This year's April storm losses were significantly lighter than the past two years when record number of tornadoes touched down in the U.S. causing billions of dollars in damage, according to Aon Benfield.
The reinsurance brokerage division of insurance broker Aon says preliminary data indicates there were 83 tornadoes touching down in April. That is a 60 percent decrease over 2012 which saw 206 tornadoes, and an 89 percent decrease from a record 758 tornadoes in 2011.
Most of the severe weather damage this April was from hail and damaging wind events in the Plains, Midwest and Southeast,
says the broker in its latest report. At least five events combined to cost a minimum of $700 million in economic losses.
In terms of insurance losses, Aon Benfield puts the minimum for April at $350 million. The combined economic loss well in excess of $800 million. Last year, estimated insurance losses were at least $650 million—and thought to rise substantially higher—while economic losses were well in excess of $1.3 billion.
A hail storm during April 1 and 2 damaged more than 1,000 vehicles in the town of Marble Falls, Texas. The storm system hit central Texas particularly hard and produced insured losses of approximately $150 million.
Between April 7-11, a storm system produced 23 tornadoes through the Plains, Midwest and Southeast. The system began with hurricane force winds in California and heavy snow in the Rockies and the High Plains. At least three people lost their lives during the event. Aon Benfield expects insured losses to exceed $200 million.
Another 36 tornadoes (24 confirmed) sprang up during an April 17 to 19 major storm outbreak, killing three people and producing flash flooding, hail and damaging winds across central and eastern sections of the U.S. Strong storm systems continued through the latter part of the month bringing damage from wind, hail and flooding. There was severe flooding in Illinois, Michigan, Iowa, Indiana and Missouri where 19 river gauge locations established record crest heights. Aon Benfield put economic damage estimates in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
Elsewhere, Aon Benfield says New Zealand suffered torrential rains that produced flash flooding producing 1,500 home and content claims. Officials there expect insured losses to surpass $14 million.
Severe flooding from storms during the month produced millions of dollars in economic losses in China, parts of Africa, Argentina, Ecuador, Afghanistan and Indonesia.
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