How long does a hurricane last?

Hurricanes generally last just a few weeks from attaining this classification to dissipation. Reaching cool waters, making landfall and other factors can reduce this duration to just a few days.

There are hurricanes on record that have lasted as long as 31 days. In this case, it was Typhoon John, which formed in the Pacific Ocean in the 1994 season. Alternately, Hurricane Ginger in the Atlantic lasted 28 days from the day it formed in 1971. Most hurricanes do not persist for anything near these durations, often petering out well before they make landfall. Those that do make landfall often break up or are downgraded within days.