• Home /
• BCM News and Events /
• BCM news /
• Above average Atlantic hurricane activity forecast

Above average Atlantic hurricane activity forecast

12 July 2011

The general consensus among expert bodies is that "2011 will see above-average activity" in terms of hurricanes in the North Atlantic, a new report has stated.

According to the study of forecasts in the region by Marsh Risk Consulting (MRC), this year's season for storms has commenced and is expected to see more severe incidents, something that may be of particular interest to those concerned with business continuity.

The company has gathered data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Climate Prediction Center, AccuWeather, Colorado State University (CSU) and Weather Services International in order to produce its 2011 predictions, noting that the season tends to run between June and November, with the most severe hurricanes generally seen in the August to October period.

However, activity is anticipated to be below last year, which was the third most severe on record, with five major hurricanes taking place. Despite this, the US coastline remained relatively unscathed, while CSU has predicted there is a 72 per cent chance of at least one major storm making landfall during 2011.

Tropical cyclones are a key contributor to economic, insured and uninsured losses related to natural catastrophes, with a growing amount of fixed assets placed at risk each year. Methods of mitigating these cited by MRC include upgrades to building codes for affected areas, effective communication protocols, installation of emergency provisions and response team responsibilities.

The National Hurricane Centre in the US held an awareness week in May this year aimed at enhancing business continuity and preparedness in case of tropical storms.

Download the report from Marsh Risk Consulting (PDF)