Allstate Corp. says it expects to record pretax catastrophelosses of $359 million for the first quarter.

The Northbrook, Ill.-based insurer says itincurred estimated pretax catastrophe losses of $198 millionfor the month of March.

Allstate says nine events during the first three months ofthe year resulted in pretax losses of $391 million, offset somewhatby favorable reserve development on prior-year losses. One eventduring this time accounted for more than half of the losses for thequarter, the company says.

An Allstate spokesman was not immediately available to commentfurther.

According to reinsurance intermediary Aon Benfield, March was says an active month for catastrophe losses.

Storms from a weather system between March 18 and March 20brought severe thunderstorms and heavy snowfall across the EasternU.S.—spawning tornadoes, softball-sized hail, damaging winds andheavy snowfall. The storm system produced a derecho—an intensesquall line—across the Southeast, causing widespread damage.

Aon Benfield put industry losses from the storm at around$150 million.

Mississippi took the brunt of the storm system. The state'sinsurance department issued statement saying it expects the claimfigure to eventually reach 60,000.

The top personal-lines insurer in Mississippi is State Farm,with a 2012 market share of 26.3 percent, according to SNLFinancial. Southern Farm Bureau is next with a 14.4 percent marketshare, followed by Allstate, with 9.9 percent; Nationwide, with 6.6percent; and Progressive, with 6.1 percent.