Zurich-based catastrophe insurance data provider PERILS has revealed its second industry loss estimate for Australia’s east coast severe convective storm (SCS), which affected Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria between October 26 and November 1, 2025, costing the insurance market A$1.512 billion.
In line with its Australian insurance coverage definitions, PERILS explained that this estimate includes losses in the property and motor hull business areas and is based on loss data collected from affected insurers.
PERILS provides additional background information, noting that the east coast of Australia experienced prolonged periods of severe convective storm activity during this event.
The catastrophe insurance data provider added: “The greater Brisbane area in south-east Queensland was most severely affected on 26 October. This was followed by several days of milder storm activity along the east coast, with further severe impacts in south-east Queensland and New South Wales on 31 October and 1 November respectively.”
The revised estimate compares to initial industry loss data of A$1.108 billion released by PERILS on 15 December 2025, approximately six weeks after the event.
Updated market loss estimates for the severe convective storm on Australia’s east coast, in the form of industry loss footprints by postcode and by real estate and automotive business lines, will be released on 30 April 2026, six months after the event end date.
Commenting on the update, PERILS Asia Pacific and Network Director Darryl Pidcock said: “Australia experienced two SCS events in the spring of 2025. The first occurred at the end of October and the second at the end of November. The combined insured losses from these two events exceeded A$4 billion.
“This is a significant number, given the observed increase in incidents in October, which was driven entirely by increased loss estimates provided by participating insurers, which are likely to increase further.” He continued: “SCS incidents can involve multiple causes of losses.
“Hail, high winds, flying debris and downed trees, combined with extremely heavy rainfall, may all work together to cause damage to property and cars.
“Loss estimates for the South China Sea event are therefore quite stringent, even more so given that vulnerabilities to insurance risks are changing as new cladding and roofing materials are used and more solar panels are installed.”