Why are there fewer deaths today from hurricanes?

Answer 1

The hurricane record for the past hundred years shows that the period from 1900 to 1950 had a higher average number of hurricanes than the period from 1950 to present. Many meteorologists have chalked this up to the effects of global warming changing the temperature of the oceans as well as wind patterns, but there is still a large amount of debate over the true causes of the shifts in weather events such as hurricanes.

Answer 2

It has been a pretty active year (2010) in the Atlantic Basin at least. Much of this can be attributed to the La Nina that we currently have, which tends to reduce the amount of wind shear encountered by these storms. It essentially makes it a little bit easier for them to get organized and strengthen, but it is by no means the only reason for the patterns we see in Atlantic hurricanes for this or any other year.

Answer 3

First the statistics for the North Atlantic:

• 2005

  Three of the six most powerful hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic basin (Katrina, Rita, Wilma), including the most destructive hurricane in U.S. history (Katrina); the first time three category 5 hurricanes have ever been recorded in the same year in the Atlantic basin.

• 2006

  A quiet year with 2 major hurricanes (category 3 or above), none at level 5.

• 2007

  2 major hurricanes, both category 5; the first time 2 hurricanes made landfall as category 5 during the same season.

• 2008

  5 major hurricanes, none at level 5.

The year 2006 was the quietest year listed, and corresponded with a El Nino event, which typically corresponds with lower hurricane activity in the Atlantic, although this year was somewhat more active than would otherwise be expected during an El Nino event. Another factor calming the Atlantic in 2006 might have been extremely large dust storms that covered the tropical Atlantic Ocean in the early summer of 2006.

The year 2008 had a quite high number of major Atlantic storms at category 3 or 4, but none at category 5. Statistically it would be hard to conclude anything from this data, since category 3 and 4 hurricanes were up, but category 5 hurricanes were down.

The years 2005 and 2007 set new records for hurricane activity. 2005 was the first time three category 5 hurricanes have ever been recorded in the same year in the Atlantic basin; 2007 was the first time 2 hurricanes made landfall as category 5 during the same season. This suggests that apart from year-to-year fluctuations, there could be an upward trend in category 5 hurricane activity.

Based on this limited range of observations and analyses, category 5 hurricanes have decreased in number during some years because of normal short-term fluctuations against a long-term upward trend.

Answer 4

El Niño causes increased wind shear over the Atlantic. Wind shear is a condition in which the speed and direction of wind changes with altitude. This condition disrupts the structure of tropical systems, preventing them from organizing and strengthening into hurricanes. It can also cause already existing hurricanes to degenerate.

Answer 5

We have better warnings that allow people to evacuate or take cover. Additionally, some town and cites, such as Galveston, Texas, have seawalls to protect from the storm surge of a hurricane.