The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season started with forecasts calling for an “above-normal” year, thanks to warm Atlantic waters and atmospheric patterns that usually fuel tropical development. But instead of producing a huge number of storms, the season became known for something far more dramatic: incredible intensity.

As the 2025 hurricane season closes, we had 13 named storms, five hurricanes, and four major hurricanes, of which three reached Category 5 strength. So while the total storm count sat on the lower end of the predictions, the power packed into those storms was intense.

One of the first major surprises came from Hurricane Erin, which intensified from a tropical wave to a Category 5 hurricane in just over a day. That rapid intensification set the tone for the rest of the season

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