2013 Could Set Record for Latest-Forming Hurricane of the Season

This is the first season in 11 years not to have produced a landfalling hurricane by the end of August. However, September is usually the busiest month, with a historical average of 2.1 hurricanes.

At this time last year, the industry was estimating losses from Hurricane Isaac, yet the 2013 hurricane season has so far seen seven tropical storms — none have reached hurricane strength. Sea surface temperatures are warmer in September, so if the current wind shear settles, a significant hurricane could still occur.

As of this morning, the eighth tropical storm of the 2013 hurricane season, Tropical Storm Humberto, resides off the coast of Senegal and is forecast to become the first hurricane of the season by Wednesday. If the forecasts are correct, Humberto will tie with Gustav (2002) as the latest-forming first hurricane of the Atlantic season since records began. However, the storm is predicted to turn northwards after 48 hours and does not look likely to affect the United States

1988 did not produce a storm of hurricane strength until September 2. That hurricane season went on to produce Hurricane Gilbert, which made landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico on September 13 — at its peak, it was the most powerful hurricane on record until Hurricane Wilma in 2005. And it wasn’t until late October in 2012 that the industry saw its biggest threat in years, as Hurricane Sandy struck the northeast, incurring more than $22 billion in losses.