Lockton Re Launches New Series on Storm Dynamics - Underlying climate related changes are making it challenging to predict storm dynamics

Lockton Re, the reinsurance business of the world’s largest privately held independent insurance broker, launched a new research series today, with the first part being: Storm Dynamics and The Reinsurance Industry – Exploring Hurricane, Tropical Cyclone, and Typhoon Patterns and Trends.

This new research focuses on the hurricane peril, including tropical cyclone and typhoon patterns, impacts to climates that could alter the nature of this peril, and Lockton Re’s view of storm trends and their potential development.

Claude Yoder, Global Head of Analytics for Lockton Re, comments, “Underlying climate related changes are making it challenging to predict storm dynamics. Past focus on frequency and severity of storms may have missed more fundamental global climate changes. Some of those changes are becoming more evident as the likelihood of loss causing storms has increased.”

In three additional follow-up publications, Lockton Re will explore the industry’s exposure to hurricanes and the fast-changing nature of home and building structures and their ability to withstand storms; a unique view of comprehensive risk transfer option creation; and how placement techniques are trending and improving within the property (re)insurance market.

“We’re seeing an uptick in the strength of these storms. Take the 2022 hurricane season, which was average in terms of hurricane activity in the North Atlantic, yet it was the third costliest on record,” added Cheryl Fanelli, Global Head of Catastrophe Modelling for Lockton Re.

“Wind speed alone is no longer a good predictor of damages. As climate change has increased precipitation and made storm surge more likely, even lower categorized storms (as a function of wind speed), can create material loss,” concludes Claude Yoder.

Click here to read the full report.