When the season runs, and when it peaks
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, according to the National Hurricane Center. Its peak is around September 10, and most of the activity falls between mid-August and mid-October. Storms can form outside the peak too, so the planning applies to the whole season.
That covers half the year, so moving during the season is normal here. What changes is the planning: earlier starts, dates with some give in them, and a clear agreement with your mover about storms. If you have a choice of dates, June, July and early August come before the busiest stretch, and late October and November come after it.
Heat and rain are the everyday problems
Storms make the news, but heat and rain are what you'll meet on an ordinary summer moving day. NOAA's 1991 to 2020 climate normals for Palm Beach International Airport put average highs at about 88°F in June, 90°F in July and August, and 88°F in September.
Rainfall more than doubles. The same normals show about 8.5 inches in June, 8.7 in August and 8.0 in September, against about 3.5 in January. Summer rain here often comes as afternoon storms, which is one more reason to start early.
In summer we like an early start, so the heaviest lifting happens in the cooler morning and more of the loading is done before the afternoon clouds build. Ask your mover for the first slot of the day, be up and ready when the crew arrives, and keep cold water on hand for everyone, you included.
Choose dates with some give in them
Try not to build a plan where everything has to happen on one fixed day. A day or two of overlap between your old home and your new one gives you somewhere to be if the move shifts. Closings and lease end dates are hard to change, so leave the slack on the moving side. If you're leaving a rental, ask your landlord early whether a storm delay could buy you an extra day.
Agree a backup date with your mover before you book, and get it in writing. Ask what happens if a storm threatens your date, how much notice each side needs, and whether anything on the estimate would change. The middle of a forecast is the wrong time to find out.
Write the backup date into the same paperwork as the main one, so nobody has to remember a phone call. If a storm does move your date, ask for that change in writing too.
Watch the forecast as the day gets closer
In the week before your move, check the National Hurricane Center's forecasts once a day, and keep your mover's number handy. If a system appears that could reach South Florida around your date, call your mover that day rather than the night before.
Decide early. A calm postponement two days out is easier for everyone than a scramble with half the boxes on the truck, and it keeps your belongings off the road in bad weather. If local officials order an evacuation or tell people to stay off the roads, that settles the question.
If you're moving after a storm has passed, check that both homes have power and safe access before the crew sets out, and tell your mover about fallen trees or flooding on the way. A building without power may not have a working elevator, which changes the plan for a condo move.
Keep the essentials with you
Some things should never ride on the truck, and in hurricane season the list gets longer. If the move is delayed or the roads close, you want your documents, medicines and chargers in your own hands.
Pack one bag or bin that travels with you, and keep it in the car or by the door so it can't be loaded by mistake. Label it clearly and tell the crew it stays behind. If you have pets, their food, medicine and carrier belong with you too.
- Identification, insurance papers, and closing or lease documents
- Prescription medicines, with a few days to spare
- Phone chargers and a charged power bank
- Keys, fobs and gate passes for both homes
- Your moving paperwork and your mover's phone number
- A flashlight, in case the power is out at either end
- Cash, jewelry and anything you couldn't replace
- Water, snacks and a change of clothes
Protect your belongings from the rain
Cardboard and upholstery suffer most in a downpour. Pack anything you'd hate to see wet, such as papers, photos and electronics, in plastic bins with lids rather than boxes. Wet cardboard also loses its strength, so a box that sat in the rain needs more care when it's lifted.
Set up a dry spot near the door, such as the garage or a covered entry, where boxes can wait out of the rain. Put down towels and mats at both ends, and keep the path to the truck clear so the crew can move quickly.
If anything does get damp, unpack it first at the new home and let it dry in an air-conditioned room rather than leaving it in the box. Ask your mover how it protects furniture and mattresses in wet weather, and if you'd rather hand off the packing too, see packing and unpacking.
Ask your association about storm rules
If you live in a condo, ask your association what it expects during hurricane season, especially if you're moving out and leaving a unit empty. Ask who closes the hurricane shutters, whether it wants a key or an emergency contact, and whether any rules apply to a unit left empty for months.
Moving in during the season? Ask whether the building changes its move rules when a storm is forecast, so a closed elevator or loading area doesn't take you by surprise on the day.
The answers vary from building to building, so get them from your own association rather than a neighbor. Our condo paperwork guide covers the other questions to ask, and when you're ready to plan, book a free walkthrough.