The Atlantic hurricane season will officially come to an end on Nov. 30, but it’s fairly safe to say it is over.

The National Hurricane Center is not expecting any storms to develop over the last few days of the month.

The 2024 season started quick, then seemed to fizzle, which had experts somewhat stunned.

But the lull was only temporary. The storms came roaring back in full force — but well after what’s known as the climatological peak on Sept. 10. Hurricane experts then started to refer to it as “back loaded” season.

According to NOAA 12 named storms formed after Sept 10. Seven hurricanes formed after Sept. 25, which NOAA said was the most on record for this period.

Alabama was again spared a direct hit from a tropical storm or hurricane. The last storm to make landfall in the state was Hurricane Sally in 2020.

But there were some close calls. Hurricane Debby hit the Big Bend of Florida just over 300 miles from the Alabama coast. And Helene was even closer, making landfall in Perry, Fla., just 279 miles from Orange Beach.

On the west side, Hurricane Francine made landfall less than 300 miles to the west of Alabama in southern Louisiana.

Here are a ten questions and answers about the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season:

How many storms were there in 2024?

There were 18 named storms, 11 hurricanes and five major hurricanes during the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. The first one, Tropical Storm Alberto, formed on June 19. The last storm, Tropical Storm Sara, dissipated on Nov. 18.

Were NOAA’S 2024 predictions correct?

Yes.

The first outlook, in May, predicted 17-25 named storms (there were 18), eight to 13 hurricanes (there were 11) and four to seven major hurricanes (there were five).

The August update had only a minor adjustment: 17-24 named storms and the same number of hurricanes and major hurricanes.

An average season has 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes.

What was the strongest storm in the Atlantic in 2024?

There were two Category 5 hurricanes in 2024 in the Atlantic, Beryl and Milton.

In terms of wind speed, Milton was the strongest. Its sustained winds peaked at 180 mph on Oct. 7 while it was in the Gulf of Mexico. Beryl’s peak winds were 165 mph on July 2, while it was in the Caribbean.

Both weakened before making landfall.

What were the most destructive or deadliest storms of 2024?

The big three, according to NOAA, were hurricanes Beryl, Helene and Milton. All were major hurricanes, with Beryl and Milton becoming rare Category 5s and Helene a Category 4.

Beryl made three landfalls and spread destruction from the Caribbean to Mexico to Texas. In the U.S., Beryl caused significant storm surge flooding across parts of Texas and Louisiana after making landfall near Matagorda, Texas, as a Category 1 storm.

According to media reports, at least 44 people died in Texas alone from Beryl. At least 20 people were killed in the Caribbean.

Helene made landfall as a Category 4 storm on the Florida’s Big Bend on Sept. 26. It caused catastrophic flooding across the southern Appalachians, widespread wind damage from the Gulf Coast to the North Carolina mountains and storm surge flooding along portions of western Florida.

According to NOAA, preliminary data indicate that Helene was the deadliest hurricane to affect the continental U.S. since Katrina in 2005, with more than 150 direct fatalities, the majority of which occurred in North Carolina and South Carolina. Helene was also the first storm that the National Hurricane Center forecast to become a major hurricane before it even was a tropical depression.

Milton made landfall as a Category 3 on Florida’s west coast on Oct. 9. Milton spawned 46 tornadoes, many in South Florida, and dropped 10-15 inches of rain. According to NOAA Milton brought a destructive storm surge to areas between Siesta Key and Fort Myers Beach, including Charlotte Harbor. Milton has been blamed for at least 35 deaths, most in the U.S. but several in Mexico as well.

NOAA said Milton’s rate of rapid intensification was among the highest ever observed, with a 90-mile-per-hour increase in wind speed during the 24-hour period from early Oct. 6 to early Oct. 7. NHC’s first forecast for Hurricane Milton indicated the potential of a major hurricane landfall along the coast of west-central Florida almost two days before it formed into one, and more than four days prior to landfall.

How many tropical storms made landfall in 2024?

In 2024 four tropical storms made landfall. None hit the U.S., however:

* Alberto (June 20, Mexico)

* Christobal (June 30, Mexico)

* Nadine (Oct. 19, Belize)

* Sara (Nov. 17, Belize)

How many hurricanes made landfall in 2024?

In 2024 eight hurricanes made landfall, with five of them hitting the U.S.:

* Beryl (Grenada on July 1, Mexico on July 5 and Texas on July 8. Category 1 at landfall)

* Debby (Aug. 5, Florida, Category 1 at landfall)

* Ernesto (Aug. 17, Bermuda, Category 1 at landfall)

* Francine (Sept. 11, Louisiana, Category 2 at landfall)

* Helene (Sept. 26, Florida, Category 4 at landfall)

* Milton (Oct. 9, Florida, Category 3 at landfall)

* Oscar (Oct. 20, Cuba, Category 1 at landfall)

* Rafael (Nov. 6, Cuba, Category 3 and landfall)

What areas were hit the most in 2024?

Florida was hit by three hurricanes, including two major hurricanes, Helene (Category 4) and Milton (Category 3). Before those was Category 1 Hurricane Debby.

Cuba was hit by two hurricanes, Oscar and Rafael.

Which hurricane made the most landfalls in 2024?

Beryl had three landfalls. The first was July 1 as a Category 4 with 150 mph winds on the Caribbean island of Carriacou (part of Grenada). The second was on July 5 as a Category 2 with 110 mph winds on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. The third was as a Category 1 with 80 mph wind near Matagorda, Texas, on July 8.

How many ‘fish storms’ — ones that stayed at sea — in 2024?

* Tropical Storm Gordon

* Hurricane Isaac (Category 2)

* Tropical Storm Joyce

* Hurricane Kirk (Category 4)

* Hurricane Leslie (Category 1)

* Tropical Storm Patty

What was the shortest time between hurricane hits?

Florida was hit by two major hurricanes only 12 days apart. Helene hit the Big Bend on Sept. 26 as a Category 4, then Milton hit southwest Florida on Oct. 9 as a Category 3.

The Atlantic hurricane season begins on June 1 and ends on Nov. 30 each year. However, NOAA notes that tropical storms and hurricanes are possible any month of the year.