'Explosive Development' Could Fuel Strong Hurricane Season In NJ: See Forecast

NEW JERSEY — Warm water temperatures across most of the Atlantic Ocean have forecasters predicting an active hurricane season comparable to last year's, which was one of the deadliest and costliest on record.

The Atlantic hurricane season begins on June 1 and runs through Nov. 30. The peak of the season typically falls on Sept. 10.

"The water temperatures across most of the Atlantic are above average for this time of the year," AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva said. "They're not quite as warm as what we saw last year and in 2023, but they're still well, well above average."

These warm temperatures will fuel "explosive development" of upcoming storms, AccuWeather forecasters said.

"A rapid intensification of storms will likely be a major story yet again this year as sea-surface temperatures and ocean heat content (OHC) across most of the basin are forecast to be well above average," DaSilva said.

AccuWeather is forecasting 13 to 18 named storms, with three to six having direct impact on the U.S. That's the same amount they forecast last year.

RELATED: New 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Forecast: Here's What To Expect In NJ

They're predicting near to above the historical average for storms. DaSilva said the season could get off to a strong start due to the water conditions, followed by a lull, and possibly capping off the year with more storm activity.

While New Jersey isn't among the areas AccuWeather predicts storms and hurricanes to make landfall, forecasters warned that that's only part of a storm's lifecycle.

“We witnessed tragic examples of just how far inland the impacts from hurricanes and tropical storms can reach. Hurricane Beryl spun up more than 60 tornadoes along its nearly 1,200-mile-long path from the Texas coast to upstate New York,” DaSilva said. “Hurricane Helene brought catastrophic flash flooding and destructive winds to the mountains of western North Carolina, hundreds of miles inland from where the storm made landfall in Florida."

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