by Paisley Parmer

Created on: April 22, 2009   Last Updated: September 24, 2009

Globally there are seven separate "Hurricane Seasons" located at the different basins throughout the world with each having its own peak season throughout the year. The seven basins are the Atlantic basin, Northeast Pacific basin, Northwest Pacific basin, North Indian basin, Southwest Indian basin, Australian/Southeast Indian basin and Australian/Southwest Pacific basin.

The Atlantic Basin

The hurricane season for the Atlantic basin is officially from June 1 to November 30 with the season peaking from August to October. The end date of the season has slowly shifted over the years from the end of October to the end of November. Areas affected by the Atlantic hurricane season include the east coast and gulf of the United States, Caribbean Sea, north coast of South America and Central America.

The Northeast Pacific Basin

The Northeast Pacific hurricane season runs from May 15 to November 30, slightly longer than that of the Atlantic. The peak of the season occurs during late August to early September. The west coast of the United States, Canada and Mexico feel the effects of the Northeast Pacific hurricane season.

The Northwest Pacific Basin

There is not an official season for this basin as typhoons occur year round. The most activity tends to occur from July to November, peaking in September and November. The months with the least amount of activity are usually February and March. Areas affected by the Northwest Pacific season include China, Japan, Thailand, Korea and the Philippines.

The North Indian Basin

The season for tropical cyclone in the North Indian basin runs from April to December. Peak periods for the severe storms occur from April to June and September to December. Those affected by the North Indian basin are located in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.

The Southwest Indian Basin & Australian/Southeast Indian Basin

The unofficial season for tropical cyclones in the Southwest Indian basin and Southeast Indian Basin are almost identical and run from October to May. The seasons peak in mid-January and mid-February to early March. The only notable difference between the two basins is that the down time in early February tends to be more prominent for the Australian/Southeast Indian basin. The Southwest Indian basin affects areas like the east coast of Africa while the Australian/Southeast Indian Basin affects areas like the west coast of Australia and Indonesia.

The Australian/Southwest Pacific Basin

The Australian/Southwest Pacific basin has a tropical cyclone season running from October to May, with a peak of activity in late February to early March. The storms of this basin affect Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

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