Blog
Hurricane Forecasts vs. Reality: What the Last 10 Years Tell Us
Each spring, meteorologists and media outlets eagerly anticipate the release of the Colorado State University (CSU) Atlantic Hurricane Season Forecast. These forecasts estimate how many storms may form during the upcoming season and often shape headlines about whether the year will be “active” or “quiet.” Below is a summary of the most recent forecast: Forecast Parameters CSU Forecast for 2026 Average for 1991-2020 Named Storms 13 14.4 Named Storm Days 55 69.4 Hurricanes 6 7.2 Hurricane Days 20 27 Major [...]
What Stadium Construction Teaches Us About Weather Risk
Building a professional sports stadium or arena is one of the most complex construction projects imaginable. These projects involve years of planning, hundreds of contractors, and billions of dollars in investment. Despite detailed planning and cost modeling, one reality continues to impact nearly every large construction project: Weather delays. Looking at the last 25 professional sports stadiums and arenas built in North America, one pattern becomes clear. Many projects that began with carefully calculated budgets ended up costing far more [...]
What One Rainy Weekend Cost the Event Industry
April 17–19, 2026, looked like a typical spring weekend, until the weather rolled in and disrupted outdoor events across the country. From Texas to New Jersey, festivals were canceled, evacuated, or rescheduled due to rain, storms, wind, and even fire-weather conditions. A few examples: Two Step Inn – Evacuated and canceled Frontier Fiesta – Shut down mid-event Tejano Explosion – Rescheduled Bloomfest – Canceled due to high winds These are just the events that made headlines. The Cost Adds Up [...]
Why Rainfall Insurance Should Rarely Be Placed in the Surplus Lines Market
Rainfall insurance is commonly used by event organizers, agriculture operations, golf courses, and construction projects to protect against financial losses caused by too much rain. Because it is considered a specialty coverage, many people assume rainfall insurance must be placed in the surplus lines market with a non-admitted insurer. In reality, that assumption is often incorrect. In most states, there are at least three admitted insurers capable of providing rainfall insurance, which means the coverage should generally be placed in [...]
Weather Insurance for Golf Tournaments – Traditional Rain Insurance May Not Always Make the Cut
Like many events that take place outdoors, inclement weather can ruin and even cancel a golf tournament. However, golf tournaments have their own set of weather issues regarding the type and timing of weather events. To address these issues, there are a variety of customizable insurance policies available to those planning golf tournaments: Event Cancellation Insurance Adverse weather may merely make tournament play less enjoyable, or it can interrupt play for a matter of hours, a full day, or [...]
It’s Raining On Your Parade. Now What?
When weather doesn’t cooperate for your outdoor event, you need to act fast to communicate the situation to attendees and preserve your reputation. Here’s how: Act Fast You should begin monitoring the weather a week before your event, so you can prepare for any expected weather. However, keep in mind that there are no guarantees when it comes to the forecast, so be ready for anything. As soon as you realize weather will interfere with your event, you need [...]
Three Tips to Make the Most of Your Golf Outing
Planning a golf outing is no small undertaking. But with a lot of preparation and a little luck, your golf outing will be a hole in one! Follow the advice below for help making your golf outing a huge success. Offer a Big Prize Offering a big prize, such as that for a hole-in-one competition or a putting contest, is a great way to add some fun and attract more players to your golf outing. The best part of [...]
When “Extras” Become Red Flags: The Hidden Risk of Insurance Rebating
Event organizers are often approached with offers that sound helpful on the surface. A broker contributes sponsorship dollars to an event. Another provides free items or perks to clients who purchase coverage. At first glance, these gestures may appear to provide added value or industry goodwill. In reality, they can signal a serious problem. In most states, insurance rebating laws prohibit insurance brokers from providing items of value, cash, sponsorship payments, or other inducements that are tied to the purchase [...]
Why Your Weather Insurance Partner Should Think Like an Event Organizer
If you run a fair, festival, amphitheater, or outdoor event, you already know this: weather isn’t a side issue. It’s the variable that can change everything. A clear forecast can mean record attendance. A steady rain can cut walk-up ticket sales in half. Lightning can shut down a headliner. Extreme heat can keep families home. When you’re choosing a weather insurance provider, you’re not just comparing policies. You’re choosing a partner who understands how the weather truly affects your event. [...]
When Rain Falls but the Claim Doesn’t Pay: The Risk of Incomplete Measurement Advice
Rain insurance is designed to do one thing: respond when weather negatively impacts an event. Yet I recently heard of a situation where a broker provided rain insurance without informing the client that multiple rainfall measurement options were available. Instead, the policy relied solely on rainfall recorded at an airport several miles from the event location. That omission can be costly. For fairs, festivals, and outdoor events, how rainfall is measured can be just as important as how much [...]
Why Fair Managers Should Always Get Three Weather Insurance Quotes And How Working With a Specialist Can Make the Difference
Weather risk has always been part of running a fair. From sudden storms and extreme heat to prolonged rainouts, uncontrollable weather can quickly turn months of planning into financial strain. For today’s fair managers, protecting the event, the exhibitors, and the organization itself means taking weather insurance seriously — and taking the time to evaluate it properly. One of the most important steps fair managers can take is simple but often overlooked: obtain at least three weather insurance quotes [...]
The Hidden Risk of Non-Admitted Rain Insurance Policies and Why Working With a Specialist Matters
Recently, I heard about an insurance broker who placed a rain insurance policy with a non-admitted carrier, even though an admitted carrier was available. In many states, this is a direct violation of insurance regulations. Unfortunately, the client often doesn’t realize there’s a problem until it’s too late. For fairs, festivals, and outdoor events, this kind of mistake can create serious financial and legal risk. Admitted vs. Non-admitted Carriers: Why it Matters An admitted carrier is licensed and regulated [...]
Now Is the Time to Look into Weather Insurance for Summer Events
Even as snowfall continues to blanket much of the country, it is never too early to request a weather insurance quote for your summer event. Spectrum Weather and Specialty Insurance provides coverage for a variety of outdoor events, such as fairs, festivals, concerts, sporting events, motorsports events and many others. Take some time today to ignore the cold wind and snowfall and plan for your warm outdoor event scheduled for late spring or summer. Considerations to Make for Planning [...]
How to Stabilize Income When Your Business Is Weather-dependent
Is your business impacted by the weather? Can you estimate your revenue for the day based on the weather forecast? Then income stabilization insurance is for you. Summer is just around the corner and, for some businesses, that means the busy season. Whether you run a beachfront shop, a water park or a restaurant most known for its patio seating on warm summer nights, a bad day of weather could mean a bad day for business. That’s why many [...]
Association of Iowa Fairs Honors Spectrum Weather and Specialty Insurance, Inc. with Prestigious Showman Award
DES MOINES, Iowa — The Association of Iowa Fairs has awarded the Leo Overland Memorial Showman of the Year Award to Spectrum Weather and Specialty Insurance, Inc., recognizing the company’s outstanding commitment and service to Iowa’s fair industry. The award was accepted on behalf of Spectrum by Robert and Theresa Holmes, longtime supporters of county and state fairs throughout Iowa and across the Midwest. The Leo Overland Memorial Showman of the Year Award is one of the Association’s highest honors, [...]
