How common are November tropical storms and hurricanes?

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — The leaves are changing and it feels a little more like fall across central North Carolina, but here's a reminder hurricane season runs through the end of November!

Tropical Storm Rafael formed in the Caribbean Monday afternoon south of Jamaica and is expected to strengthen into a hurricane Tuesday.

By Wednesday afternoon, Rafael could make landfall on the northern tip of Cuba as a Category 2 with sustained winds of 100 miles per hour before moving into the Gulf by the end of the week. Fortunately, it is expected to weaken is expected by then.

Of the more than 1,700 tropical storms and hurricanes that have formed in the Atlantic Basin since 1842, 125 have occurred in November. 125 storms is still a lot, but in the overall scheme of hurricane season, that only accounts for 7% of all named storms.

Since Rafael is expected to be a hurricane, let's break things down farther. Of all 61 hurricanes to form in November, 36 have been Category 1, 15 Category 2s, 4 Category 3s, 5 Category 4s and one Category 5.

That Category 5 occurred in 1932. It was a Category 5 from Nov. 5 to Nov. 8 and would eventually make landfall on central Cuba as a Category 4 Nov. 9.

By the way, North Carolina has been impacted by a hurricane in November! On Nov. 2nd, 1861, a category 1 hurricane hit near Morehead City with winds estimated around 80 miles per hour.

If conditions are right, even in November, tropical weather can still develop.