Midwest storms cause $4bn to $7bn insured damage

INSURED losses from the thunderstorms and tornadoes that struck many parts of the central US in late May will be in a range of $4bn to $7bn, according to Boston-based catastrophe modeler AIR Worldwide. AIR’s estimate covers the events of May 20 to 27, which included 150 tornadoes stretching from Minnesota to Texas and the devastating force 5 twister that struck Joplin, Missouri.

The Joplin disaster alone has been estimated by rival cat modeler Eqecat to have caused $1bn to $3bn in insured losses. “The two major [tornado] outbreaks of this year – the first in late April, the second in late May – are the costliest on record”, said AIR principal scientist Tim Doggett. The large number of tornadoes was generated by the coupling of low pressure systems in the Canadian Maritimes and Texas, the overhead jet stream and a dryline boundary separating humid Gulf air from dry west Texas air.

Minnesota suffered a moderate amount of significant damage, with more than 100 houses and several commercial properties damaged. In Kansas there were damaging winds and hail across much of the state, with tennis ball-sized stones falling on parts of state capital Topeka. Northern Texas suffered similarly severe hailstorms in the Dallas and Fort Worth areas, and severe thunderstorms. Eight confirmed tornadoes touched down. Indiana suffered severe thunderstorms mainly in the south of the state. Missouri, home to the most severely hit area in Joplin, was the victim of several tornadoes, with the south-western part of the state most severely hit.