Five US states have a shoreline on the Gulf of Mexico. These include Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. The areas along the Gulf are popular places to live. They are also popular with visitors because of the the many attractions and miles of beautiful Gulf beaches. However, residents and visitors in coastal areas should pay attention to hurricane season. That’s because Gulf of Mexico hurricane season happens every year without fail.
The Gulf of Mexico has a high rate of hurricane activity. To put it lightly, coastal areas along the Gulf are highly prone to hurricanes. In fact, the two most hurricane prone regions of Florida are in the Gulf of Mexico. These include Northwest Florida (the Panhandle), and Southwest Florida. And cities along the Gulf in Alabama, Mississippi and Texas are also highly prone to hurricanes. According to WorldDate.info in the United States, Florida, Louisiana, and Texas are the most frequently affected.
In turn, Gulf coastal areas face a risk of severe hurricanes and tropical storms every hurricane season. And their close proximity to water also makes them susceptible to storm surge and flooding.
When is the Gulf Hurricane Season?
Below we detail when the Gulf of Mexico hurricane season takes place, and answer some frequently asked questions.
Hurricane season in the Gulf officially occurs every year from June 1st to November 30th. However, storms have been known to occur both before and after the official season.
June 1st marks the official start of hurricane season in the Gulf. However, storms can and have happened earlier, such as in May.
Storm season ends November 30th each year.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, “the peak of the Atlantic Hurricane Season is September 10, with most activity occurring between Mid-August and mid-October.”
Most recently, the Gulf of Mexico region of NW Florida was affected by Hurricane Idalia in 2023.
Recent Gulf of Mexico Hurricane Season Activity
Since 2018 several storms have affected areas in the Gulf of Mexico. These included:
- Hurricane Idalia, Category 3, 2023, Florida Gulf Coast
- Hurricane Nicole, Category 1, 2022, Florida Gulf Coast
- Hurricane Ian, Category 5, 2022, Florida Gulf Coast
- Tropical Storm Alex, 2022, Florida Gulf Coast
- Hurricane Ida, 2021, Category 4, Gulf Coast including Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama
- Hurricane Zeta, 2020, Category 3, Gulf Coast including Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama
- Hurricane Delta, 2020, Category 4, Gulf Coast including Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama
- Hurricane Sally, 2020, Category 2, Gulf Coast including Florida and Alabama
- Hurricane Laura, 2020, Category 4, Gulf Coast including Florida, Louisiana, and Texas
- Hurricane Hanna, 2020, Category 1, Gulf Coast including Texas, and Louisiana
ARE YOU PREPARED FOR HURRICANE SEASON?
If you live in a coastal area along the Gulf of Mexico then it is a good idea to be prepared for hurricanes. Here are some basic recommendations to be prepare your family and home for hurricane season:
- Stay informed and sign up for alerts: It is critical to know about approaching storms and when the storm may hit. So being informed is the first step to preparing and protecting your family and home. In turn, make sure you are signed up for an alert system so that you are aware in advance of any oncoming storms. Also, it is good to understand what the difference is between a storm watch and a warning.
- Prepare in advance and have a plan. You can read our guide on How to Prepare Your House & Family for a Hurricane to become better prepared.
- Protect your home, condo, and/or business so it is ready for a storm. Impact glass windows/doors and hurricane rated shutters are a good investment to protect both your property and your loved ones.
Find out more about Gulf Coast hurricane shutters, or submit our quick form below to chat with our team.
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