Given the scale of natural disasters already experienced in 2011—not to mention the dire predictions being made by meteorological experts and forecasters—one gets the feeling that the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season is going to abide by Murphy's Law: Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.

Even though recent predictions by forecasters indicate an expectation of fewer tropical storms forming in 2011 than 2010, they still predict a year of activity that is far above average. And with no significant land-falling hurricanes in 2010, many may be feeling the industry's luck has run out.

To kick off our coverage of the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season and keep you in the know, this guide serves to give you the latest coverage of weather forecasts, techniques for handling catastrophe claims and modeling hurricane risks, storm names, and more.

Throughout the year, we'll also be constantly updating our list of stories related to the tropical storm season. Go to 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season and bookmark it to stay up to date on PropertyCasualty360.com's continuing coverage as we post it.

 

As the 2011 Atlantic tropical storm season gets underway today, most forecasters indicate it will be a busy year for storms, with a high likelihood of a hurricane making landfall along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts.

 

Innovations in science and the availability of storm data have led to a refined approach for assessing inland storm decay, building vulnerability, and storm surge. Insurers can utilize these innovations to prepare for the predicted "above-average" levels of activity ahead.

 

Catastrophe claims are not just bigger than other claims, they also present their own issues, and are in fact too big and too complex for you to be expected to handle them alone.

 

Wondering which tropical storm names we'll be discussing in the news this year? Here is the list of names that will be used when tropical storms form in the Atlantic.

 

In October 2010, the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) conducted several full-scale high-wind/hurricane test demonstrations at its multi-risk Research Center in South Carolina.

 

 

Predictions for 2011 Atlantic Hurricane SeasonPredicting 2011 Hurricane Season Could Be Tough
By Tamara Lush, Associated Press

The tough task of guessing what hurricane season will look like could be even more difficult this year for forecasters, who won't be able to rely on the relatively predictable forces known as El Nino and La Nina.

 

As the U.S. prepares for what forecasters say will be another above-average hurricane season, Fitch Ratings says first-quarter global catastrophes and the spring tornadoes have already exhausted many reinsurers' 2011 catastrophe budgets.

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