Looking Back at Hurricane Season 2017

The Atlantic Hurricane Season officially ends on November 30th, making 2017 one of the more devastating years in recent history. Many residents along the Gulf Coast of the U.S. and significant portions of the Caribbean are still recovering from the destruction brought by major hurricanes. As the hurricane season comes to a close, TripAssure looks back at the storm activity over the year and offers travel protection solutions for those bound for the areas that have been most impacted.

 

16 Named Storms in 2017

As of November 22nd, there were 16 named storms in 2017. (For a detailed explanation of the naming process and choices for 2017, please read Named Storms and the Impact on Travel Protection). Here is a list of the named storms this year.

  1. Tropical Storm Arlene (April 19-21)
  2. Tropical Storm Bret (June 19-20)
  3. Tropical Storm Cindy (June 20-23)
  4. Tropical Storm Don (July 17-18)
  5. Tropical Storm Emily (July 31 – August 1)
  6. Hurricane Franklin (August 6-10)
  7. Hurricane Gert (August 13-17)
  8. Hurricane Harvey (August 17 – September 1)
  9. Hurricane Irma (August 30 – September 12)
  10. Hurricane Jose (September 5-22)
  11. Hurricane Katia (September 5-9)
  12. Hurricane Lee (September 15-30)
  13. Hurricane Maria (September 16-30)
  14. Hurricane Nate (October 4-9)
  15. Hurricane Ophelia (October 9-15)
  16. Tropical Storm Phillippe (October 28-29)

For those keeping score at home, that is 6 tropical storms and 10 hurricanes. Of the 10 hurricanes, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) categorized 6 of them as major hurricanes (reached Category 3 or higher): Harvey, Irma, Jose, Lee, Maria, and Ophelia.

 

Aftermath of Harvey and Irma

Of these storms, Hurricanes Harvey and Irma were catastrophic for many around the Gulf Coast, Atlantic Coast, and the Caribbean. Progress has been made, but many areas are still working to recover basic elements of infrastructure. Travelers with upcoming travel planned for these regions will likely have questions about how travel protection can help. All three TripAssure plans allow the trip cost to be insured in case of Trip Cancellation due to the accommodations at the destination being uninhabitable. Those with TripAssure Complete who qualify for the Cancel For Any Reason benefit will have the option to cancel the trip at least 2 days prior to departure and receive 75% of the insured trip cost that was pre-paid and is not refunded. Travelers with questions about their upcoming trip should refer to their plan documents for specific details and are encouraged to contact TripAssure with any questions.

 

What Were The Predictions?

In May, NOAA predicted a 45% of an above average year, with a 70% likelihood of 11-17 named storms, 5-9 becoming hurricanes, and 2-4 major hurricanes. NOAA increased their prediction of an above average year from 45% to 60% in August, based on the early season activity to that point. Rebuffing any clichés about meteorologists’ accuracy, NOAA’s predictions proved reliable.

 

Travel Protection for Next Hurricane Season

It is always a good idea to purchase a travel protection plan early in the travel planning process (Here are 5 Reasons to Book Travel Protection Early), and planning for next hurricane season is no different. Having travel protection before a storm is named is necessary in order to cover damage from that storm. To learn more about what coverage is available for named storms, please read the Travel Protection Guide for Hurricane Season.

 

This information is meant to be a summary. For specific details of coverage, always refer to the plan documents. If you have any questions, please contact TripAssure and we will be happy to assist you.