European windstorm losses estimated in the billions

AIR Worldwide estimates that insured losses from European windstorm Christian will come in between EUR 1.5 billion and EUR 2.3 billion, although the total damage was less severe than that from historical storms.

The windstorm hit southern Britain before moving north and east into France, northern Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden and Russia. While there is no clear consensus on which areas were the hardest hit, Christian failed to reach the windspeed strength of a historical storm that struck the UK in October of 1987.

Gerhard Zuba, senior principal scientist at AIR Worldwide, said: “Christian produced record-setting wind speeds at several meteorological stations, but the total  wind damage was less severe than that from the previously mentioned historical storms. This was a result of Christian’s smaller wind footprint and its passage over areas with fewer exposures.”

Adam Podlaha, head of impact forecasting at Aon Benfield, said: “Christian serves as a reminder of the peak zone status for this peril in Europe and the need to constantly understand its risk.”