Fact Check Team: How does damage from 2024's hurricanes compare to averages?
As we approach the final weeks of , which officially ends on Nov. 30, 2024 has proven to be a year of devastating storms.
In May, (NOAA) predicted an above-normal hurricane season for 2024, forecasting between eight and 13 hurricanes, with four to seven expected to be major storms. With 11 hurricanes already recorded, NOAA's predictions have proven accurate. As of now, we've already seen the 17th named storm, Hurricane Rafael.
Typically, an average hurricane season sees around six hurricanes, but this year's activity has already far surpassed that number, with the potential for even more storms to develop in the final weeks of the season.
Experts have attributed this active hurricane season to several key environmental factors including less wind, warm ocean temperatures, and La Niña, which cools the surface waters of the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, has also played a role in fueling more frequent and intense storms.
While the loss of life and destruction caused by hurricanes is always tragic, the economic toll of this year's storms has also been staggering. As of November 1st, experts estimate that the total damage from this year's hurricane season could range between $127 billion and $129 billion,
However, Hurricane Helene is expected to account for a large portion of these losses. According to , the damage from Hurricane Helene alone could range between $225 billion and $250 billion.
The cost of a hurricane can vary significantly depending on its size, intensity, and the region it affects. On average, a single hurricane causes about $23 billion in damage. However, 2017 remains the , with over $300 billion in damages from hurricanes like Harvey, Irma, and Maria.
One of the most notable developments of this hurricane season was the early arrival of , which became the earliest Category 5 storm on record for the Atlantic hurricane season.
Research in found that hurricanes in the Atlantic from 2001 to 2020 were twice as likely to rapidly intensify into Category 3 or higher storms within 24 hours, compared to those in earlier decades (1971 to 1990). This change is linked to warmer sea surface temperatures, which provide hurricanes with more energy and fuel their rapid intensification.
In addition to its early intensity, Hurricane Beryl also brought significant economic losses. estimates the economic damage from Beryl at $28 billion to $32 billion.
