The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting a record-setting hurricane season for the Atlantic region in 2024. 

Hurricane season typically spans June 1 to November 30, while peaking in late August and September. That aligns with the peak shipping season that runs from August to October, where retailers see a bump from holiday shoppers ahead of Thanksgiving and Christmas.

A busy hurricane season can often spell trouble for supply chains. In 2017, Hurricane Harvey led to a week-long closure of multiple Gulf Coast ports, including the Port of Houston. Silt from the hurricane's floodwaters partially obstructed entrances for three of Houston's major terminals, according to an analysis from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. Freight carriers in the area also faced heavy congestion from flooded roadways and a shortage of drivers. 

More recently, 2021's Hurricane Ida severely impacted petrochemical production in Texas, according to a study from North Carolina State University. The resulting ripples led to a shortage in resins and plastics such as PVC used in a range of products, including toys, plastic packaging, bottles, and more. It's estimated that the hurricane took more than 60% of U.S. PVC production offline. 

Freight management provider Cura cites a slew of other potential issues from hurricanes as well, including production shutdowns, increased costs from having to reroute shipments, disruptions to suppliers in areas impacted by storms, and damage to transportation infrastructure like roads, ports and airports.