NU Online News Service, July 20, 2:13 p.m.EDT

Three regional insurers say second-quarter catastrophe losseswill run into double-digit figures, stemming mainly from 13 weatherevents throughout the period.

Springfield, Ill.-based Horace Mann Educators Corp. says theimpact from weather-related catastrophe activity for the threemonths ending June 30 will total between $28 million and $30million, pre-tax. The range includes the estimated incurred lossesand loss adjustment expenses from 13 catastrophe events during thequarter, including a stretch of severe weather in the central andeastern United State at the end of June. It also includes hail andother storm activity in late April and May. Last year, the companyreported catastrophe losses for the same period of $55 million,pre-tax.

State Auto Financial Corp. based in Columbus, Ohio,estimates its second quarter 2012 pre-tax catastrophe losses willbe between $33 million and $36 million, compared to between $155million and $165 million a year ago. Like Horace Mann, the estimatecovers 13 catastrophe events that occurred during the period. Thelosses primarily relate to two events: wind and hail activityaffecting the Louisville, Ky., and St. Louis, Mo., areas in lateApril, and, to a lesser extent a storm event in the Midwest andMid-Atlantic states at the end of June.

Meadowbrook Insurance Group says it expects to record a pre-taxexpense of $28.2 million for the second quarter. The estimatereflects an increase in net ultimate loss estimates for 2011 andprior accident years, the Southfield, Mich.-based insurer says.

“This increase primarily reflects incurred large loss activitythat is higher than historic patterns,” the company says in astatement.

The specialty insurer says the losses were from increases in itsworkers' compensation, commercial multi-peril and generalliability, and commercial automobile business. Regardingcatastrophes, the company made no mention of 2012 losses, but saysincreased losses in other lines of business were primarily from2011 accident-year property exposures that were not reported untilthe second quarter of 2012.

Last year, Meadowbrook reported estimated second-quartercatastrophe losses of $12.5 million.