Hurricane Season 2015 – What’s happening?
August 31, 2015
So far the 2015 Hurricane Season has brought 6 named systems in the Atlantic Basin Region and 13 named systems in the Eastern Pacific Region. We are currently experiencing three systems in these two regions; two of systems are located in the Pacific region, Hurricane JIMENA a CAT 4 and IGNACIO a CAT 2 as registered on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. The third system is located in the Atlantic region, Hurricane FRED a CAT 1 as is currently classified.
In the Eastern Pacific region we have already seen 4 major hurricanes (over a CAT 3 rating) with 3 remaining months to the season. The activity in the Eastern Pacific region according to the NOAA cited El Nino’s tendency for reduced wind shear and more storm tracks coming from the eastern Pacific as reasons to expect an active season in the central Pacific Basin.
See below some statistics on previous named storms in the two regions versus the current status of storms for the 2015 season. (Sources: (NWS) National Weather Service, (NHC) NOAA National Hurricane Center)
Atlantic Basin Region
Average cumulative number of systems per year, 1966-2009
- Named Storms (systems) – 11
- Hurricanes – 6
- Major Hurricanes (rated a CAT 3 or greater) – 2
Number of systems 2015
- Named Storms – 6
- Hurricanes – 2
- Major Hurricanes – 1
Named Storms in Atlantic Basin Region in 2015, to date:
- Tropical Storm ANA
- Tropical Storm BILL
- Tropical Storm CLAUDETTE
- Hurricane DANNY-CAT 3
- Tropical Storm ERIKA
- Hurricane FRED-CAT 1
Eastern Pacific Region
Average cumulative number of systems per year, 1971-2009
- Named Storms (systems) – 15
- Hurricanes – 8
- Major Hurricanes (rated a CAT 3 or greater) – 3
Number of systems 2015
- Named Storms – 13
- Hurricanes – 8
- Major Hurricanes – 4
Named Storms in Eastern Pacific Region in 2015, to date:
- Hurricane ANDRES- CAT 4
- Hurricane BLANCA- CAT 2
- Hurricane CARLOS-CAT 1
- Tropical Depression FOUR-E
- Hurricane DOLORES-CAT 4
- Tropical Storm ENRIQUE
- Tropical Storm FELICIA
- Tropical Depression EIGHT-E
- Hurricane GUILLERMO-CAT 2
- Hurricane HILDA-CAT 4
- Tropical Depression ELEVEN-E
- Hurricane IGNACIO-CAT 2
- Hurricane JIMENA-CAT 4
Be Prepared for a Hurricane
Both the east and west coasts have the potential of facing a hurricane and/or a tropical storm. Whether you have a business, own or operate a resort, own personal property on the east coast, gulf or even the west coast it is vital to have a plan in place well in advance of possible catastrophic events in order to protect you and your family, your employees, your guests or customers, and your business.
History teaches that a lack of hurricane awareness and preparation are common threads among all major hurricane disasters. By knowing your vulnerability and what actions you should take, you can be better prepared for a major hurricane or tropical storm.
Hurricane hazards come in many forms, including storm surge when ocean waters flood the shore, heavy rainfall that may cause flooding near and even hundreds of miles from the coast, devastating high winds that blow down trees, roofs and whole buildings, tornadoes that whip away everything in their path, and deadly rip currents that pull swimmers out to sea, even those on beaches hundreds of miles away from a hurricane zone. The National Weather Service is responsible for protecting life and property by issuing timely watches and warnings, but it is essential that you be ready before a storm approaches.
At The Armstrong Company Insurance Consultants, we strive to educate and inform our clients of Disaster Preparedness. Contact us today and see what we can do for you!
The Armstrong Company Insurance Consultants (License #0440075)