2017 Hurricane Season in Review

Four 2017 Hurricane Names Retired

Harvey, Irma, Maria, and Nate

3 Simultaneous Hurricanes - Katia, Irma, Jose (NOAA)

Due to the extensive damage caused in the United States and Caribbean last year, the World Meteorological Organization’s Region IV Hurricane Committee has officially retired these names. Storm names are retired if they were so deadly or destructive that the future use of the name would be insensitive - otherwise names are reused by NOAA’s National Hurricane Center on a six-year cycle. Replacement names, to be used in 2023, have also been announced.  Read more


Here's the reasoning behind the decision and what the new names will be.



The extremely active 2017 Atlantic hurricane season was one of the most destructive on record. Damage costs exceeded 250 billion dollars in the United States alone, while recovery for the worst hit Caribbean islands such as Dominica may take years. Several hundred people died, and the lives of millions were impacted.

Looking Back at 2017

The 2017 Atlantic hurricane season was a hyperactive and catastrophic hurricane season, featuring 17 named storms, 10 hurricanes and 6 major hurricanes – ranking it alongside 1936 as the fifth-most active season since records began in 1851. The season also featured both the highest total accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) and the highest number of major hurricanes since 2005.

In the chart below, the numbers in parenthesis are the averages, so you can easily see that the 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season was well above average.  Read more (comprehensive coverage)

Atlantic Basin

Forecast Parameter and 1950-2000 Climatology (in parentheses)	NOAA 2017 Prediction	2017 Actual
Named Storms (NS) (12.0)	11 - 17	17
Hurricanes (H) (6.5)	5 - 9	10
Major Hurricanes (MH) (2.0)	2 - 4	6
Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) (92.0)	63 - 103	224

2017 National Hurricane Center Forecast Verification Report 

Atlantic Hurricane Outlook & Seasonal Climate Summary Archive

The 2017 Pacific hurricane season was a moderately active Pacific hurricane season, featuring eighteen named storms, nine hurricanes, and four major hurricanes, though the season was significantly less active than the previous three seasons. The season saw near-average activity in terms of ACE, in stark contrast to the extremely active seasons in 2014, 2015, and 2016; and for the first time since 2012, no tropical cyclones formed in the Central Pacific basin. However, for the third year in a row, the season featured above-average activity in July, with the ACE value being the fifth highest for the month.

East Pacific

Forecast Parameter and 1950-2000 Climatology (in parentheses)	NOAA 2017 Prediction	2017 Actual
Named Storms (NS) (9.6)	14 - 20	18
Hurricanes (H) (5.9)	6 - 11	9
Major Hurricanes (MH) (2.3)	3 - 7	4
Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) (96.1)	75 - 145	100

Measuring total seasonal activity: The Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) index

An important measure of the total overall seasonal activity is the NOAA Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) index, which accounts for the intensity and duration of named storms and hurricanes during the season.  According to NOAA’s hurricane season classifications, an ACE value above 117% of the 1950-2000 median reflects an above-normal season. An ACE value above 175% of the median reflects an exceptionally active (or hyperactive) season.

Hurricane Season Dates 

Hurricane season in the Atlantic begins June 1st and ends November 30th. The Eastern Pacific hurricane season begins May 15th and also ends November 30th.
Download the Tropical Cyclone Preparedness Guide (PDF)
Watch for our 2018 Hurricane Preparedness Series.

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Norwegian Sky on IRMA Rescue Mission

Norwegian Sky

Deploying to  

St. Thomas USVI

This base image, courtesy NOAA, shows Hurricane IRMA approaching the U.S. Virgin Islands.  As one of the most popular Caribbean cruise destinations, the devastation is truly saddening.  Our thoughts and prayers go to all impacted by the hurricane, in the USVI, and all along its path.   This update from Norwegian Cruise Line makes me proud to be part of the cruise industry.

We have been updating the ever changing Cruise Ship Impact throughout this storm.   The latest update from Norwegian Cruise Line deserves special mention.

CLICK FOR COMPLETE LIST OF CRUISE CHANGES

Norwegian Cruise Line Weather Alert (click for latest)


September 9th at 12:30 PM (4:30 PM UTC)

Norwegian Cruise Line is continuing to closely watch the forecasted path of major Hurricane Irma and respond as necessary to ensure the safety of our guests and crew. We have cancelled this week’s scheduled sailings aboard our two ships that depart from Miami, Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Escape and both ships are currently navigating a safe course around the path of Hurricane Irma

Norwegian Escape is sailing at full capacity with approximately 4,000 displaced guests from both ships that were unable to secure flights back home. The ship is currently alongside in Cozumel, Mexico and will remain there until 7 a.m. Sunday, September 10. Guests who have secured flights home may disembark the ship in Mexico if they wish.

Due to the devastation in the Caribbean caused by Hurricane Irma, all of Norwegian Escape’s upcoming Eastern Caribbean sailings will be altered to a Western Caribbean itinerary until November. All guests scheduled to sail on any affected cruises will be notified of the change.

Acting as a responsible corporate citizen and supporting the destinations that our ships operate in is a core value of Norwegian Cruise Line. In the wake of this devastating storm, we will be deploying Norwegian Sky from her current position off the coast of Cancun to St. Thomas, USVI to retrieve approximately 2,000 travelers who were unable to evacuate the island prior to the storm.

The ship is departing immediately and will arrive in St. Thomas in the late evening hours on Monday, September 11. Norwegian Cruise Line is working closely with the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association and the Governor of St. Thomas to execute this rescue mission. When all designated vacation guests have boarded the ship, Norwegian Sky will sail back to her homeport of Miami and is expected to arrive on Thursday, September 14.