Zurich-based catastrophe insurance data provider PERILS has disclosed its second industry loss estimate for the Australia East Coast Severe Convective Storms (SCS), which affected Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria between 26 October and 1 November 2025, placing the insurance market loss at AUD 1.512 billion.
In line with its Australian coverage definition, PERILS explained that the estimate includes losses across the property and motor hull lines of business and is based on loss data collected from affected insurers.
Providing additional context, PERILS noted that the east coast of Australia experienced a prolonged period of severe convective storm activity during the event.
“The greater Brisbane area in South East Queensland was impacted the most when fierce thunderstorms hit on 26 October. This was followed by a period of more moderate storm activity along the east coast for a few days with further severe outbreaks impacting South East Queensland and New South Wales on 31 October and 1 November, respectively,” the catastrophe insurance data provider added.
The revised estimate compares with PERILS’ initial industry loss figure of AUD 1.108 billion, issued on 15 December 2025, around six weeks after the event concluded.
An updated market loss estimate for the Australia East Coast Severe Convective Storms, in the form of an industry loss footprint by postcode and by property and motor lines of business, will be released on 30 April 2026, six months after the event end date.
Commenting on the update, Darryl Pidcock, Head of Asia Pacific & Cyber at PERILS, said, “Australia experienced two episodes of SCS activity in the spring of 2025. The first one in late October, the second in late November. Together, insurance losses from these two episodes add up to more than AUD 4 billion.
“This is a significant amount and given the observed increase in the October event, which is entirely driven by increases in loss estimates provided by participating insurers, these losses have the potential to grow further.” He continued: “SCS events can involve a tumultuous mixture of loss-driving causes.
“Hail, high winds, flying debris and overblown trees, coupled with super-intense precipitation can act simultaneously and contribute to damage to properties and cars.
“Loss estimations for SCS events are therefore rather demanding, even more so given the fact that the vulnerability of insured risk is changing with new cladding and roofing materials being used and more solar panels being installed.”
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