European windstorms News

Global Natural Disasters Cost Insurers $53B in Q1, With Economic Losses of $83B

Global natural catastrophes had an insured price tag of more than $53 billion during the first quarter of 2025 – claims driven by California’s wildfires of approximately $38 billion, or 71% of total insured losses across the globe, according to …

Europe Braces for Snow and Ice With UK Facing Amber Warnings

Northern Europe is facing freezing temperatures and snow, boosting heating demand and putting more pressure on the region’s depleting gas inventories. There are yellow weather alerts over Scotland on Friday, with the risk of blizzard conditions in parts, according to …

European Insurers’ Fundamentals Resilient to Moderating Premium Rates, Falling Yields

European insurers approached the new year from a position of strength, having benefited from supportive interest rates and pricing cycles over the past two years. However, 2025 is expected to present more challenges, with falling yields and moderating premium rates …

UK Issues Red Warning as Storm Darragh Brings Hurricane-Strength Winds

Storm Darragh has triggered a red weather warning for the west coast of Wales and the Bristol Channel on Saturday, with hurricane-force winds forecast. Wind speeds are expected to reach as high as 90 miles (145 kilometers) per hour, according …

Former Hurricane Kirk Set to Lash France With Heavy Rain

The remnants of Hurricane Kirk are forecast to hit France on Wednesday, after weakening to a post-tropical cyclone. The storm will bring wind gusts as strong as 150 kilometers (93 miles) per hour to the Pyrenees, according to Météo-France. It …

Hurricane Kirk’s Remnants Forecast to Hit Europe Later This Week

The remnants of Hurricane Kirk are forecast to hit northwest France on Wednesday, bringing heavy rain and gale-force winds. Hurricane Kirk peaked at Category 4 storm over the Atlantic last week, but is weakening as it heads toward Europe. Still, …

Europe Is Being Scorched and Flooded by Growing Climate Extremes

The European Union endured its joint-hottest year on record in 2023, according to new scientific analysis, pointing to a more perilous future for what is already the world’s fastest-warming continent. Europe experienced its largest wildfire on record last year, as …

Inflation Continues to Increase Insured Property Exposures Globally: PERILS

Inflation continues to have an effect on property exposures with sums insured for European windstorm increasing by 10.1% year-on-year at constant euro exchange rates, at similar levels to 2023, according to PERILS AG, the independent Zurich-based company that provides industry-wide …

Hurricane-Force Winds Cause Chaos, Blackouts Across Europe

Storm Isha is causing travel disruption and power blackouts across northern Europe, as it brought hurricane-force winds to the UK and other parts of the region. The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning across the UK on Monday, although …

Extreme Cold Grips Nordic Countries as Floods Hit Western Europe

Europe experienced stark weather contrasts on Wednesday, with extreme cold and snowstorms disrupting transportation and closing schools in Scandinavia while strong winds and heavy rain in western Europe caused flooding and at least one death. Temperatures fell below minus 40 …