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Hurricane Season Begins with Prediction of Above-Average Activity

Hurricane Season Begins with Prediction of Above-Average Activity

As the 2021 hurricane season begins, forecasters look for this year to bring an above-average level of tropical activity.  Just this week, the Tropical Meteorology Project in the Department of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University (CSU) updated its projections and continues to believe this year will produce an above-average number of storms.  Its forecast improved slightly, from 18 named storms to 17, but CSU continues to project this season will bring eight hurricanes with four being major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher).  This compares to a 30-year seasonal average of 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes.  CSU estimates there’s 69% chance of a major hurricane making landfall in the continental U.S. this year.  Breaking it down further, they estimate a 45% chance of landfall for the east coast and a 44% chance of landfall for the Gulf coast.

Recent years’ activity also have demonstrated that storms don’t confine themselves to the boundaries of the Atlantic Hurricane Season.  The hurricane season officially begins June 1 each year, but we often seen tropical activity earlier than the official start date.  This year Tropical Storm Ana became the first named storm of 2021 when it formed in late May.

At the outset of hurricane season, policymakers and insurers encourage the public to review their insurance coverages to make sure they have the right types and amounts of coverage.  This includes a recommendation to consider purchasing flood insurance because, despite prominent disclosures in Florida homeowners insurance policies, some policyholders might not understand the potential damage that can be caused by rising water or that standard homeowners policies do not cover those losses.