October Hurricanes

October is the third most active month for tropical systems over the Atlantic Basin. Since 1851, about 20% of the total number of Atlantic Season tropical storms and hurricanes form during the month.

October also represents the third most active month for U.S. landfalling hurricanes with approximately one hurricane strike ever three years.

Some notable October hurricanes include: Hurricane Hazel in 1954 which made landfall near Myrtle Beach, S.C., Hurricane Isabel in 2003 which made landfall near Ocracoke Island, N.C., and Hurricane Wilma in 2005 which struck land just south of Naples, Fla.

Prior to moving across South Florida, the central pressure associated with Hurricane Wilma dropped to the lowest value ever recorded in the Atlantic Basin in any month of the year.

Wilma's central pressure of 882 millibars broke the old record 888 millibars that was previously held by Hurricane Gilbert in September of 1988.

The most favorable environments for tropical systems to develop in October include the eastern Gulf of Mexico, the northwestern Caribbean, and the western Atlantic.

Once a tropical cyclone develops, it will typically move northward and then northeastward as the jet stream becomes the primary steering factor for storms across higher latitudes.

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