Watching the Tropics

Watching the Tropics is updated at 2AM, 5AM, 8AM, 11AM, 2PM, 5PM, 8PM, and 11PM daily
Last updated at 3/8/2025 11:03:21 PM
Atlantic Hurricane Basin Tracking Updates
Watching the Tropics tracks storms destined to the United States East coast, the Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico out of the Atlantic hurricane basin.
Archive Disclaimers NHC Advisories Definitions
7 Day Tropical Weather Outlook
7 Day Tropical Weather Outlook
2 Day Tropical Weather Outlook
2 Day Tropical Weather Outlook
Florida Radar
Florida Radar
GOES 16
Sandwich Composite
Sandwich Composite
Today's Tornado Risk
Today's Tornado Risk
8-14 Day Temperature Outlook
8-14 Day Temperature Outlook
8-14 Day Precipitation Outlook
8-14 Day Precipitation Outlook
Global Tropics Hazard Outlook
Global Tropics Hazard Outlook

Current Power Outages

Last updated 4/1/2025 1:05:11 AM
Alabama - 1,417 customers
Georgia - 1,948 customers
Florida - 2,234 customers
North Carolina - 651 customers
South Carolina - 699 customers

2025 Hurricane Prediction

The 2025 Hurricane season starts on June 1, 2025 in

61 days

​As of March 1, 2025, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has not yet released its official forecast for the upcoming 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. NOAA typically publishes its seasonal outlook in May, ahead of the season's official start on June 1.​

Tropical Storm Risk (TSR) released an extended-range forecast in December 2024, predicting 15 named storms, 7 hurricanes, and 3 major hurricanes for the 2025 season. This outlook carries significant uncertainties due to various environmental factors.

It's important to note that these early forecasts are subject to change as more data becomes available, and NOAA's forthcoming outlook will provide a more comprehensive analysis.

Hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30

2025 Storm Names

Andrea Barry Chantal Dexter Erin Fernand Gabrielle Humberto Imelda Jerry Karen Lorenzo Melissa Nestor Olga Pablo Rebekah Sebastien Tanya Van Wendy

Key: Active Past Future

*Press/click the storm name to view additional details

2024 Hurricane Summary

  • 18 named storms
  • 11 hurricanes
  • 5 major hurricanes (Cat. 3+)
  • Total damage: ~$200 billion
Notable Hurricanes
  • Hurricane Beryl: Formed in late June, Beryl became the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record in the Atlantic basin. It made landfall on Carriacou in Grenada, causing significant damage and resulting in two fatalities.
  • Hurricane Helene: In September, Helene struck the southeastern United States, particularly devastating North Carolina. It was the deadliest storm to hit the U.S. mainland since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, with over 200 reported deaths and an estimated $48.8 billion in damages.
  • Hurricane Milton: In October, Milton rapidly intensified to a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds reaching 180 mph, making it one of the strongest hurricanes ever recorded in the Gulf of Mexico.
  • Hurricane Rafael: In November, Rafael reached Category 3 status before making landfall in Cuba, highlighting the season's prolonged activity.

Hurricane Statistics

Named
Hurricanes
Major
Average
14.4
7.2
3.2
High
30
15
7
Low
4
2
0

Most Active Hurricane Season

2020 - 30 named storms, 14 hurricanes

Costliest Hurricanes

Hurricane Katrina (2005) - $125 billion

Harvey (2017) - $125 billion

Strongest Hurricanes (Based on Wind Speed)

Hurricane Patricia (2015) - 215 mph (345 km/h)

Hurricane Allen (1980) - 190 mph (305 km/h)

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale in MPH

The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a 1 to 5 rating system that classifies hurricanes based on their sustained wind speeds and the potential damage they can cause. It helps communicate the intensity of hurricanes and the likely impacts on structures and environments. The scale does not account for factors like storm surge or rainfall, focusing only on wind speeds.

About Watching the Tropics

Watching the Tropics was originally built as a personal storm tracker with only the most important charts for the Atlantic hurricane basin. Numerous sites are available for tracking hurricanes, but Watching the Tropics minimizes extra "noise" and shows only what you need.

Designed in Florida by

Dillaman Research DillaDev.com

What does Watching the Tropics mean?

"Watching the tropics" refers to monitoring tropical weather systems, such as tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes, in regions close to the equator. Meteorologists and weather enthusiasts often use this phrase during hurricane season to indicate that they're keeping an eye on developing weather systems that could potentially strengthen and impact areas like the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and Atlantic Ocean.

Websites, news outlets, or weather services also use "Tropics Watch" to keep the public informed about the latest developments in the tropics, especially during peak hurricane season.

What is an "invest" in the context of hurricanes?

An "invest" refers to an area of disturbed weather that meteorologists are investigating for potential tropical development. The term "invest" is short for "investigation area."

When an area is designated as an invest, it is given a number (between 90 and 99) followed by the letter "L" for systems in the North Atlantic or "E" for systems in the Eastern Pacific. For example, "Invest 91L" would refer to the 91st area of interest in the Atlantic basin for that season.

The designation of an invest allows meteorologists to focus their resources on a specific area, utilize specialized forecasting models, and issue updates as needed.

Help us keep Watching the Tropics running!

  • Your donation keeps this free resource updated with real-time storm data and safety alerts.
  • Help us add new features and enhance tracking tools for even better storm preparedness.
  • Your contribution ensures we can maintain free access for all users, especially during storm emergencies.
  • Donations directly support the upkeep and growth of this site.