The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season is finally coming to an end, but the devastating impact of this year's storms will be felt for months to come. With a record-breaking 18 named storms and 5 major hurricanes, the season was one of the most destructive in recent history. As the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) releases its recap of the season, concerns are growing about the uncertainty surrounding the 2025 season, particularly in light of potential cuts to NOAA's funding.

Hurricane Beryl, which formed earlier in the season than any other Category 5 storm, tore through Texas in July, leaving millions without power and triggering a deadly heatwave. Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm, is likely to be the deadliest hurricane to hit the continental US since Katrina in 2005, according to preliminary data from NOAA. Meanwhile, Hurricane Milton slammed into Florida, intensifying faster than nearly any other storm on record. These storms, along with 15 others, made the 2024 season one for the record books.

The severity of the season can be attributed, in part, to climate change. As greenhouse gas emissions continue to trap heat on our planet, higher sea surface temperatures fuel stronger tropical storms. This, in turn, enables storms to rapidly intensify, catching communities off guard unless they have reliable forecasts to help them prepare. NOAA's hurricane hunter aircraft flew 392 hours and passed through the eye of a hurricane 80 times over the season to gather data needed to issue forecasts and better understand how hurricanes are changing.

However, the agency's critical work may be threatened by potential cuts to its funding. Project 2025, a right-wing planning document, calls for NOAA to be "dismantled and many of its functions eliminated, sent to other agencies, privatized, or placed under the control of states and territories." Similarly, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy's vision for President-elect Donald Trump's "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) calls for "mass head-count reductions" across federal agencies, including NOAA. These proposals have left NOAA staff "very nervous and scared for what's coming," according to a former senior NOAA official.

The impact of these potential cuts could be devastating, particularly in the wake of a season that saw misinformation about FEMA spur a wave of threats against its staff on social media. This not only complicates FEMA's work but also risks dissuading people from getting help from the agency. As NOAA administrator Rick Spinrad noted, "it's clear that NOAA's critical science and services are needed more than ever by communities, decision makers, and emergency planners."

As the 2024 season comes to a close on November 30th, the National Hurricane Center doesn't expect any tropical cyclone activity for the next 48 hours. However, the uncertainty surrounding the 2025 season is a stark reminder that the work of NOAA and other federal agencies is more critical than ever. As the US looks to the future, it must prioritize the funding and support necessary to ensure that these agencies can continue to provide the critical services and research needed to keep communities safe.