From Michael to Sandy: Notable Late Season Tropical Systems

Image: Mexico Beach, FL had extreme damage in October 2018 after category 5 hurricane Michael hit the panhandle. 

When you think about hurricanes, you might think about them typically taking place in August or September.

But even with the climatological peak of hurricane season falling in the middle of September, powerful tropical systems can also take place in October or November.

In 2018, Florida panhandle residents received the harshest of reminders that Category 5 hurricanes can strike in mid-October. Hurricane Michael made landfall on Mexico Beach, Florida with 160 mph winds on October 10th, 2018.

Michael, however, is just one example of a number of destructive late season tropical systems. Sandy, Matthew, and Otto were a few other notable late season tropical systems to have big impacts. Meteorologist Chris Bianchi takes a look back at some of those notable storms, and the damage they caused.

Hurricane season officially ends on November 30th, though storms can (and occasionally do) form beyond that date.

In October, the Atlantic basin can spawn tropical systems nearly in all regions, from the Caribbean Sea, to the Gulf of Mexico, or along the eastern US coast. Though activity typically begins to diminish in the central and eastern Atlantic as activity begins to settle from the African coast. Often, systems can form along Fall fronts that come off the U.S. coast during the month of October.

As sea surface temperatures cool, and more upper level atmospheric features strengthen, the likelihood of tropical systems begin to diminish in November.

Stay with WeatherNation for the latest on the tropics through the remainder of hurricane season.