Be Informed. Be Prepared.
Official Hurricane Season: June 1, 2025 to November 30, 2024.
NOAA National Weather Service forecasters at the Climate Prediction Center predict above-normal hurricane activity in the Atlantic basin this year. There’s a 60% chance of an above-normal season, a 30% chance of a near-normal season, and just a 10% chance of below-normal activity.
The 2025 outlook calls for a 70% probability for each of the following ranges of activity during the 2025 hurricane season, which officially runs from June 1st through November 30th:- 13-19 Named Storms (winds of 39 mph or higher)
- 6-10 Hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher)
- 3-5 Major Hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher)
This heightened forecast is due to several contributing factors, including warmer-than-average ocean temperatures, weak wind shear, and increased activity from the West African Monsoon—all of which help support the formation of tropical storms.
Regardless of the forecast, every hurricane season requires preparation. Reliable, up-to-date storm information should always be obtained from official sources like the The National Hurricane Center AND/OR The National Weather Service. Just as the 20th Judicial Circuit has a comprehensive emergency plan, we encourage all employees and members of the public to have a plan in place for their home and family.
Court Operations and Employee Safety
Our top priority is the safety of employees and their families. We also aim to keep the courts open and operational to the greatest extent possible. In the event of closures, we work to resume mission-critical operations as soon as safely possible.
When storms develop, we monitor the progress closely. In the event that a Hurricane Warning is issued for all or part of our area, the Chief Judge will decide whether the affected courts should be closed.
Should one threaten our area, employees will be notified of actions to be taken in a number of ways: email, social media, direct communications from Court managers and supervisors, and information releases through the media (TV, radio, newspapers). We have also implemented the Send Word Now emergency notification system. This will allow Court Administration to contact employees and court partners via email, text, and phone.
After a storm, updates about reopening and returning to work will be shared using the same methods. The public should monitor our website, local media, and social media accounts.