The 2021 hurricane season has become the third most active on record – although Bermuda has so far been spared.

The Bermuda Weather Service said that, with the formation of Subtropical Storm Wanda far to the island’s east, the season had reached 21 named storms.

Of those storms, seven have reached hurricane strength and four became major hurricanes of at least Category 3 strength.

While the hurricane season does not end until November 30, the BWS said September and October are historically the most dangerous months in the season.

On social media, the BWS said: “We made it through the most historically busy time of Hurricane Season 2021, and have so far been spared.

“After some October impacts in the last decade, the last month has been quiet, with dry air and wind shear keeping storms from intensifying.”

The BWS also noted that Wanda was the last listed name for the 2021 season.

In past years storms were named after the Greek alphabet after the conclusion of the listed names, but this year additional storms will this year be named based on an “overflow list” for the first time.

The auxiliary list will begin with “Adria” and would be followed by “Brayden”, “Caridad”, “Deshawn”, “Emery” and “Foster”.

While Bermuda has so far escaped any direct hits, the island has had a few near misses.

On May 20 – before the formal start of the hurricane season – a tropical storm watch was issued for Tropical Storm Ana, but the storm remained more than 180 miles from the island.

In August Tropical Storm Henri circled the island before it turned towards the US East Coast.

In September the island recorded two near misses, with Hurricane Larry and Hurricane Sam both passing by Bermuda.

While Hurricane Sam was one of the season’s strongest storms with sustained winds reaching 150mph, conditions in Bermuda were similar to a winter storm with 40mph winds recorded in Dockyard.

While Bermuda has so far avoided the worst of the season, other jurisdictions have suffered major impacts this year with total hurricane damage estimated to be almost $70 billion this year – the fourth highest in history.