Insurers could be hit with fewer tropical storm claims in 2007 if Met Office predictions for a below-normal season prove correct.
The Met Office has revealed there are likely to be 10 tropical storms in the North Atlantic during the July to November period.
This is lower than the 1990-2005 long-term average of 12.4 with a 70% chance that the number will be in the range from seven to 13.
The tropical storm frequency forecast was revealed as the Met Office unveiled a new cutting edge tropical storm forecasting tool – the only one in the world produced using global climate models.
It is expected to be of great help to insurers when preparing for disasters, using laws based on physics as opposed to the traditional statistical patterns or past behaviours.
The climate prediction model takes into account the impacts of the ocean and atmosphere on the forecast for the next six months.
