The 2018 hurricane season officially ended on November 30. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) storm counts for the season were: 15 named storms, including eight hurricanes. Two of these were “major” hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5).
To put that into perspective, the average hurricane season has 12 named storms, including six hurricanes, of which three are major. That makes 2018 a little worse than a “normal” year, and well within NOAA’s predictions before the start of the season on June 1.
Fortunately, these numbers are down from the especially destructive 2017 season, which included the so-called “HIM” storms (Harvey, Irma, and Maria). In 2017 there were 17 named storms, including 10 hurricanes, of which six were major.
But that is little comfort to the people affected by the two major hurricanes, Florence and Michael.
Hurricane Florence: Florence reached Category 4 status on September 10, making landfall on September 14 in North Carolina as a Category 1. Because the storm moved very slowly, Florence dumped at least 30 inches of rain in parts of North Carolina, setting a record in the state for rain from a hurricane.
Catastrophe modelers have estimated that insured losses from Hurricane Florence could range from $2.5 billion to $5.0 billion, excluding National Flood Insurance Program losses. Worryingly, it’s been estimated that somewhere between 70 percent and 85 percent of flood losses are uninsured (get flood insurance, everybody).
Hurricane Michael: Michael became a strong Category 4 storm on October 10 and made landfall shortly afterward in the Florida panhandle. The storm registered wind speeds just under Category 5-level speeds, making Michael perhaps the strongest hurricane to ever hit the Florida panhandle.
Catastrophe modelers estimated that insured losses from Hurricane Michael could range from $6 billion to $10 billion.
(The loss numbers for both hurricanes are subject to change, since losses are still being adjusted and paid out.)
In comparison, the Property Claims Services (PCS) unit of ISO estimates that insured losses from Hurricane Harvey will top $14 billion. PCS estimates that insured losses from Hurricane Irma will be more than $20 billion.
At a high level, the 2018 season was bad – but compared to last year, it could also have been a whole lot worse. Not that that’s any comfort to people who lost homes or family members. Hopefully 2019 will be calmer.
For more information on the 2018 season, see the I.I.I.’s Facts + Statistics: Hurricanes page. And again, get flood insurance.
