Today's Edition
GENEVA (ALETIHAD)
The active 2024 Atlantic hurricane season officially ended on November 30, having left a trail of devastation, casualties and massive economic losses.
Three hurricanes, in particular, were especially destructive. Hurricane Beryl was the earliest Atlantic basin Category-5 hurricane on record, with major impacts in the Caribbean. Hurricanes Helene and Milton caused catastrophic damage in the United States.
The Atlantic basin saw 18 named storms in 2024. Eleven of those were hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or greater) and five intensified to major hurricanes of category 3, 4 or 5 on the Saffir Simpson scale, with winds of 178 kmph or higher, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
It was the ninth successive season with above average activity. An average season produces 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes.
The Atlantic hurricane season lasts from 1 June to 30 November and is carefully monitored by the World Meteorological Organisation Tropical Cyclone Programme.
“Year after year, the climate crisis continues to break new records, resulting in more extreme weather events, including rapidly intensifying tropical cyclones, intense rainfall and flooding,” said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.
“This July’s Hurricane Beryl, the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record, left a trail of destruction across the Caribbean. Despite its ferocity, the hurricane resulted in fewer deaths compared to previous ones. This was thanks to advances made by the countries of the region in strengthening their early warning systems,” said Celeste Saulo.
Early warnings by the WMO community and improved disaster risk management have dramatically reduced fatalities, but economic losses are rising.
In the USA, four hurricanes caused losses of more than one billion dollars this year, whilst Small Island Developing States in the Caribbean still suffer disproportionately.
