Although the 2025 North Atlantic hurricane season appeared relatively benign, it saw a record share of storms reach Category 5 status, serving as a warning of the supercharged storms the industry will likely face more often in a warming world.
Phibbs said, “This season also saw an extraordinary proportion of storms reach Category 5 status, defined by winds above 157mph. A staggering 60% of hurricanes hit the top of the scale – the highest share on record. This aligns with projections that climate change is pushing more storms towards extreme intensity, and potentially devastating consequences if they make landfall.”
He commented on Hurricane Melissa, which struck Jamaica with devastating force: “Sustained winds reached 185mph, making it the joint second strongest hurricane on record.
“Melissa was not an anomaly but a warning of the supercharged storms we are likely to face more often in a warming world. Its rapid intensification – with winds doubling from 68mph to 139mph in a single day – illustrates how warmer oceans are fuelling hurricane strength in the Atlantic basin. This trend is deeply concerning, particularly as rapid intensification remains difficult to forecast, leaving communities with less time to prepare or evacuate.
Phibbs emphasised, “There is a compelling case for stronger building codes across the Northeast and midAtlantic, bringing standards in line with hurricane-prone states such as Florida and Louisiana. Without such measures, the protection gap will widen, leaving more people vulnerable to the catastrophic impact of these storms. This season stands as one of the starkest reminders of the risks we now face.”
Although no hurricanes made landfall in the U.S. this year, MS Amlin’s research indicates that insured losses from U.S. hurricanes could rise nearly 50% under a 2°C global warming scenario.
Under this scenario, Category 4 and 5 hurricanes with winds exceeding 130mph could become more frequent and maintain their strength further north, threatening cities along the upper East Coast — regions historically less exposed and less prepared — due to warming ocean temperatures.
The findings also showed that Florida is projected to see the largest absolute increase, with insured losses rising by 44%. New York’s insured losses could rise by 64%, while Rhode Island and Massachusetts may see increases of more than 70% in average annual loss. The Carolinas may face a 60% increase in losses during major storm years, three times higher than projected increases in Texas.
In addition, a repeat of the 2022 hurricane season, which cost $62 billion, could exceed $90 billion in insured losses under the warming scenario.
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