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2025 Year in Review: Powerful Hurricanes in the Atlantic, Pacific
December 12, 2025 at 03:52 AM EST
By WeatherBug Meteorologists
2025 Year in Review: Powerful Hurricanes in the Atlantic, Pacific
The U.S. may have been spared from major impacts, but other areas were not so lucky, in particular Jamaica which took a direct hit from Category 5 Melissa.
Tropical Storm Barry
Tropical Storm Barry was the first tropical system of the 2025 season to bring impacts to major land areas. A broad area of low pressure began to form over the Yucatan Peninsula on June 27 and eventually emerged over the southern Bay of Campeche on June 28. With warm waters and lighter wind shear, the low pressure system gradually organized into Tropical Depression Two later that afternoon.
The depression continued to move westward and eventually became a Tropical Storm on the morning of June 29 about 90 miles east-southeast of Tuxpan, Mexico. Now moving on a northwesterly course, Barry moved into a harsh environment prior to making landfall south of Tampico, Mexico later in the evening. As a result of the stronger wind shear, the highest sustained winds only reached 45 mph prior to landfall. Barry quickly dissipated on June 30 over northeastern Mexico.
Barry was responsible for at least 8 fatalities and causing $32.5 million in damages. Rainfall totals of 10-15 inches were reported throughout eastern Mexico, with the highest amount of 17.99 inches of rain being recorded in San Gabriel, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Major flooding from Barry occurred across the central Texas Hill Country on July 4-5.
Tropical Storm Chantal
Tropical Storm Chantal was the only tropical system in the 2025 season to directly impact the United States. Chantal began life as a broad area of low pressure along a decaying frontal boundary west of Florida on June 29. By the morning of July 4, this low was now located off the Southeast U.S. coastline as was beginning to gain strength, acquiring the designation Tropical Depression Three during the afternoon. Further intensification occurred early on July 5, and the depression was upgraded to Tropical Storm Chantal as the system lingered off the coast.
By the early morning on July 6, Chantal reached its peak intensity when sustained winds reached 60 mph. Chantal made landfall near Litchfield Beach, South Carolina a few hours later with maximum sustained winds near 50 mph. By late morning on July 6, Chantal was downgraded to a tropical depression and eventually degenerated into a remnant low over northern Virginia later in the morning on July 7.
Damage caused by Tropical Storm Chantal was estimated to be approximately $500 million. Widespread rainfall totals of 4-8 inches occurred across the eastern Carolinas, with as much as 11 inches of rain falling in parts of North Carolina. In addition to the heavy rain and flooding, several tornadoes were reported across North Carolina. This included an EF-1 tornado that caused damage to two hangars and two aircraft at the Raleigh Executive Jetport and caused $2 million damage in total.
Hurricane Erin
Hurricane Erin was the fifth named storm, first hurricane, and first major hurricane of the 2025 season. It was a long-lived storm that began its life as a tropical wave in the far eastern Atlantic Ocean. Convection quickly increased, and by the morning of August 11, Tropical Storm Erin had formed. Erin traveled briskly across the open waters of the Atlantic, battling dry air and poor environmental conditions for several days. However, by August 15, Erin was able to strengthen into a hurricane as environmental conditions started to become more favorable.
Erin underwent explosive intensification on August 16 and became the season’s first major hurricane. Erin reached its peak intensity later that day when maximum sustained winds reached 160 mph and the central pressure dropped to 915 millibars. Erin then gradually weakened over the next couple of days as it passed to east of the Bahamas. Erin made its closest approach to the Outer Banks of North Carolina on August 21, passing approximately 200 miles to the southeast. Wind shear and colder ocean waters gradually caused Erin to become an extratropical cyclone by August 28.
Erin first impacted the Cabo Verde islands with flooding rainfall. Rainfall totals of 7.57 inches were reported in just five hours on Sao Vicente. At least nine deaths were attributed to the resulting flooding. Erin also caused flooding across parts of Puerto Rico, Grand Turk, and throughout the Bahamas. Major flooding occurred across several locations along the Outer Banks of North Carolina and Virginia, with minor flooding occurring from Maryland to Maine as Erin passed by to the east.
The U.S. may have been spared from major impacts, but other areas were not so lucky, in particular Jamaica which took a direct hit from Category 5 Melissa.
Tropical Storm Barry
Tropical Storm Barry was the first tropical system of the 2025 season to bring impacts to major land areas. A broad area of low pressure began to form over the Yucatan Peninsula on June 27 and eventually emerged over the southern Bay of Campeche on June 28. With warm waters and lighter wind shear, the low pressure system gradually organized into Tropical Depression Two later that afternoon.
The depression continued to move westward and eventually became a Tropical Storm on the morning of June 29 about 90 miles east-southeast of Tuxpan, Mexico. Now moving on a northwesterly course, Barry moved into a harsh environment prior to making landfall south of Tampico, Mexico later in the evening. As a result of the stronger wind shear, the highest sustained winds only reached 45 mph prior to landfall. Barry quickly dissipated on June 30 over northeastern Mexico.
Barry was responsible for at least 8 fatalities and causing $32.5 million in damages. Rainfall totals of 10-15 inches were reported throughout eastern Mexico, with the highest amount of 17.99 inches of rain being recorded in San Gabriel, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Major flooding from Barry occurred across the central Texas Hill Country on July 4-5.
Tropical Storm Chantal
Tropical Storm Chantal was the only tropical system in the 2025 season to directly impact the United States. Chantal began life as a broad area of low pressure along a decaying frontal boundary west of Florida on June 29. By the morning of July 4, this low was now located off the Southeast U.S. coastline as was beginning to gain strength, acquiring the designation Tropical Depression Three during the afternoon. Further intensification occurred early on July 5, and the depression was upgraded to Tropical Storm Chantal as the system lingered off the coast.
By the early morning on July 6, Chantal reached its peak intensity when sustained winds reached 60 mph. Chantal made landfall near Litchfield Beach, South Carolina a few hours later with maximum sustained winds near 50 mph. By late morning on July 6, Chantal was downgraded to a tropical depression and eventually degenerated into a remnant low over northern Virginia later in the morning on July 7.
Damage caused by Tropical Storm Chantal was estimated to be approximately $500 million. Widespread rainfall totals of 4-8 inches occurred across the eastern Carolinas, with as much as 11 inches of rain falling in parts of North Carolina. In addition to the heavy rain and flooding, several tornadoes were reported across North Carolina. This included an EF-1 tornado that caused damage to two hangars and two aircraft at the Raleigh Executive Jetport and caused $2 million damage in total.
Hurricane Erin
Hurricane Erin was the fifth named storm, first hurricane, and first major hurricane of the 2025 season. It was a long-lived storm that began its life as a tropical wave in the far eastern Atlantic Ocean. Convection quickly increased, and by the morning of August 11, Tropical Storm Erin had formed. Erin traveled briskly across the open waters of the Atlantic, battling dry air and poor environmental conditions for several days. However, by August 15, Erin was able to strengthen into a hurricane as environmental conditions started to become more favorable.
Erin underwent explosive intensification on August 16 and became the season’s first major hurricane. Erin reached its peak intensity later that day when maximum sustained winds reached 160 mph and the central pressure dropped to 915 millibars. Erin then gradually weakened over the next couple of days as it passed to east of the Bahamas. Erin made its closest approach to the Outer Banks of North Carolina on August 21, passing approximately 200 miles to the southeast. Wind shear and colder ocean waters gradually caused Erin to become an extratropical cyclone by August 28.
Erin first impacted the Cabo Verde islands with flooding rainfall. Rainfall totals of 7.57 inches were reported in just five hours on Sao Vicente. At least nine deaths were attributed to the resulting flooding. Erin also caused flooding across parts of Puerto Rico, Grand Turk, and throughout the Bahamas. Major flooding occurred across several locations along the Outer Banks of North Carolina and Virginia, with minor flooding occurring from Maryland to Maine as Erin passed by to the east.