Aon, a global professional services firm providing risk, retirement and health solutions, has reported that two successive windstorms, Austen and Boelo, which brought damaging winds and heavy rainfall to parts of Western Europe between 22 and 25 October 2026, will likely lead to economic and insured losses in the hundreds of millions of euros.
According to the company’s latest Weekly Cat Report – Review of Global Catastrophe Activity, Ireland, the United Kingdom and France were among the areas most affected, with damage to property and infrastructure, widespread power outages and significant transport disruption. Aon Impact Forecasting estimates that the combined economic and insured losses from the two events are likely to reach hundreds of millions of euros.
Storm Austen, also known as Luise by FU Berlin, was named by the UK Met Office on 20 October, marking the beginning of the 2026–2027 Western Group windstorm season. Forming over the North Atlantic, the system travelled east-north-east towards the British Isles, bringing heavy rainfall, localised flooding and damaging winds across parts of Western Europe on 22 and 23 October.
According to Aon’s meteorological assessment, the strongest gust recorded in the United Kingdom reached 179 kph (111 mph) at Padstow in Cornwall, with numerous other locations experiencing wind speeds exceeding 100 kph (60 mph). In Ireland, Roche’s Point in County Cork recorded gusts of up to 106 kph (66 mph), while rainfall totals reached 60 mm (2.4 inches), contributing to surface water accumulation and localised flooding. Coastal areas of north-western France also experienced gusts exceeding 100 kph (60 mph).
Aon reports that Austen caused considerable disruption across the affected countries, with damage to electricity infrastructure leaving thousands of properties without power. In south-west England, more than 9,000 homes lost electricity at the height of the storm following damage to power lines. In Ireland’s counties of Cork and Waterford, falling trees damaged streetlights and electricity infrastructure in locations including Dunmore East and Colligan Woods, resulting in further power outages affecting thousands of homes.
France also experienced significant disruption, with orange weather alerts issued across as many as 23 departments. According to Aon, electricity providers reported almost 300,000 homes without power at the height of the storm, particularly across Brittany, Normandy, Pays de la Loire and Hauts-de-France. Ferry crossings and rail services were also affected. In Finistère, local authorities established an emergency crisis centre, while firefighters attended more than 150 incidents overnight, responding to fallen trees, roof damage and minor flooding.
A second system, Storm Boelo, also known as Manja by FU Berlin, was officially named by the UK Met Office on 22 October. Developing rapidly behind Austen, Boelo affected parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland, northern England and Ireland between 23 and 25 October. Aon reports that exposed coastal areas and upland locations experienced wind gusts of 110–130 kph (70–80 mph). The system also produced exceptionally strong localised gusts elsewhere across Western and Central Europe, including speeds exceeding 170 kph (105 mph) on Sněžka Mountain in Czechia.
Boelo brought further damage on 24 and 25 October, with severe winds and heavy rainfall affecting northern parts of the United Kingdom and Ireland. The additional rainfall fell on ground already saturated by Austen, increasing the risk of further flooding. According to Aon, the storm caused widespread disruption to transport networks, with rail services suspended and ferry crossings cancelled across affected areas.
Along Scotland’s west coast, a storm surge caused flooding in several town centres, including Largs, while coastal damage was reported in Gourock and Skelmorlie. Falling trees damaged electricity infrastructure and blocked roads, while the two storms were associated with at least four fatalities. In western Ireland, strong winds and intense rainfall resulted in localised river and surface water flooding. Damaged power lines also left thousands of properties without electricity.
In its financial assessment, Aon Impact Forecasting estimates that the combined economic and insured losses from Windstorms Austen and Boelo are likely to reach hundreds of millions of euros. France is expected to account for the largest proportion of losses, with Finistère, Seine-Maritime, Côtes-d’Armor and Manche among the departments likely to experience the greatest impact.
The United Kingdom and Germany are also expected to record notable losses, reflecting the geographical reach of the two storm systems and the damage caused across affected areas.
