The 2023 Atlantic hurricane season, which spanned from June 1 to today, has officially concluded, leaving residents along the Gulf Coast and Eastern Seaboard with a sense of relief. This season, marked by above-normal activity, saw a total of 20 named storms in the Atlantic basin, making it the fourth-highest number in a single year since 1950.

Out of the 20 named storms, seven intensified into hurricanes, with three reaching major hurricane status. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) notes that an average season typically includes 14 named storms, seven hurricanes, and three major hurricanes.

In terms of landfall, the United States experienced minimal impact from hurricanes this year. Only one hurricane, named Idalia, made landfall on Florida's Gulf coast in late August. Fortunately, the damage caused by this Category 3 storm was limited, as it struck a thinly populated area of the state.

Interestingly, the active 2023 hurricane season occurred during an El Niño year. Normally, the climate pattern of El Niño suppresses Atlantic storms; however, this year witnessed an unprecedented occurrence. Exceptionally warm temperatures in the Atlantic, attributed to climate change, actually facilitated storm formation, defying the traditional impact of El Niño on hurricane development.

NOAA reports that this year's Atlantic basin saw more named storms than any other El Niño year in the modern record. Matthew Rosencrans, from NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, explains that the record-warm ocean temperatures in the Atlantic served as a strong counterbalance to the typical effects of El Niño.

Not only the Atlantic, but the Eastern Pacific also witnessed heightened storm activity throughout the 2023 hurricane season. In August, Tropical Storm Hilary made an unexpected impact on Southern California, causing heavy rainfall and flooding. As a result, the National Hurricane Center issued their first-ever tropical storm watch and warning for the region.

Additionally, hurricane Otis, which rapidly intensified into a Category 5 storm, made landfall in Acapulco, Mexico. The storm's sustained winds increased by an astonishing 115 miles per hour within a 24-hour period before reaching land, ultimately recording sustained winds of 165 mph at landfall. The National Hurricane Center classified Otis as the strongest hurricane to hit the Eastern Pacific in the modern era.

As the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season draws to a close, experts are left contemplating the exceptional activity witnessed both in the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific. With the season's end, residents and authorities can now shift their focus towards hurricane preparedness and assessing the factors that contributed to the unusual intensity of this year's storms.