Improving Hurricane Forecasting
Monday, June 18th, 2001 Catastrophe PropertyIt’s often been said that time is money, and nowhere is that more true than in the dicey business of forecasting a hurricane’s path and the damage it will cause. A more accurate forecast of the path a storm will take as it touches land gives those in that path more time to prepare. This can mitigate damages, which is certainly utmost in the minds of insurers. The good news for insurers is that upgraded equipment and technologies have enabled the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to provide data that contributes to more accurate hurricane forecasts. In fact, according to Captain Mark S. Finke, chief of staff at NOAA’s Aircraft Operations Center at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, there has been a "significant improvement in forecast accuracy" thanks to some new aircraft and equipment at the facility.
