Tropical Cyclone
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The possible shift from ‘wind’ to ‘water’ as the main driver of hurricane loss has countless implications for an industry that must keep up with an ever-changing risk landscape.” - Dr. Paul Wilson, hurricane expert and Vice President of Model Development |
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Understanding Tropical Cyclone Risk:
Cyclones, Hurricanes, and Typhoons
Tropical cyclones, known as hurricanes in the Atlantic and eastern Pacific Oceans, typhoons in the western North Pacific and South Pacific, and cyclones in the Indian Ocean, are born from a number of elements, such as sea surface temperature, location, and coastal topography.
The RMS approach to modeling tropical cyclone risk reflects the dynamic behavior of storms from formation to decay, representing the full spectrum of landfalling and bypassing storms. Each model component is calibrated and validated against billions of dollars of forensic claims and observational data.
Understanding Regional Differences in Hazard
Regional differences can be vast when it comes to surrounding hazards and atmospheric conditions. Our tropical cyclone models account for unique conditions specific to each location, including typhoon-related wind and flood in China and Hong Kong, transitioning storms in Japan, the U.S., and Canada, and storm surge in coastal areas.
Advanced Insights Into Building Vulnerability
RMS models include hundreds of vulnerability functions that reflect the latest market practices, data, and insights from recent events, such as Hurricane Irene and Superstorm Sandy, where nearly $3 billion in claims analysis allowed new insights into management of coastal flood risk in basements.
The Most Advanced Storm Surge Model
RMS integrates a hydrodynamic, time-stepping storm surge model solution into hurricane models. Our models simulate complex interactions between wind and waves throughout a hurricane’s lifecycle; account for changes in a storm’s size or intensity prior to landfall; capture the dynamic flow of water around complex coastlines; and enable an accurate, comprehensive view of coastal flood risk down to the local level.
