Windstorm: Europe faces USD2.25bn loss

Aon Benfield recently released its Global Catastrophe Recap report, which states that Europe was impacted by a series of windstorms, including Windstorm Xaver, which moved through the north of the continent killing at least 15 people and producing insured losses of around EUR800 million, with Scotland, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Scandinavia, and Poland the most affected.

Windstorm Dirk brought strong winds and heavy rain to Western and Northern Europe, killing at least six people and resulting in a total insured loss of around EUR360 million. Damage was greatest in the United Kingdom, France, Spain, and Poland, while areas of Scandinavia were also affected.

Combined economic losses from Xaver and Dirk were forecast to be at least USD2.25bn. Elsewhere, stretches of inclement winter weather also affected North America as a broad storm system swept across the entire United States killing at least 18 people and resulting in total economic losses in excess of USD100 million. Insured losses in Texas alone were listed at USD30 million.

Another major winter storm brought heavy snow, freezing rain and ice to central and eastern US as well as eastern Canada, killing a total of 29 people.