A very active tropical cyclone season is projected for 2024 in the Atlantic basin, according to a forecast released April 4, 2024, by Colorado State University’s (CSU) Department of Atmospheric Science.

Led by senior research scientist Phil Klotzbach, Ph.D., also a non-resident scholar at the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I), the CSU Tropical Meteorology Project forecasts 23 named storms, 11 hurricanes and five major hurricanes during the 2024 season, which starts on June 1 and continues through Nov. 30.

CSU’s 2024 forecast calls for a 62 percent chance of a major hurricane making a mainland U.S. landfall (average from 1880 to 2020 is 43 percent), 34 percent for the U.S. East Coast including the Florida Peninsula (versus 21 percent historical average), and 42 percent for the Gulf Coast from the Florida Panhandle westward to Brownsville, Texas (versus 27 percent historical average).

A typical Atlantic season has 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes.

The 2023 season produced 20 named storms and seven hurricanes. Three reached major hurricane intensity. Major hurricanes are defined as those with wind speeds reaching Category 3, 4 or 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

One hurricane and two tropical storms made continental U.S. landfalls last year. Category 3 Hurricane Idalia struck Florida’s Big Bend region near Keaton Beach on Aug. 30 with wind speeds of 115 mph. 

It was the third hurricane, and second major hurricane, to make a Florida landfall over the past two seasons. Idalia caused storm surge inundation of 7 to 12 feet and widespread flooding in Florida and throughout the Southeast.

Other named storms that made U.S. landfalls in 2023 included Tropical Storm Harold, which made landfall near South Padre Island, Texas, on Aug. 22; and Tropical Storm Ophelia, which made landfall near Emerald Isle, N.C., on Sept. 23.

“The widespread damage incurred from Idalia last year highlighted the importance of being financially protected from catastrophic losses and that includes having adequate levels of property insurance and flood coverage," said Sean Kevelighan, CEO, Triple-I.

Flood policies are offered through FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and dozens of private insurers. 

The installation of a wind-rated garage door and storm shutters also boost a home’s resilience to a hurricane’s damaging winds, according to the Triple-I, and can potentially generate savings on a homeowner’s insurance premium.

Private-passenger vehicles damaged or destroyed by either wind or flooding are covered under the optional comprehensive portion of an auto insurance policy.

Triple-I offers numerous hurricane season preparedness tips. These include:

• Developing a photo/video inventory of your possessions and your home’s exterior, which will ease the claims-filing process.
• Preparing a hurricane emergency kit with a minimum two-week supply of essential items, such as drinking water, non-perishable food, medications, flashlights, and extra batteries.
• Creating an evacuation plan well before any storm warnings are issued.