Winter storm Kyril may cost insurers upwards of US$5 billion

Insured losses from Winter Storm Kyrill may be between US$5.2 billion – US$10.4 billion, estimates AIR Corporation Worldwide in a press release. The storm struck Europe with hurricane-force winds over the course of two days, causing significant travel and power disruptions, flooding, and building damage over a large part of Europe including the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands and Germany.”Winter Storm Kyrill is the worst storm to hit Europe in eight years,” said Dr. Peter Dailey, Director of Atmospheric Science for research and modeling at AIR Worldwide. “Kyrill produced winds in many parts of Europe that were strong enough to produce moderate levels of damage.”Winter Storm Kyrill winds were first felt on January 18th with maximum reported wind gusts of 137 kph in populated areas. Severe gale force winds uprooted trees, tore off roof tiles, and blew doors off buildings while freight trucks in England and Germany were tipped over by wind gusts. Flying debris, including falling tree limbs and billboards, caused significant building damage throughout the affected countries, smashing windows and damaging walls.Millions of customers are without power in Poland and the Czech Republic, Northern France, Austria, UK and Germany. Widespread flooding has also been reported in coastal and low-lying parts of Germany, including parts of Berlin. As is common following strong extratropical cyclones, cold air is now funneling into Europe causing temperatures to plummet.”What was most notable about this event was its unusually large foot print,” continued Dr. Dailey. “The path of damaging winds extends north to south from Scotland to Switzerland and east to west from France to eastern Germany and beyond.”