Predictions
Hurricane season is fast approaching. As Floridians, we are well acquainted with the tremendous power and destruction these storms can bring. The upcoming Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1 to November 30, 2023.
Each year, weather agencies release their annual forecasts with estimates of the number of named storms, hurricanes and major hurricanes expected for the season. These predictions serve as a valuable starting point for policyholders to assess their preparedness levels and make necessary adjustments.
The Weather Channel and Colorado State University have issued their outlook for this season, but this 2023 season has more uncertainty than usual.1 This is due to the fact that an El Niño is increasingly likely, which usually tends to bring down the number of storms.2 On the other hand, the water in the Atlantic is very warm, which could increase that number.3
The first outlook, released on April 13, 2023, lists predictions for:
- 13 named storms
- 55 named storm days
- 6 hurricanes
- 25 hurricane days
- 2 major hurricanes
- 5 major hurricane days4
Time to review your policy
Due to the reality of the damage and destruction these storms bring, it is of the utmost importance that while making other preparations for hurricane season, policyholders should also review their policies and ensure they have adequate coverage.
Important covers to check and review include: Home cover, Contents cover and Additional living expenses. It is also important to remember that standard home insurance policies do not usually cover flood damage, so it is recommended to take out supplementary flood insurance to ensure full coverage. Another element for policyholders to check is their deductibles; Policyholders should ensure that they understand their policy’s deductibles and are aware of any specific hurricane deductibles that may apply.
We’ve created several tools specifically to help policyholders prepare for hurricane season. For home insurance policyholders, we have a Hurricane Checklist5 with tips on protecting your home and reviewing your insurance. We also have a Condominium Hurricane Preparedness Guide6 for multi-family properties.
1 Jonathan Erdman, 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook: A Developing El Niño vs. Warm Atlantichttps://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/2023-04-11-hurricane-season-outlook-atlantic (13 April 2023).
2 Id.
3 Id.
4 Seasonal Hurricane Forecast, Atlantic Seasonal Hurricane Activity Forecast for 2023 hurricane activityCOLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY, https://tropical.colosate.edu/forecasting.html
5 https://page.merlinlawgroup.com/hubfs/Hurricane%20Assets/Weathering%20The%20Storm%20-%20A%20Policyholders%20Guide%20to%20Hurricane%20Insurance%20Claims.pdf
6 https://page.merlinlawgroup.com/hubfs/Condo_Hurricane_Preparedness_Merlin.pdf
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