catastrophe News

650,000 Residential Properties Hit by Severe Hail in Central US Storms

A severe convective storm system spawned softball-sized hail and destructive tornadoes across the central U.S. last week, leaving meteorologists to speculate if warmer winter weather is behind the storm outbreak. As parts of the Midwest recover from the March 13-14 …

Allstate Reports $276M in January Cat Losses, Updates Rate Increases

Allstate Corp. on Thursday reported January pretax catastrophe losses of $276 million. The Northbrook, Illinois-based insurer reached its $150 million threshold to report catastrophe losses following several months of low totals. Consolidated catastrophe losses for the fourth quarter 2023 totaled …

Insured Loss Estimates from Japan Earthquake Range from $1B to $6.4B

Insured losses from the devastating earthquake in Japan could reach $6.4 billion, according to an estimate from U.S.-based catastrophe modeling firm Karen Clark & Co (KCC). Losses from residential properties account for more than two thirds of the total, according …

Hurricanes Are Now Twice as Likely to Zip from Minor to Whopper than Decades Ago, Study Says

With warmer oceans serving as fuel, Atlantic hurricanes are now more than twice as likely as before to rapidly intensify from wimpy minor hurricanes to powerful and catastrophic, a study said Thursday. Last month Hurricane Lee went from barely a …

Calif. Lawsuit Says Oil Giants Deceived Public on Climate, Seeks Funds for Storm Damage

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The state of California filed a lawsuit against some of the world’s largest oil and gas companies, claiming they deceived the public about the risks of fossil fuels now faulted for climate change-related storms and wildfires …

Responders Dig for Bodies in Moroccan Mountain Villages After Earthquake

IMI N`TALA, Morocco (AP) — The stench of death wafted through the village of Imi N’Tala high up in Morocco’s Atlas Mountains, where last week`s catastrophic earthquake razed the hamlet`s mud-brick buildings and killed dozens of residents. On Tuesday, bulldozers …

Heavy Rains Wash Across U.S. Northeast, Forecasters Warn of Catastrophic Floods

Torrential downpours pounded the U.S. Northeast on Monday, threatening catastrophic flooding across the region, where rains have washed out roadways, overwhelmed rivers, forced numerous rescues by boat and caused at least one fatality, officials said. Some 13 million Americans were …

Unusual Battle of Climatic Titans Will Steer Hurricane Season

Two clashing climatic behemoths, one natural and one with human fingerprints, will square off this summer to determine how quiet or chaotic the Atlantic hurricane season will be. An El Nino is brewing and the natural weather event dramatically dampens …

Chile Wildfires Spread amid Heat Wave as Death Toll Rises

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Chile extended an emergency declaration to yet another region on Saturday as firefighters struggled to control dozens of raging wildfires that have claimed at least 22 lives amid a scorching heat wave that has broken records. …

New Abnormal: Climate Disaster Damage ‘Down’ to $268 Billion

This past year has seen a horrific flood that submerged one-third of Pakistan, one of the three costliest U.S. hurricanes on record, devastating droughts in Europe and China, a drought-triggered famine in Africa and deadly heat waves all over. Yet …