How long does hurricane season last?

The length of the hurricane season is June 1 to Nov. 30 for the Atlantic, but it begins on May 15 for the Eastern Pacific. Hurricanes build up over warm water in the ocean and gain strength to make landfall.

A hurricane is defined as a tropical cyclone containing winds of at least 64 knots, or 74 miles per hour. While the official length of hurricane season has remained the same over the past few years, during the last couple of decades, big storms have been coming earlier. Although climate change has not been labeled as a cause, the dominant view among climatologists is that warmer ocean temperatures have resulted from increases in atmospheric greenhouse gases.