As Peak Seasons Approach, Experts Urge Immediate Preparedness Amidst Record-Setting Disaster Costs
With the climatological peaks of hurricane and wildfire seasons fast approaching, AccuWeather expert meteorologists are issuing a critical warning: tropical storm development in the Atlantic and wildfire risks across the western U.S. are expected to rapidly intensify in the coming weeks.
This comes as the nation grapples with a staggering $375 billion to $421 billion in damage and economic losses from extreme weather events so far this year, potentially pushing 2025 towards a grim milestone of nearly a trillion dollars in disaster costs.
AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter emphasized the urgency of preparedness, stating, “Our nation has been hit exceptionally hard by catastrophic and heartbreaking weather disasters this year.
READ: NOAA And CSU Forecast Above-Normal 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season, Urge Preparedness
Historically, many of the high-impact and costliest weather disasters in America typically happen during the months of August, September and October.” He urged individuals and businesses to review safety plans, update insurance policies, and ensure emergency supplies are restocked.
The Atlantic hurricane season is already ahead of schedule with three named storms. Tropical Storm Chantal, which made landfall in South Carolina over the Independence Day weekend, caused an estimated $4 billion to $6 billion in damage and economic loss. AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva anticipates a “much more active and volatile” second half of the season, with a noticeable uptick in development expected in early August, leading up to the climatological peak on September 10.
DaSilva also warned of an increased risk of “homegrown tropical development” and rapid intensification near coastal cities due to abnormally warm water temperatures, particularly in the Gulf of Mexico and the southwestern Atlantic. Areas like Texas, Louisiana, the western coast of Florida, North Carolina, and Atlantic Canada face a higher risk of direct impacts this season.
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Concurrently, the western U.S. is bracing for a heightened wildfire threat. AccuWeather® Lead Long-Range Expert Paul Pastelok noted that more than 17% of the contiguous U.S. is currently experiencing severe, extreme, or exceptional drought conditions – a significant increase from last year.
With over 3 million acres already burned across the U.S. this year and Canada facing its second-worst wildfire year on record (scorching 15 million acres), the risk for new fires to spark and spread is growing. Pastelok highlighted northern and central California, central and eastern Oregon, and western Idaho as areas of very high risk this fall, citing rapidly drying vegetation and the potential for early offshore wind events in September.
AccuWeather is forecasting 7 million to 9 million acres of land to burn across America this year, exceeding the historical average. The catastrophic wildfires in Southern California in January, which caused an estimated $250 billion to $275 billion in losses, serve as a stark reminder of the devastating potential.
READ: Colorado Researchers Decrease 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Forecast, Still Expect Above-Normal Season
Experts stress the importance of proactive measures: creating defensible spaces around homes, reviewing insurance policies, documenting property with photos, and understanding evacuation routes. “The risk of rapidly intensifying storms in exceptionally warm waters can leave everyone with less time to react, prepare and evacuate,” DaSilva warned.
With the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season forecast predicting 13-18 named storms, including 7-10 hurricanes and three to six direct U.S. impacts, and the wildfire season gaining momentum, AccuWeather continues to urge vigilance and preparedness. The growing financial and emotional toll of extreme weather underscores the critical need for every individual and business to take severe weather threats seriously.
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