Hurricane Zeta struck Louisiana on October 28, becoming the fourth named storm of the season to make landfall in the state, tying the record set in 2002.

All forecasting agencies predicted above-average activity, some well-above-average, citing factors such as the expectation of low wind shear, abnormally warm sea surface temperatures, and a neutral El Niño–Southern Oscillation or La Niña.

Early in 2020, officials in the United States expressed concerns the hurricane season could exacerbate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic for coastal residents due to the potential for a breakdown of safety protocols such as social distancing and stay-at-home orders.

This forecast was based on the prediction of near-average trade winds and slightly warmer than normal sea surface temperatures as well as a neutral El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phase in the equatorial Pacific.

Scientific American noted that "As the oceans absorb more and more of the excess heat trapped by greenhouse gases, waters will get warmer earlier in the season, which could help set new records in the future.

[59] Matthew Rosencrans, the lead forecaster at the National Weather Service, emphasized that climate change has been linked to the intensity of storms and their slow movements, but not to the amount of activity, which might instead be increasing due to improvements in technology.

[51] Beta went on to make landfall in Texas and impact the Deep South before dissipating,[41] marking an abrupt end to the heavy peak season activity.

Nearly the entire coastline from Texas to Maine was placed under some form of a watch or warning in relation to a tropical system,[52] with only Florida's Jefferson and Wakulla counties being the exception.

Moving northeastward, the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Edouard on July 6, reaching peak winds of 45 mph (72 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 1,005 mbar (29.7 inHg).

The system rapidly weakened after moving inland, dropping to tropical depression status at 18:00 UTC on July 26 near Monterrey, Nuevo León, and then dissipating shortly thereafter.

It soon weakened into a tropical storm as it passed over the Mid-Atlantic states, before transitioning to an extratropical low around 00:00 UTC on August 5 while situated over central Vermont, and dissipating several hours later over Quebec.

The depression weakened due to a combination of decreasing sea surface temperatures and dry air, degenerating into a remnant low on August 1, and dissipating a day later.

Continued wind shear caused the storm to fluctuate in intensity, and Josephine weakened to a tropical depression on August 16 while passing north of the Leeward Islands.

[89] Several days later, extratropical European windstorm Ellen, which contained remnants of Tropical Storm Kyle, brought hurricane-force winds to the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom.

At that time, Laura reached its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) and minimum pressure 937 mbar (27.7 inHg) while located less than 90 mi (140 km) south of Creole, Louisiana.

Storm surge penetrated up to nearly 35 mi (55 km) inland, while Creole and Grand Chenier were inundated with coastal floodwaters ranging from 12 to 18 ft (3.7 to 5.5 m) above ground, sweeping away structures in Cameron Parish.

Drifting over the Gulf Stream, the low organized into a tropical depression on August 31 while situated about 150 mi (240 km) south-southeast of Wilmington, North Carolina.

After gradually weakening over the following few days and slowly curving southward, the extratropical cyclone started regenerating convection, and Paulette became a tropical storm again on September 20 about 230 mi (370 km) south-southwest of the Azores.

At around 09:45 UTC that day, the system made landfall at peak intensity near Gulf Shores, Alabama, with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 965 mbar (28.5 inHg).

Teddy became a hurricane on September 16, and two days later it reached its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 945 mbar (27.9 inHg).

After a well-defined circulation formed within an area of deep convection, the system developed into Tropical Storm Wilfred late on September 17 while situated about 345 mi (555 km) southwest of Cabo Verde.

A day after that hurricane moved ashore, Tropical Depression Twenty-Two developed in the Gulf of Mexico on September 17, located about 350 mi (565 km) south-southeast of Brownsville, Texas.

Delta weakened over land, but re-intensified over the Gulf of Mexico, reaching a secondary peak of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 953 mbar (28.1 inHg) on October 9.

Zeta peaked later that day at 21:00 UTC when it became a Category 3 major hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 970 mbar (29 inHg), as it made its second landfall near Cocodrie, Louisiana.

[46] Overall, more than 210 fatalities across Central America were attributed to the storm,[116] including 74 in Honduras, 60 in Guatemala, 27 in Mexico,[46] 19 in Panama,[47] 10 in the United States, two each in Nicaragua and Costa Rica,[46] and one in El Salvador.

The intense wind and rain generated by Eta caused flooding and landslides, resulting in crop losses, plus the destruction of roads, bridges, power lines and houses throughout Central America.

[46] Relief efforts were severely hampered when, just two weeks later, Hurricane Iota made landfall approximately 15 miles (24 km) south of where Eta moved ashore.

By the following morning, the effects of strong southwesterly shear had weakened Theta somewhat, though it soon began to regain some strength, and by 00:00 UTC on November 12, re-intensified to its earlier peak.

Iota rapidly intensified, becoming a hurricane on November 15, and reaching its peak intensity a day later with maximum winds of 155 mph (250 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 917 mbar (27.1 inHg), while located just 23 mi (37 km) northwest of Providencia Island.

[123][124] On March 17, 2021, during the joint 42nd and 43rd Sessions of the RA IV Hurricane Committee, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) retired the name Laura, meaning it will not be used again in the North Atlantic basin.