This Year’s Hurricane Season Really Did Stand Out. but Most of It Came Down to One Incredible Month.

“The Season Was Kind of Near-Normal Through August, and Then It’s Been Near-Normal in October, ” Says Phil Klotzbach, an Atmospheric Scientist at the Colorado State University. “September Was off the Charts. ”

One, the Atlantic Hosted Swaths of Warm Water This Year, Revving up the Engine That Fuels Hurricanes.

Let’s Rewind to an Unlikely Place. in 1824, as Steam Engines Were Transforming the World, French Military Engineer Nicolas Carnot Figured out the Math Behind How They Actually Worked. That Same Math Applies to Hurricanes, According to Mit Atmospheric Scientist Kerry Emanuel.

Attributing Storms and Seasons to Climate Change Is Tough and Ongoing. but This Year’s Storms Match the Kind of Hurricanes Scientists Expect from a Warmer World.

A Few Things About This Hurricane Season Stood out to James Kossin, an Atmospheric Scientist at Noaa’s Center for Weather and Climate. One Was the Astronomical Amount of Rainfall Harvey Released over Houston. Another Was How Irma Intensified Rapidly and Then Stayed Extraordinarily Strong Longer Than Any Previous Storm.

Why Was 2017’S Hurricane Season So Intense? | Nova

By Elena Rostova

• Oct 8, 2026 • 9 min read

Why Was 2017’S Hurricane Season So Intense? | Nova

Direct Answer • Key Takeaway

The 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season Isn’t over Until the End of November. but If You’ve Even Glanced at the Headlines over the Past Few Months, You Know This Year’s Storms Have Already Left an Indelible Mark.

Elena Rostova

Lead Health, Wellness & Medical Journalist

Elena Rostova holds a Master's degree in Public Health Journalism. She covers groundbreaking medical research, holistic wellness trends, mental health awareness, and nutritional science.

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