"The 2005 hurricane season was the most active and destructive on record," according to a summary published by the Benfield Hazard Research Centre at University College London.

The report is issued by Tropical Storm Risk, a consortium combining scientific expertise with resources from the insurance industry.

It highlights these records:

-- Most damage in a hurricane season: 50 billion dollars. Previous record was around 29 billion dollars (in 2005 dollar values), set in 1992 and 2004. These figures only apply to insured losses.

-- Most damaging single storm ever: Katrina, around 38 billion dollars. Previous record was 29 billion dollars (in 2005 dollar values), set by Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Again, these figures only apply to insured losses.

-- Most tropical storms in a single season: 27. Previous record was 21, set in 1933.

-- Most hurricanes in a season: 14. Previous record was 12, set in 1969.

-- Most category 5 hurricanes: three (Katrina, Rita and Wilma). Previous seasonal record was two, set in 1960 and 1961.

-- Most major (category three or greater) hurricanes to strike the United States in one season: four. Previous record was three, set in 1893, 1909, 1933 and 1954.

-- Latest end to a hurricane season: January 6. Previous record was January 5, set in the 1954-5 season.

-- Most powerful hurricane ever: Wilma had a central pressure of 882 millibars. Previous record was 888 mb set by Hurricane Gilbert, in 1988.

-- Greatest storm surge from an Atlantic hurricane: 28-30 feet (8.61-9.23 metres) from Katrina, in Gulfport, Mississippi. Previous record was 24.6 feet (7.57 metres), set by Hurricane Camille in 1969.

The report can be consulted at http://tsr.mssl.ucl.ac.uk/docs/TSRATL2005Verification.pdf

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