2025 ABOVE-NORMAL HURRICANE SEASON: WHAT MARINAS NEED TO KNOW

2025 Above-Normal Hurricane Season: What Marinas Need to Know

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released its official 2025 Atlantic hurricane season forecast, and the warning is clear: prepare for an above-normal hurricane season. NOAA’s May 2025 outlook projects a 60% chance of higher-than-average tropical activity, including 13–19 named storms, 6–10 hurricanes, and 3–5 major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher).

With the Atlantic basin entering peak season and meteorologists also observing signs of heightened Nor’easter potential later this year, marina emergency planning isn’t just smart—it’s essential.

NOAA’s 2025 forecast builds on what experts call a “perfect storm” of contributing factors:

A transition away from El Niño conditions, allowing for warmer Atlantic waters
Record-high sea surface temperatures across the Gulf and Caribbean
Weakened trade winds and reduced wind shear
A possible return of La Niña, which historically supports more tropical development

In addition to tropical systems, NOAA and other meteorological organizations have noted an increase in coastal Nor’easter patterns—particularly for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. For marinas across the U.S., this means staying alert for damaging conditions on multiple fronts.

Annual Forecasts vs. Assumptions

Some marina operators rely on past seasons to gauge risk—but that can be a costly mistake. While the 2024 season also brought an above-average outlook, its relative mildness in some regions bred complacency. Relying on annual NOAA forecasts rather than assumptions gives marinas a real edge.

NOAA’s seasonal projections, while not pinpointing landfall zones, are still the industry benchmark for macro-level planning. They alert marina teams to:

Schedule inspections and reinforcements
Review insurance coverage
Update slip-holder communication protocols
Monitor supply chain and emergency gear stockpiles

When seasonal conditions shift dramatically—as they did between the 2023 El Niño and projected 2025 La Niña—early insight becomes critical.

Strengthen Emergency Infrastructure

Your infrastructure is only as ready as your most vulnerable connection point. Marinas owners need to verify both physical and structural integrity of their wavewalls and attenuators before storms escalate.

Priority areas for marina inspections:

Dock anchorage systems
Wave attenuators and breakwaters
Fuel tanks and containment systems
Electrical pedestals and wiring insulation
Dry stack tie-downs and roof reinforcement

For marinas in hurricane-prone regions, it may be worth investing in flexible mooring hardware or adjustable anchors that can be customized to water levels or expected storm surge.

Revisit Your Marina Emergency Planning Protocols

According to MariCorp’s guide to effective marina emergency plans, the most effective disaster responses begin well before a warning is issued. This means having:

A clearly defined chain of command
Pre-written scripts for emails, texts, and social updates
Slip-by-slip checklists for staff
Pre-designated zones for emergency haul-outs or evacuations

If your current documentation is more than 18 months old—or hasn’t been revisited since the last major storm—it’s time for an update.

Use the Off-Season Wisely

The end of summer offers a strategic window to complete overdue maintenance and prepare for off-season projects. As highlighted in Preparing for Off-Season Projects, now is the time to:

Reinforce dock anchors and lines
Upgrade drainage and pump systems
Consult with contractors about longer-term resiliency upgrades

FEMA hazard mitigation grants and regional programs often reward marinas that show pre-storm effort in improving resilience—something that can only happen when projects are queued before disaster strikes.

Communication Protocols Make or Break a Crisis Response

Having a watertight infrastructure plan is only part of the equation. Your team and boaters need to know what to expect—before, during, and after a storm. This includes:

Setting up mass communication systems (text alerts, mobile app notifications)
Providing updated contact lists to slip holders
Assigning “zone leads” for different dock areas

Platforms like Dockwa, Harba, and other marina management systems offer built-in tools for broadcast messaging—don’t wait until a warning is issued to learn how to use them.

Lessons from 2024 and the Importance of Staying Proactive

While the 2024 hurricane season ultimately brought fewer catastrophic landfalls than expected, NOAA’s correct prediction of above-average activity in the basin was a reminder: even a near-miss season can cause widespread damage. For marinas that took proactive steps—like pre-clearing fuel pads, issuing evacuation instructions, and checking floating dock hinges—resilience paid off.

This year’s conditions echo 2020 and 2017 patterns, which delivered widespread marina losses even in areas not forecasted for direct impact. Waiting for the “next big storm” to start preparing is no longer a viable strategy.

When to Act and What to Watch

With peak season running through September and October, now is the time to:

Subscribe to NOAA alerts and NHC updates
Conduct physical walkthroughs with staff
Share preparation timelines with boaters
Stage supplies like bumpers, fuel shutoff tools, and emergency signage

For Gulf Coast and Southeast marinas, early August is the ideal window for these activities. Northeastern and Great Lakes marinas should also monitor Nor’easter developments well into the fall.

Stay Informed and Ahead

NOAA’s 2025 hurricane forecast isn’t just a weather report—it’s a warning for action. With rising ocean temperatures, shifting atmospheric conditions, and increased year-round weather volatility, the stakes for marinas are higher than ever.

Stay proactive. Strengthen your infrastructure. Revisit your marina emergency planning. And when the skies are calm, use that time to prepare for when they’re not.

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About MariCorp

Maricorp is one of the largest floating boat dock manufacturing and construction companies in the United States, specializing in galvanized steel floating docks and boat lift systems. With projects spanning coast-to-coast, Maricorp provides marina consultation and design, marine construction, marina repair and renovation, and boat dock disaster response and demolition.