08/12/2026
For many homeowners, the biggest weather risk may no longer be hurricanes.
New research from First Street found that severe convective storms, including tornadoes, hail, and damaging winds, have become the costliest insured natural disasters worldwide.
In 2025, these storms accounted for one-third of global natural disaster economic losses. Insured and uninsured losses totaled $82 billion, with $68 billion concentrated in the U.S.
Hail is the biggest driver of insurance payouts within this category, followed by severe winds.
These storms tend to move quickly, but they can cause widespread damage to homes, cars, businesses, and infrastructure.
For homeowners, the growing cost of severe weather can show up in more than repairs. It may also affect insurance premiums, property maintenance, emergency savings, and long-term housing costs.
As weather risks shift, it can be worth reviewing coverage, deductibles, and how prepared your household is for unexpected property damage.
Severe "convective" storms account for roughly a third of global natural disaster economic losses, a new study finds.
