Origin Zones
Where a hurricane forms and the prevailing steering current determine where the storm may threaten land. As shown in this graphic, nearly all portions of the U.S. Gulf and Atlantic coastlines have been impacted by hurricanes over the last several decades. This highlights the vulnerability to hurricanes that exists for nearly every community on the East and Gulf Coasts.
The zones where hurricanes form and the tracks they take are generally related to the time of year. Consequently, different areas of the country have a greater risk during different months although, again, patterns can vary considerably from year to year. The figures below show the zones of origin and tracks for different months during the hurricane season. These are average conditions-be aware that hurricanes can originate in different locations and travel much different paths from the average. Nonetheless, having a sense of the general pattern can give you a better picture of the average hurricane season for your area.
During the early (June-July) season, hurricane activity is typically quiet and what systems do form tend to occur in a fairly restricted area over the Gulf of Mexico or westernmost Atlantic Ocean.
During the August-September timeframe, decreased wind shear and increased water temperatures allow for more hurricanes to form anywhere throughout the North Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico.
October can see substantial amount of hurricane activity, though they typically form in the western Caribbean or western Atlantic and tend to have erratic tracks that often move quickly off toward the northeast.
Finally, in the late hurricane season (November), activity dies down and the focus shifts to the western Atlantic.
