The 2025 hurricane season has been characterized as “screwball” by atmospheric scientist Phil Klotzbach from Colorado State University, noting its unpredictability despite advances in forecasting. Officially ending on November 30, this season saw three Category 5 storms, the most powerful hurricanes ever recorded, yet none made landfall in the U.S. for the first time in a decade.
Researchers expected a stronger season with 6 to 10 hurricanes, but only five formed, with four classified as major storms—Category 3 and above. This led to a high intensity overall, indicated by the metric of accumulated cyclone energy, which was at 108% of the 30-year average. The season was marked by an unusual lull during the peak activity period, highlighting the complexities of hurricane formation and behavior in a warming climate.
Klotzbach indicated that the ocean temperatures are contributing to the intensity of storms, as nearly all recent hurricane seasons have been warmer than average due to conditions like La Niña. McNoldy, a hurricane researcher, noted that 2025 is likely to be “unusually warm,” providing ample fuel for storm development. Overall, this season was defined more by the quality and intensity of the storms rather than their quantity.
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