Insured Price Tag for Europe Windstorm Hendrik-Ignatz (Aurore) Estimated at €311M

Initial insured losses for extratropical windstorm “Hendrik-Ignatz,” also known as “Aurore,” are estimated at €311 million ($352 million), according to PERILS, the independent Zurich-based organization that provides industry-wide catastrophe insurance data.

The storm, which affected north-western and central Europe from Oct. 20-21, 2021, was the first significant extratropical cyclone of the 2021/22 European windstorm season. The low-pressure systems associated with the event were named “Hendrik” and “Ignatz” by the Free University of Berlin, and it was named storm “Aurore” by the Meteo France.

The majority of the losses occurred in France, Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg. Switzerland and the Netherlands were affected to a limited extent, while losses also occurred in Poland and the Czech Republic, territories which are not covered by PERILS.

Extratropical windstorm Hendrik-Ignatz was the result of an unusually strong jet stream for mid-October with wind speeds of up to 250 kilometers per hour (155.3 miles per hour), PERILS explained This drove low-pressure system Hendrik and its marginal low Ignatz across the Irish Sea and as far as northern Russia within only a two-day period. A horizontal pressure gradient towards the southeast coupled with a passing cold front resulted in strong surface winds which predominantly affected France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic.

These winds caused widespread but short-duration travel and power disruption in the affected countries. The resulting property damage was dominated by non-structural losses which included damage to roofs, windows, chimneys and cladding, with more severe damage caused by trees falling on properties, the PERILS analysis continued.

While the wind field generated by Hendrik-Ignatz was extensive, wind gusts were not extreme and rarely exceeded 120 kilometers per hour in populated areas. The resulting loss to the insurance industry therefore was comparatively moderate and could be expected to be reached or exceeded at least once a year during the European windstorm season.

In line with the PERILS reporting schedule, an updated estimate of the market loss from Hendrik-Ignatz will be made available on Jan. 21, 2021, three months after the event end date.

Source: PERILS

Photograph: Flooded fields near Lingfield in Surrey, after southern England was hit by heavy rain and strong winds from Storm Aurore moving in from France, on Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021. Photo credit: Steve Parsons/PA via AP.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Windstorm Europe