NORTH CAROLINA -- Only two named storms have formed during the month of August in the Atlantic basin - Tropical Storms Debby and Ernesto. Both developed far away from the U.S. and were never threats to land. That, however, does not mean we should let our guard down for September though.

• Peak of hurricane season is Sept. 10.
• Only two named storms formed in August.
• Some of the most devastating hurricanes in North Carolina have occurred in September or October.

Conditions in August in the Atlantic do not always correspond to the activity seen in September. Hurricane expert Philip Klotzbach from Colorado State University recently reminded his Twitter followers of that fact.

While the Atlantic has been very quiet this August, 1961 had 0 Atlantic named storms in August. September 1961 was very active with four major #hurricanes forming. A quiet August does not guarantee a quiet Atlantic #hurricane season. pic.twitter.com/JW03Um8SYT

— Philip Klotzbach (@philklotzbach) August 28, 2018

In that example from 1961, a total of seven named storms formed during the month of September. Four of those became major hurricanes.  

It should also be pointed out that North Carolina has experienced some of its most devastating hurricanes in September and October. That includes Hurricane Hazel in October 1954, Hurricane Fran in September 1996, Hurricane Floyd in September 1999 and Hurricane Matthew in October 2016.

In an average Atlantic hurricane season, September is typically the most active month. Sept. 10 is considered the peak date of the season when there is about a 90 percent probability that there will be a named storm somewhere in the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico or Caribbean.