Hurricane Atlantic Ocean Satellite View.
“From blistering heatwaves to torrential floods and gale-force winds, the planet’s weather patterns are becoming increasingly unpredictable and more dangerous. As climate change accelerates, extreme weather events are intensifying in frequency and ferocity, with sobering implications for both lives and livelihoods around the world,” writes Eeva Ruuska, Americas Operations Manager at Riskline
The science is unequivocal: warmer oceans fuel stronger storms. As global temperatures rise, so does the likelihood of extreme weather events. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), there is an 80 per cent chance that at least one of the next five years will surpass 2024 as the warmest year on record. The WMO also estimates there’s a 70 per cent chance the 2025–2029 average will exceed the critical 1.5°C mark above pre-industrial levels.
This warming is already manifesting in the world’s storm statistics. The cyclone intensity has risen noticeably over the past 30 years, along with an increase in surface temperature in the tropical North Atlantic. Storms intensify more rapidly than before, making it harder to predict the potential danger. At the same time, hurricanes also move more slowly, making more damage possible.
The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season was officially classified as “above average”, producing 18 named storms, four more than the long-term annual average. Notably, the reach of these systems is expanding. Once confined largely to tropical and sub-tropical zones, storms are now striking previously unaffected regions, including Central Europe and the Mediterranean. The Mediterranean cyclone (or “Medicane”) Daniel and Hurricane Kirk both offered stark reminders in 2024 that no region is immune.
The Economic Toll of Storms
As the storms grow stronger, the financial damage is also surging. Between 1970 and 2021, the world witnessed nearly 12,000 disasters linked to weather, climate, and water extremes. This resulted in more than 2 million deaths and staggering economic losses totalling US$4.3 trillion.
In the European Union, storm-related flooding has cost over €170 billion in the past three decades. In the United Kingdom, one in five homes suffered storm damage between 2020 and 2024, while the losses from natural catastrophes totalled £596.6 million in 2024. Developing regions, however, bear the brunt of the impact due to more vulnerable infrastructure.
Take Mozambique: in December 2024, Cyclone Chido devastated the country’s coastal regions. Over 120 people lost their lives, and more than 450,000 were affected. According to preliminary findings from Multi-Sectoral Initial Rapid Assessments, the cyclone caused widespread destruction. An estimated 95 per cent of homes, 73 per cent of schools, 62 per cent of farmland, 55 per cent of markets, and 44 per cent of healthcare facilities were damaged or destroyed. Chido was one of the costliest cyclones in the basin, with insured losses in Mayotte exceeding US$675 million.
Where Wind is Worsening
Some places are already notorious for their wild winds, and the risk is only expected to grow. Wellington, in New Zealand, frequently tops global rankings, with gusts channelled through the Cook Strait occasionally exceeding 150 mph. At the other extreme, Commonwealth Bay, in Antarctica, holds the title of the windiest place on Earth, with katabatic winds regularly surpassing 150 mph and an annual average of 50 mph, according to both the Guinness World Records and National Geographic.
Europe is not exempt. Gruissan, a town in southern France, experiences the Tramontane wind on more than 300 days a year. Patagonia’s summer winds are so strong in parts of Punta Arenas that ropes are tied between buildings to protect pedestrians. Dodge City, in Kansas, and Newfoundland, in Canada, also face relentless winds, with Newfoundland hit by frequent coastal storms and blizzards.
With weather models showing increased wind activity along storm corridors, from the Caribbean to the Pacific Rim and even into the heart of Europe, these regions are likely to see both stronger and more frequent extreme events in the years ahead.
Travel and Tourism in the Firing Line
The travel and tourism industries are highly sensitive to climate volatility. The impact of extreme weather events is becoming increasingly disruptive. Hurricanes and cyclones routinely lead to mass flight cancellations, airport shutdowns, and flooded roads. In December 2024, Cyclone Chido alone disrupted travel across several southern African nations, stranding tourists and forcing emergency evacuations.
Beyond the immediate chaos, recovery can take months or even years. Hotels, resorts and transport infrastructure often sustain severe damage, leading to significant revenue losses. Destinations that rely heavily on tourism, such as island nations or coastal hotspots, are especially vulnerable. Even after infrastructure is rebuilt, the lingering perception of risk can discourage travellers. This impacts local economies long after the skies clear.
There’s also a rising concern over traveller safety. Tourists caught in the path of storms may face serious health risks or be subject to emergency evacuation procedures. This is hardly the kind of experience anyone books a holiday for. These mounting impacts signal a turning point, not just for tourism, but for how we adapt to a rapidly changing world.
The New Climate Reality
As climate change continues to redraw the weather map, the need for resilience planning has never been more urgent. Regions once considered safe from hurricanes and cyclones are now preparing for the unexpected. Governments, businesses, and travellers must grapple with the new normal: a world where storms are stronger, costlier, and closer to home than ever before.
In this context, resilience isn’t just about better forecasting or stronger infrastructure. It requires a fundamental rethinking of how we live, move, and build in a world reshaped by climate extremes. From urban planning to travel logistics, every system must be retooled with climate in mind.
Without urgent, coordinated action to reduce global emissions and scale up climate adaptation efforts, extreme weather will no longer be the exception. It will define our everyday lives. The question is no longer if another storm will strike, but when and how ready we are to withstand its impact. Our ability to plan today will decide whether communities endure the storm or are left to face the devastating aftermath unprepared.
Thanks to Eeva Ruuska from Riskline for outlining the scientific consensus.
Thanks also to Ashley Roberts for connecting us with the story.
Riskline
Riskline is a leading travel risk intelligence company in operation since 2007 and based in Copenhagen, Denmark. Riskline’s world-class information and analysis services are trusted by small businesses and Fortune 500 companies across a wide range of industries. For further information please visit https://riskline.com/
