 1, Miami-Dade and Broward) |
| September | Peak | Atlantic long-trackers and Caribbean | Irma, Sept 10, 2017; Frances, Sept 5, 2004; Jeanne, Sept 26, 2004; Dorian, Sept 2019 (stalled off Palm Beach) |
| October | Still high for South Florida | Western Caribbean, Gulf | Wilma, Oct 24, 2005 (Cat 3 across Broward and Palm Beach); Matthew, Oct 2016 (skirted the coast) |
| November | Low but not zero | Caribbean | Eta, Nov 2020 (Broward flooding); Nicole, Nov 10, 2022 (Cat 1 near Vero Beach) |
Notice the pattern. Andrew, Katrina and Charley were August storms, Frances, Jeanne and Irma were September, and Wilma was late October. South Florida’s worst month is not always September; October storms crossing from the Gulf side, as Wilma did, have hit Broward and Palm Beach harder than anything from the open Atlantic in recent memory.
Why September 10 is the peak
Three ingredients line up in early September: ocean water at its warmest after a full summer, low wind shear across the tropical Atlantic, and the strongest train of tropical waves rolling off Africa. Those waves become the long-track “Cape Verde” hurricanes that give forecasters a week of warning but also grow into Category 4 and 5 monsters.
NOAA’s 30-year averages (1991 to 2020) for the Atlantic basin are 14 named storms, 7 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes per season. Roughly half of a normal season’s named storms form in August and September alone. Each May, NOAA publishes a seasonal outlook based on factors like El Niño or La Niña, Atlantic sea surface temperatures and the West African monsoon, and updates it in August. We treat those outlooks as background noise. A below-normal year can still produce the one storm that matters; Andrew came in a quiet 1992.
Storm categories and what the numbers mean
Tropical cyclones are classified by sustained wind speed. Only hurricanes get a Saffir-Simpson category, and “major” means Category 3 or higher.
| Classification | Sustained winds | What it means in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical depression | Up to 38 mph | Rain and flooding, little wind damage |
| Tropical storm | 39 to 73 mph | Downed branches, scattered outages, flooded low spots |
| Category 1 hurricane | 74 to 95 mph | Roof and siding damage, outages lasting days |
| Category 2 hurricane | 96 to 110 mph | Major roof damage, trees snapped, outages of a week or more |
| Category 3 (major) | 111 to 129 mph | Structural damage, water and power out for weeks |
| Category 4 (major) | 130 to 156 mph | Severe damage, areas uninhabitable for weeks or months |
| Category 5 (major) | 157 mph and up | Catastrophic; most homes destroyed (Andrew, 1992) |
Wind category tells you about roofs. It says nothing about water. Storm surge and inland flooding cause most hurricane deaths in the United States, which is why coastal evacuation zones in all three counties are drawn by surge risk, not wind.
Watches, warnings and the cone
The National Hurricane Center issues watches and warnings from its office on the Florida International University campus in west Miami-Dade. We have the forecasters next door, so there is no excuse for relying on a screenshot from a group chat.
| Alert | Timing | What we do |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical storm or hurricane watch | Conditions possible within 48 hours | Finish supplies, fuel cars, decide on evacuation |
| Tropical storm or hurricane warning | Conditions expected within 36 hours | Shutters up, evacuate if ordered, stay off roads before winds arrive |
| Storm surge watch | Life-threatening surge possible within 48 hours | Check your zone, plan to leave coastal areas |
| Storm surge warning | Surge expected within 36 hours | Leave if your zone is called |
The forecast cone shows where the storm’s center is likely to track. It does not show the size of the storm, and impacts routinely extend 100 miles or more from the center. Irma’s center crossed the Keys and Marco Island, yet Palm Beach County still lost power for days.
Hurricane names
Names come from six rotating lists managed by the World Meteorological Organization, so the list used this year returns in six years. Names of especially deadly or costly storms are retired. The Florida retirements read like a timeline: Andrew (1992), Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne (2004), Dennis, Katrina and Wilma (2005), Irma (2017), Michael (2018), Ian (2022), and Beryl, Helene and Milton (2024). The 21-name list skips Q, U, X, Y and Z, and if it runs out, forecasters move to a supplemental list rather than the Greek alphabet used in 2020.
How we prepare before June 1
Quick steps: get ready before the season starts
- Look up your evacuation zone on your county emergency management site.
- Sign up for county alerts and the Florida Division of Emergency Management texts.
- Stock seven days of water (one gallon per person per day) and non-perishable food.
- Test shutters or impact windows; replace missing wing nuts and tracks.
- Photograph your home and belongings for insurance; check your policy’s hurricane deductible.
- Refill 30-day prescriptions and register with the county special needs program if needed.
- Fuel vehicles and charge power banks once a watch is issued.
What you need
- Government ID and insurance documents in a waterproof bag
- Cash, since card readers fail without power
- Battery or hand-crank radio tuned to NOAA Weather Radio
- Flashlights, batteries, phone power banks
- Tarps, duct tape, basic tools
- Pet food, carriers and vaccination records for pet-friendly shelters
Florida usually runs a disaster preparedness sales tax holiday around the start of the season. Dates and eligible items change year to year, so confirm them on the Florida Department of Revenue site before you shop.
Good to know
After a storm, unlicensed contractors and roofers knock on doors across Miami-Dade and Broward. Check any license on the Florida DBPR site, never pay in full up front, and know that assignment-of-benefits roofing deals have burned many homeowners.
Evacuation zones in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach
Each county publishes a lettered evacuation zone map and orders evacuations by zone when surge threatens. Barrier islands (Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale beach, Palm Beach, the Keys) and low-lying areas near Biscayne Bay and the Intracoastal go first. Living in a new concrete high-rise does not exempt you; elevators and water pumps stop when power fails.
Shelters open by county decision, not automatically, and the open list changes storm by storm. The county emergency management site and local TV carry the current list. Pet-friendly and special needs shelters require advance registration in all three counties, so do it in May, not during a warning.
Local tip
Residents of Miami-Dade and Broward live in the Florida Building Code’s High Velocity Hurricane Zone, which is why newer homes already have impact glass or shutters. If you rent, ask the landlord in writing who installs the shutters; many leases leave it to the tenant.
Planning a visit during the season
Visitors ask us whether to book a South Florida trip between June and November, and the honest answer is yes, with travel insurance that covers named storms and a flexible hotel rate. Early June and the first half of July see the fewest storms and the best hotel prices, while the two weeks either side of September 10 carry the highest risk. Our “west palm beach weather” guide breaks the rainy season down month by month.
Big events get moved, not cancelled. The Dolphins’ 2017 opener was postponed to November because of Irma, so check the “dolphins schedule” and team announcements if a storm is in the Atlantic during a home week.
After any tropical system, expect a few days of rough surf, strong rip currents and debris on the beaches. Lifeguards fly red flags, and heavy rain brings out the “cane frog” that threatens dogs in suburban yards, so keep pets close during the cleanup week.
When to get help
Call the Florida Emergency Information Line, activated by the state during major storms, for shelter and road questions. Call 911 only for life-threatening emergencies. For insurance disputes after a storm, the Florida Department of Financial Services runs a consumer helpline and mediation program.
FAQ
When does hurricane season start and end in Florida?
June 1 through November 30, the same dates as the whole Atlantic basin. Storms occasionally form outside those dates, but they are rare and usually weak.
What is the peak of hurricane season in South Florida?
September 10 is the statistical peak. For Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach, the highest-risk window runs from mid-August through late October, and October storms from the Gulf side are a particular local threat.
What month has the most hurricanes in Florida?
September, by a wide margin, followed by August and October. June, July and November combined account for only a small share of Florida landfalls.
Can a hurricane hit Florida in November?
Yes. Nicole made landfall near Vero Beach on November 10, 2022, and Eta flooded Broward in November 2020. Keep supplies and shutters ready until the season officially ends.
Where do I confirm evacuation orders and shelter openings?
Your county’s emergency management site and official social accounts, plus the Florida Division of Emergency Management. Forecast information comes from the National Hurricane Center; do not rely on screenshots or forwarded messages.
