Howden Re Cat Watch has reviewed the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, highlighting substantial financial impacts.
With 18 named storms, the season met the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) criteria for classification as “extremely active,” according to Howden Re’s catastrophe research leaders.
“This year’s season performed as advertised,” said Justin Roth, associate director of catastrophe analytics R&D at Howden Re.
He noted that three hurricanes made landfall in Florida, contributing to early projections that 2024 will rank as the second-costliest hurricane season on record, trailing only 2017. The 2017 season saw catastrophic events including hurricanes Irma, Maria, and Harvey.
“The number of hurricanes (11) and major hurricanes (5) of category 3 or higher surpassed all long- and short-term averages,” said Anna Neely, managing director and head of catastrophe R&D at Howden Re.
These metrics underscore the season’s intensity, despite an unexpected lull in tropical activity from August into September.
The season included record-breaking storms, such as Hurricane Beryl, the earliest Category 5 hurricane in Atlantic Basin history, and Hurricane Milton, which became the second-fastest storm to reach Category 5 status. These events were influenced by historically warm ocean temperatures, which fueled a late-season surge of high-impact hurricanes.
Florida experienced three hurricane landfalls in 2024, tying the record for the most in a single season. Roth emphasized the importance of these events, particularly as many regions were reminded of the wide-reaching impacts of storms, even far from their centers.
Hurricane Milton, for instance, skirted Tampa Bay but caused significant impacts through widespread flooding, storm surge, and an extensive tornado outbreak that preceded the storm.
“While Tampa Bay once again dodged the ‘right’ side of a major hurricane eye, the tornado outbreak was extremely impactful,” Roth said.
Hurricane Helene’s path took an unusual northwest hook, resulting in severe rainfall across North Carolina and Tennessee. Howden Re noted that the upsloping winds from Helene’s remnants exacerbated flooding in those regions, creating long-term recovery challenges.
Neely and Roth also highlighted the role of Hurricane Hunters, which conducted 163 flights into storms during the season. These missions dropped 2,378 weather sensors over 350,000 miles, providing crucial data for storm tracking and impact analysis.
The 2024 season started strongly with Hurricane Beryl but slowed unexpectedly during the peak months of August and September. A late-season surge, fueled by warm ocean temperatures, contributed to high-impact hurricanes in October and November. Only six of the season’s 18 named storms missed landfall entirely, underscoring the active nature of the season.
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