Hurricane intensification: a changing reality

About the session

Hurricanes are now converting to major Category 3+ events at far higher rates than historical norms. Warmer oceans are fuelling faster intensification, and the climate baseline used in many traditional models no longer reflects today’s reality.

In this 60-minute session, Dr. Daniel Swain, climate scientist known for his research on extreme weather, and Steve Bowen, Chief Science Officer at Gallagher Re, break down the science behind rapid intensification, its implications for underwriting and capital, and the modelling approaches needed to understand tomorrow’s storms, not yesterday’s.

Event details

• Duration: 60 minutes

• Format: Webinar replay

Agenda

1. Introduction

2. The intensification problem: The science of change

3. (Re)insurance in a riskier world

4. The path forward: Physics-based modelling

5. Why major hurricanes matter most

6. Closing discussion and audience Q&A

Speakers

Dr. Daniel Swain - Climate Scientist

Dr. Daniel Swain is a climate scientist specialising in extreme weather and climate change. He holds research roles with UCLA, the California Institute for Water Resources (UC ANR), and the National Center for Atmospheric Research, and is widely recognised for his work on the drivers of storms, floods, and other extreme events.

Steve Bowen - Chief Science Officer, Gallagher Re

Steve Bowen is the Chief Science Officer at Gallagher Re, leading the firm’s global climate and catastrophe insight strategy. With a background in meteorology and nearly two decades in insurance analytics, he is a prominent voice on natural hazard trends, climate risk, and their impact on the (re)insurance sector.