This year’s hurricane season was devastating and destructive for Florida, the Gulf Coast and cruise ship itineraries. But it looks like it’s finally over.

Royal Caribbean Chief Meteorologist Craig Setzer has shared a positive outlook for cruises from US ports, highlighting that significant hurricanes making landfall in the US will likely subside as cooler temperatures begin. to settle down.

“While another named system could form in the coming weeks somewhere in the Atlantic basin, the chances of another destructive hurricane making landfall in Florida decrease each day as we move into November.” he declared.

“We are entering the final days of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season as far as the United States is concerned.” continuous.

Hurricane season officially runs from June 1 to November 30 each year, and hurricanes typically occur during the peak months of August, September and October, when ocean temperatures are warmer and conditions for the development of storms are more favorable.

“Water temperatures (which are dropping) are barely warm enough to support a Gulf hurricane, and wind shear remains mostly high over the state,” Setzer added.

Also read: How a hurricane could affect your cruise

However, that doesn’t mean the Caribbean is out of the woods yet. As most U.S. departures in the Gulf of Mexico and Florida depart toward warm-climate islands, particularly those in regions of the eastern Caribbean with warmer sea surface temperatures, Setzer notes that storms are not impossible.

“Models continue to suggest that tropical development is possible in the Caribbean over the next 10 days, and islanders should keep an eye on this area.” said. “Wind shear is expected to stay low and the waters are still very warm there.”

Still, the meteorologist points out that any storm that develops in the Caribbean could not maintain its strength when it reaches the Gulf of Mexico.

“If something were to form and move north from the Caribbean, it would probably drift eastward and be inhabited due to strengthening, thanks to shear.” Setzer said.

Potential storm not likely to be a threat

As the Atlantic hurricane season comes to a close, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) has released a new update on possible storm activity in the Caribbean Sea.

According to the latest Tropical Climate Outlook On October 30, 2024, a broad area of ​​low pressure is expected to develop in the southwestern Caribbean near Jamaica and the Cayman Islands by the end of the week.

While conditions in the region remain favorable for gradual storm development, the NHC forecasts only a small chance of significant formation in the next 48 hours.

Over the next week, forecasters indicate a 40 percent chance of a tropical depression forming. That system is likely moving slowly north toward the central or western Caribbean.

But after Florida witnessed not one, but two deadly storms that forced ports to close and cruises to be delayed and canceled, the thought of a storm can still cause anxiety. Meteorologists remind us that both hurricanes were caused by unusually warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico.

Hurricane Helenawhich formed off Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula in late September, strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane as it made landfall along the Sunshine State’s Gulf Coast near Pensacola.

The storm brought heavy rain and damaging winds, leading to the closure of ports across the state, including Jacksonville, Key West and Port Canaveral.

Following right behind that storm, Hurricane Milton It developed in early October and made landfall near Siesta Key, Florida, as a Category 3 storm on October 9. Once again, ports across the state were closed, including Tampa.

But as the calendar turns to November, cruise passengers can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that the end is near and it will be smooth sailing from here.