Hurricane intensification: a changing reality
About the session
Hurricanes are now converting to major Category 3+ events at 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, will 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
Date: Wednesday December 10, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM ET | 3:00 PM GMT | 4:00 PM CET
Duration: 60 minutes
Format: Live webinar on Zoom
Agenda
Introduction
The intensification problem: The science of change
(Re)insurance in a riskier world
The path forward: Physics-based modelling
Why major hurricanes matter most
Closing discussion and audience Q&A
About the 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 the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources 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 insight strategy on natural hazard, climate, and sustainability topics. 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.
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