Historic Hurricane Idalia
In August 2023, Hurricane Idalia made history by becoming the first major hurricane to make landfall in the Big Bend of Florida. AccuWeather accurately predicted the track, intensity, winds, and storm surge of Hurricane Idalia ahead of any other source. AccuWeather's preliminary estimate of the total damage and economic loss from Hurricane Idalia in the southeastern United States is $18 billion to $20 billion. AccuWeather for Business played a crucial role in helping companies and communities better prepare.
AccuWeather's Early Warning
AccuWeather’s Hurricane Experts warned businesses EIGHT days AHEAD of Hurricane Idalia’s landfall. AccuWeather was the only source to say that parts of the Southeast could face "flooding rainfall and damaging winds" from an impending tropical system.
AccuWeather's superior forecasts were issued FIVE DAYS AHEAD of Idalia’s landfall, and a FULL DAY AHEAD of the National Hurricane Center (NHC). AccuWeather’s alert came on a Friday, allowing businesses to make preparations over the weekend.
AccuWeather's Spot-On Track Forecast
As Hurricane Idalia approached the coast, AccuWeather showcased its Superior Accuracy™, with its forecasts of its track, intensity, storm surge, and wind speed forecasts, outperforming all other sources. The eventual landfall point of Idalia was just 43 miles away from AccuWeather's initial landfall point, FOUR TIMES MORE ACCURATE than the average NHC track from that time away.
AccuWeather’s Superior Accuracy
Here are some examples that set AccuWeather apart:
- Track/Intensity: AccuWeather's track was 4% more accurate and intensity forecasts were 1% more accurate than the NHC.
- Storm Surge: AccuWeather was the first to predict a 10- to 15-foot surge in the Big Bend of Florida, TWO DAYS AHEAD of the NHC. In Charleston, South Carolina, AccuWeather accurately predicted a 3- to 6-foot storm surge THREE DAYS IN ADVANCE, setting them apart from other sources.
- Wind Speed: Two days before landfall, AccuWeather forecast Idalia's sustained winds to be 125 mph, while other sources predicted 115 or 120 mph. AccuWeather was also the first to indicate the potential for Idalia to briefly become a Category 4 storm, which it did for two hours shortly before landfall.
Detailed and Unique Language
AccuWeather's forecasts included unique and detailed language not found anywhere else. Some examples include:
- "A hurricane may be on the way next week; check AccuWeather often."
- "Rainbands can produce tornadoes; significant surge arriving at night."
- "Dangerous storm surge; possible flooding and a tornado."
- "Rush preparations to completion; life-threatening hurricane conditions begin tonight."
While other sources provided generic impact forecasts, AccuWeather's hurricane experts offered detailed maps for rainfall, maximum sustained winds, risk to lives and property, and 11 other impact layers. The exclusive AccuWeather AssetReport™ allowed business customers to identify specific company assets at risk and provided location-specific details such as expected rainfall amounts, peak wind gusts, and the timing of winds at tropical storm force.
AccuWeather For Business can help companies and communities better prepare for hurricanes and keep their employees and customers safer.
Hurricanes are not just a problem along the coast, they can also impact businesses several hundred miles inland. Don't wait for an imminent hurricane or tropical storm to prepare your business for one. The message is clear: start planning now.
An example of AccuWeather’s Superior Accuracy™, AccuWeather’s hurricane track forecasts are 3% more accurate than the National Hurricane Center and 13% more accurate in forecasting the intensity of hurricane winds along the path.
Want to learn more about how AccuWeather’s Hurricane Warning Service can help your business or community better prepare for tropical threats? Contact one of our experts today.
The AccuWeather Advantage
AccuWeather's hurricane tracking is 3% more accurate than the National Hurricane Center and 13% more accurate on the intensity of the hurricane winds along the path. For example, AccuWeather was the only source to forecast a 16- to 20-foot storm surge ahead of the disaster in Fort Myers from Hurricane Ian that killed over 100 people. Our competitors predicted 12-16 feet, leaving many businesses in the path of that dangerous storm surge. Also, the forecasts from AccuWeather Hurricane Experts are often initiated well before the NHC and any other source, updated more frequently, and have 14 unique layers describing impacts such as rainfall, wind gusts, and the risk to lives and property that are exclusively made available by AccuWeather.
AccuWeather’s track record in weather forecasting and warnings has saved our clients tens of billions of dollars, saved the lives of their employees and customers and minimized reputational harm. Throughout our 60+ year history, AccuWeather has saved over 10,000 lives and prevented injuries to over 100,000 people.
Serving more than half of the Fortune 500 companies and thousands of businesses globally, AccuWeather is recognized as the most accurate source of weather forecasts, advanced warnings and data in the world.
