Florida hurricane losses could exceed $300 bn as coastal exposure grows
A Category 5 hurricane hitting Miami or Tampa Bay could cause insured losses above $300 bn as Florida’s population and property exposure keeps rising
Natural Catastrophe News
Follow the latest natural catastrophe news and insurance market updates from around the world. Beinsure covers insured and economic catastrophe losses, property damage, insurance claims, reinsurance exposure and major natural disasters, including hurricanes, floods, wildfires, earthquakes, severe convective storms and other extreme weather events.
Track catastrophe loss estimates, insurer and reinsurer responses, claims developments, property catastrophe trends, risk modeling, market capacity, recovery costs and the financial impact of events on the global insurance and reinsurance industry, with updates on catastrophe losses and claims data.
Insurers face higher catastrophe risk as Pacific typhoon activity rises
Northwest Pacific typhoon activity is forecast 60% above average in 2026, raising catastrophe exposure across China, Japan, the Philippines and Vietnam
Eastward tornado Alley shift raises insured loss risk in US Midwest
Record tornado activity in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin is increasing insured loss exposure as severe storms shift toward more populated US regions
Hurricane Lowell may cause up to $1 bn in Hawaii damage
Hurricane Lowell passed west of Hawaii, bringing heavy rain and surf, with estimated damage of $600 mn and potential losses reaching $1 bn
Insured losses from non-peak natural catastrophes exceeded $104 bn
Munich Re says insured losses from non-peak perils reached $104 bn in 2025 as cyber, AI and climate risks add pressure to reinsurance markets
Verisk launches US data center exposure database for insurers
Verisk launched a US data center exposure database covering more than 2,500 facilities as insurers assess growing AI infrastructure concentrations
Natural catastrophe protection gap leaves most losses uninsured
Only 38% of global natural catastrophe losses are insured, Verisk says, with Europe’s coverage rate at 22% and far lower protection in some markets
Florida judge dismisses Lighthouse investor lawsuit over Hurricane Ida losses
A Florida judge granted summary judgment against investment funds that accused former Lighthouse Property Insurance executives of concealing Hurricane Ida losses
Nepal floods could drive insurance losses above $132 mn
Nepal’s floods could produce more than $132 mn in commercial insurance losses, with hydropower projects expected to account for most claims
California wildfire insurance reform should focus on risk reduction
California’s homeowners insurance market is under pressure from wildfire losses, rising premiums and reduced coverage, while policymakers assess further reforms
Manitoba and Saskatchewan storms drive insured losses above $840 mn
Insured losses from June 9-10 storms in Manitoba and Saskatchewan have topped $840 mn after tornadoes, hail, flooding and damaging winds
Europe wildfires test insurers as climate losses rise
France, Spain and Greece face wildfire losses as insurers absorb claims and Europe debates who pays for climate-driven disaster risk
Axa profit rises despite Europe wildfire and Middle East losses
Axa reported higher first-half profit despite European wildfire claims and a €100 mn hit tied to Middle East war and political violence risks
Verisk estimates Kumamoto earthquake insured losses at $2.1 bn
Verisk estimates insured losses from the July 28 Kumamoto earthquake at JPY 220 bn to JPY 340 bn, or about $1.4 bn to $2.1 bn
Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters urges adjusters to submit fire and flood loss data
As the UK experiences one of its most severe wildfire seasons on record the Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters (CILA) has called for loss adjusters to submit large loss data
Flood and storm risks reshape catastrophe insurance
RiskScan data shows flood, winter storms and thunderstorms driving concern as localized disasters pressure P&C pricing and preparedness
Verisk acquires McKenzie Intelligence Services for catastrophe risk analytics
Verisk buys MIS to add real-time geospatial intelligence, catastrophe response data and political violence risk analytics for insurers
Cyclone Harry caused over €1 bn in Sicily losses and exposed NatCat insurance gaps
Cyclone Harry caused over €1 bn in Sicily losses and showed why Italy’s mandatory disaster insurance leaves firms exposed to storm surge risk
Louisiana Insurance Commissioner is urging insurance checks before Gulf storm
Louisiana residents are being urged to review home and flood cover as Tropical Depression Two moves toward the Gulf Coast
Missouri insurance regulator Angela Nelson warns homeowners after rare flood emergency
Missouri insurance regulator Angela Nelson urges homeowners to review flood risk after July 10 storms caused severe flooding and rescues
Oklahoma sues Allstate over storm damage insurance claim payments
Oklahoma AG Gentner Drummond sued Allstate, accusing the insurer of denying or underpaying valid wind and hail damage claims from homeowners
US flood insurance gap exposes households to $375 bn in losses
Moody’s says the US flood insurance gap has reached 65%, leaving households and local governments exposed to more than $375 bn in uninsured losses
New Zealand’s Natural Hazards Commission secures record $7.2 bn reinsurance cover
New Zealand’s NHC secures NZ$12.3 bn of reinsurance protection for 2026, including catastrophe bond cover through Totara Re
Florida property insurers face 2026 hurricane test
Fitch says Florida property insurers enter the 2026 hurricane season with stronger capital, better reinsurance, and lower Citizens exposure
California reviews wildfire deductibles in surplus homeowners insurance policies
California will review surplus homeowners policies after wildfire deductibles left some fire victims facing large out-of-pocket costs after losses
El Niño may weaken Atlantic hurricane season risks
El Niño points to a quieter Atlantic hurricane season, though NOAA and forecasters warn hurricanes still bring major U.S., Caribbean, and insured-loss risks
Florida home insurance premiums rise 75% as weather risks mount
Florida homeowners insurance premiums rose 75% from 2021 to 2025, nearly twice the U.S. average, as weather risk and reinsurance costs strain the market
Hurricane season may still test the US power grid – 13 named Atlantic storms this season
Forecasters expect 13 named Atlantic storms, but grid damage depends on local infrastructure, access, and repair capacity, not storm count alone
El Niño raises hurricane risk for Hawaii and California
AccuWeather expects an above-average 2026 Pacific hurricane season as warm ocean waters and El Niño conditions increase storm risks
PERILS lifts Victoria bushfire insurance loss estimate to AUD 810 mn
PERILS raised its second industry loss estimate for the January 2026 Victoria bushfires to AUD 810 mn, with a further update due in July
Hail and AI are reshaping severe storm risk management
Allianz says severe convective storms are driving heavy insured losses, with hail as a major factor and AI becoming more important in resilience planning
Ontario-Quebec ice storm became Canada’s costliest weather loss of 2025
Insured losses from the March 2025 ice storm in Ontario and Quebec reached CAD 466mn, sharpening calls for stronger resilience planning across Canada
Hail now rivals major hurricanes in insured loss potential in the US
Cotality says hail has become a major insured loss driver, with modern storms causing damage on par with a Category 4 hurricane in the US
AccuWeather sees slightly softer 2026 Atlantic hurricane season
AccuWeather forecasts 11-16 named storms in 2026 as El Nino may suppress activity, though warm Atlantic waters still raise rapid intensification risk
Outdated flood maps drive debt in US National Flood Insurance Program
The National Flood Insurance Program provides flood coverage to households and businesses across the United States
California FAIR Plan expands as insurers withdraw from lower-risk neighborhoods
California’s property insurance market shows growing strain as insurers retreat from areas once considered moderate wildfire risk
California bill targets wildfire non-renewals, adds 6-month notice
California lawmakers propose requiring insurers to give six months’ notice and specific reasons before dropping homeowners over wildfire risk
PERILS sets €467 mn loss for windstorm Goretti across UK and France
PERILS estimates €467mn insured loss from Windstorm Goretti in England, France and Belgium, with France accounting for nearly 75% of claims
Los Angeles wildfires reveal gaps in insurance wildfire risk models
Analysis of the Jan 2025 Los Angeles fires shows why fuel structure, access, and ember dynamics matter more than ignition risk for insurance underwriting
Slide Insurance targets $250 mn Purple Re cat bond with wider storm coverage
Slide Insurance returns to the cat bond market seeking $250 mn via Purple Re 2026-1, expanding named storm coverage beyond prior deals
US winter storms drive billions in insured losses as risk climbs – Aon
Winter storms across the US continue to generate multi-bn insured losses, exposing homeowners, drivers, and businesses to rising financial risk
PERILS sets final Windstorm Éowyn insured loss at EUR 765 mn
PERILS issues its final estimate for Windstorm Éowyn, putting insured property losses across the UK and Ireland at EUR 765 mn after limited loss development
Canada’s insured catastrophe losses reach CAD 2.4 bn in 2025
CatIQ reports CAD 2.4 bn in insured catastrophe losses for Canada in 2025, with ice storms and wildfires driving one of the most active years on record
Gallagher Re: 2025 catastrophe losses stay manageable for insurers
Gallagher Re estimates $129 bn in insured catastrophe losses for 2025, with US storms dominating and capital levels reaching a record $838 bn
US homeowners face chronic underinsurance as LA wildfire losses mount
Wildfires expose decades of US home underinsurance, with studies showing most policies fall short of rebuilding costs as climate risks and prices rise
Florida bill raises hurricane fund retention and reshapes insurer reimbursements
Florida lawmakers proposed HB 1349 to lift the Hurricane Catastrophe Fund retention to $8.5 bn, revise insurer multiples, and expand reimbursement to loss adjustment expenses
Victorian bushfires in Australia trigger 1,386 insurance claims as total losses hit 30%
Insurers logged 1,386 claims from Victoria’s January bushfires, with 30% of property claims total losses, as the ICA activates its catastrophe response
Los Angeles wildfires drive $22.4 bn in claims as insurance losses mount
California insurers have paid $22.4 bn on wildfire claims, with insured losses projected up to $40 bn as rate hikes and regulatory battles intensify
Howden Re flags sharp property cat pricing drop at Jan. 2026 renewals
Howden Re estimates global property cat reinsurance pricing fell 14.7% at Jan. 2026, the steepest annual drop since 2014, with retrocession down 16.5%
Global Property Catastrophe Rate fell 12% at 1/1, 2026 reinsurance renewals
Guy Carpenter reports global property catastrophe ROL down 12% at Jan. 1, 2026, with excess capacity, stable retentions, and softer terms
Nevada allows wildfire exclusions, reshaping home insurance risk
Nevada will allow insurers to exclude wildfire coverage from homeowners policies in 2026, signaling deeper risk segmentation in property insurance
Wildfire risk drives Montana insurance hikes, report outlines fixes
A Headwaters and Columbia Climate School report flags wildfire risk as an urgent driver of Montana insurance costs and maps potential market reforms
La Niña returns, driving floods, snowstorms, and rising global losses
A renewed La Niña is fueling floods in Asia, early US snowstorms, and mounting economic losses, with insurers and commodity markets bracing for impact
FEMA releases $350 mn for Helene, Debby relief after delays
FEMA approves $350 mn in disaster aid tied to Hurricane Helene and Tropical Storm Debby after pressure over hundreds of millions in unpaid funds
Hawaii’s Act 296 revives hurricane fund to ease soaring condo insurance premiums
Hawaii expands state-backed hurricane coverage for condo buildings as Act 296 aims to cut premiums, boost market capacity and draw insurers back
Climate risk drives insurance spikes and slams home values nationwide
Insurance premiums soar across disaster zones, pushing homeowners to sell, reshaping markets, and dragging down property values in hurricane and wildfire regions
Hurricane Melissa causes up to $4.2 bn insured losses in Jamaica
Verisk estimates Jamaica’s insured losses from Hurricane Melissa at $2.2–$4.2 bn, with near-total building destruction in landfall zones
Hurricane Melissa hits Jamaica with 185 mph winds, low insured losses
Hurricane Melissa’s 185 mph winds bring heavy damage to Jamaica and Cuba, with billions in losses expected but low insured coverage across the region
PERILS pegs Central Europe, Italy flood losses at €2.15 bn in final report
PERILS sets final insured loss for Sept 2024 Central Europe and Italy floods at €2.15bn, citing Austria, Czech Republic, and Poland as hardest hit
Atlantic hurricane season reliably drags reinsurer and London Market insurer stocks lower
Autonomous finds hurricanes rarely dent reinsurer stocks long term—pricing cycles, diversification, and discipline matter far more than storm counts
Reinsurance demand is rising as catastrophe losses, AI infrastructure exposure, liability claims and geopolitical risks increase insured losses
2027 global reinsurance outlook is deteriorating as softer pricing, excess capacity and rising claims inflation put pressure on margins
Global reinsurance under pricing pressure in 2026, while U.S. P&C insurance stays stable despite slower growth, softer underwriting profits and earnings
Reinsurance leaders discuss underwriting discipline, capital protection, portfolio diversification, ART, retrocession and AI-driven operating efficiency