Risk Management Solutions (RMS) reports that the 2010 Atlantic Hurricane season had the second highest number of hurricanes since records began in 1851. The season, which ended Nov. 30, also tied for the second most number of named hurricanes, with 12 named hurricanes. Only 2005 had more named hurricanes, with 15.
The season had 19 named storms, and its storms, hurricanes and major hurricanes are almost twice as high as the long-term averages since 1950 and higher than the averages since 1995.
The U.S. experienced a tropical storm landfall, but was spared hurricane landfalls. Mexico was struck by two hurricanes, Karl and Alex, and Belize was hit by Hurricane Richard.
RMS anticipates that total insured losses from the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season will be less than $500 million. Reports suggest that damage in Mexico from Hurricanes Alex and Karl to be around $7.5 billion, but only a minority of that cost is insured.
RMS will issue a comprehensive review of the 2010 hurricane season in a white paper in January 2011.