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The 2017 hurricane season was the most expensive in American history, with the majority of damage caused by the infamous trio of storms: Harvey, Irma and Maria. These three hurricanes were among 17 named storms that combined to cause more than $200 billion in damages in the 2017 hurricane season.
In terms of human lives lost, 103 deaths were reported from the impact of Harvey, Irma, Jose and Maria. This placed 2017 as the 17th-deadliest storm season since records began being kept in 1900.
Unfortunately, according to the forecasters at AccuWeather.com, the 2018 hurricane season isn’t going to be much better.
Based on the current surface water temperatures and wind patterns in the Atlantic - the two factors considered most dominant in generating tropical storms – AccuWeather is predicting a “near normal to slightly above-normal year” with 12 to 15 tropical storms.
2018 Hurricane Forecast
This aligns with the predictions released on April 5, 2018 by the Colorado State University Tropical Meteorology Project. The group, led by Dr. Phil Klotzbach, forecasts a season that will be slightly more active than the 30-year average of 12 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.
Colorado State’s forecast calls for the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season to produce 14 named storms, seven of which will become hurricanes and three which will reach major hurricane status. A major hurricane is classified as Category 3 or stronger on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, which ranges from Category 1 (74-95 mph sustained winds) to Category 5 (157 mph or higher sustained winds).
These are their predictions based on past data, but in a recent article published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, noted meteorologist Kerry Emanuel of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology was quoted as saying “human-influenced climate change is expected to lead to a greater incidence of high-intensity hurricanes which, combined with rising sea level, will increase flooding from hurricane-driven storm surges. Hurricanes also could produce substantially more rainfall as the atmosphere and oceans become warmer.” The number and severity of Atlantic storms can be expected to exceed what current models predict and can be expected to produce more damaging conditions.
Get Ready Before Hurricane Season
If there are any lessons to be taken away from the catastrophic storms of the previous seasons, it's that hurricanes are anything but predictable. When they arrive, hurricanes can wreak havoc on those caught in their path.
Thankfully, there are steps you can take to help minimize your risk as a homeowner and reduce the time you will need to recover as a business owner. Selective has an extensive library of information to help deal with hurricanes before, during and after the storm.
One of the best ways to prepare for a hurricane is to make sure you have flood insurance. It normally takes 30 days for a policy to come into effect, so when a storm is on the horizon it may be already too late. If you have flood insurance, now is the time to review your policy to make sure you have the correct coverage. According to a report from the Department of Atmospheric Sciences University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, flooding from storm surges and the torrential rains that accompany a hurricane are the number-one cause of property damage and loss of life. Talk to your independent agent today to ensure you are protected. Don’t have an agent? Click here to find one in your area.
In terms of human lives lost, 103 deaths were reported from the impact of Harvey, Irma, Jose and Maria. This placed 2017 as the 17th-deadliest storm season since records began being kept in 1900.
Unfortunately, according to the forecasters at AccuWeather.com, the 2018 hurricane season isn’t going to be much better.
Based on the current surface water temperatures and wind patterns in the Atlantic - the two factors considered most dominant in generating tropical storms – AccuWeather is predicting a “near normal to slightly above-normal year” with 12 to 15 tropical storms.
2018 Hurricane Forecast
- 6-8 storms that reach sufficient wind velocities to be termed hurricanes.
- 3- 5 storms that become Category 3 or greater storms.
- 3-4 named storms that impact the United States.
This aligns with the predictions released on April 5, 2018 by the Colorado State University Tropical Meteorology Project. The group, led by Dr. Phil Klotzbach, forecasts a season that will be slightly more active than the 30-year average of 12 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.
Colorado State’s forecast calls for the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season to produce 14 named storms, seven of which will become hurricanes and three which will reach major hurricane status. A major hurricane is classified as Category 3 or stronger on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, which ranges from Category 1 (74-95 mph sustained winds) to Category 5 (157 mph or higher sustained winds).
These are their predictions based on past data, but in a recent article published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, noted meteorologist Kerry Emanuel of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology was quoted as saying “human-influenced climate change is expected to lead to a greater incidence of high-intensity hurricanes which, combined with rising sea level, will increase flooding from hurricane-driven storm surges. Hurricanes also could produce substantially more rainfall as the atmosphere and oceans become warmer.” The number and severity of Atlantic storms can be expected to exceed what current models predict and can be expected to produce more damaging conditions.
Get Ready Before Hurricane Season
If there are any lessons to be taken away from the catastrophic storms of the previous seasons, it's that hurricanes are anything but predictable. When they arrive, hurricanes can wreak havoc on those caught in their path.
Thankfully, there are steps you can take to help minimize your risk as a homeowner and reduce the time you will need to recover as a business owner. Selective has an extensive library of information to help deal with hurricanes before, during and after the storm.
One of the best ways to prepare for a hurricane is to make sure you have flood insurance. It normally takes 30 days for a policy to come into effect, so when a storm is on the horizon it may be already too late. If you have flood insurance, now is the time to review your policy to make sure you have the correct coverage. According to a report from the Department of Atmospheric Sciences University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, flooding from storm surges and the torrential rains that accompany a hurricane are the number-one cause of property damage and loss of life. Talk to your independent agent today to ensure you are protected. Don’t have an agent? Click here to find one in your area.
