BOATING
By NBOA
October 8, 2025
Hurricane season begins in June, extends through the summer, and ends in November. Peak hurricane season in the northern hemisphere is August through October.
To help make reporting on storms easier for meteorologists and news outlets, the National Hurricane Center often cycles through the alphabet when naming hurricanes.
Before becoming a hurricane, tropical disturbances or depressions form with wind speeds up to 38 mph. As winds increase to 39 mph, it becomes a tropical storm. At 75 mph, it transforms into a hurricane.
Cat 1 hurricanes sustain windspeeds of 74 – 95 mph, Cat 2 includes speeds of 96 -110 mph, Cat 3 experiences winds at 111-130 mph, Cat 4 produces windspeeds of 131-155 mph, and finally, Cat 5 hurricanes have sustained windspeeds of 156 mph and above.
Staying safe as a boater during hurricane season means always checking the radar before setting sail, creating and sharing a float plan, double-checking safety equipment and essentials, and sharing safety guidelines with all passengers.
Whether your boat is docked at a marina or is stored indoors, take extra measures during a hurricane watch or warning. Create a checklist of items onboard, remove anything that isn't attached to the vessel, and consider all options for safe storage.