6 winter weather hazards and the states with the most claims

Spring is just around the corner, but winter hazards are still affecting many Americans.

According to the Farmers Insurance Seasonal Smarts Digest, many people face significant risks from winter weather through February.

Related: 15 costliest U.S. winter weather events by insured losses, 1980-2015

The study analyzed Farmers customer claims data from 2013 through 2016 to uncover the major winter hazards your clients should be aware of and which states have the highest risk. According to the report, the top states for claims related to freezing temperatures are:

• Massachusetts (41 percent)

• Maine (35 percent)

• New Hampshire (34 percent)

• Connecticut (21 percent)

• New York (18 percent)

However, extreme temperature claims also saw a significant decrease — 82 percent — between the winter of 2013/2014 and last year's unseasonably warm winter.

Traditionally extreme cold temperatures makes these states most susceptible to major home and auto insurance hazards. Click next to see the top winter weather hazards for home and auto across the U.S.

(Photo: iStock)

Frozen pipes

Frozen pipes are one of the top winter weather hazards. According to the report, nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of claims related to frozen pipes occur between December and February. Recent years brought a run of warmer winters resulting in a 53 percent decrease in frozen pipe claims.

The top states for frozen pipe claims are:

• South Dakota (14 percent)

• Idaho (14 percent)

• Utah (13 percent)

• Minnesota (13 percent)

• Wyoming (12 percent) 

Related: The dangers of freezing water & boilers

(Photo: iStock)

Ice damming

Forty-one percent of claims related to ice dams are reported during the winter. An ice dam is a condition that generally occurs when a ridge of ice forms at the lower edge of a roof that prevents melting snow from draining properly.

Ice dam claims also decreased significantly, with 57 percent fewer claims occurring last winter than the winter of 2013 and 2014. The top states for ice dam claims are:

• Utah (10 percent)

• Minnesota (7 percent)

• Connecticut (6 percent)

• Illinois (5 percent)

• Pennsylvania (5 percent)

Related: Winter home prep: Weatherizing when clients are away

(Photo: iStock)

House fires

Nearly 10 percent of December home fires in 2015 occurred on Christmas Eve or Christmas. Risk still exists the rest of winter as well, when many use wood-burning, gas or electric fireplaces to heat their homes. The report did not include the top states for winter house fires.

(Photo: iStock)

Skidding on snow or ice

Approximately 76 percent of claims related to skidding on snow or ice occur during the winter. These claims decreased by 58 percent between between the winter of 2013 and 2014 through the winter of 2015 and 2016, likely due to a recent run of warmer-than-average winters.

The top states for skidding on snow/ice are:

• Montana (12 percent)

• Colorado (11 percent)

• Wyoming (9 percent)

• North Dakota (9 percent)

• Minnesota (8 percent)

Related: It's winter! Do you know the biggest risks on the road in your region?

(Photo: iStock)

Vehicle theft

Vehicle theft accounts for approximately one-quarter (25 percent) of all comprehensive claims in the winter. Vehicle theft increased by 9 percent between the winter of 2013/2014 and the winter of 2015/16. Farmers data also showed a 3 percent increase of vehicle theft in winter as compared to spring months (March through May).

The top states for winter vehicle theft are:

• New Mexico (17 percent)

• Hawaii (16 percent)

• California (16 percent)

• Nevada (16 percent)

• Washington (13 percent)

(Photo: iStock)

Failure to yield collisions

These collisions make up 26 percent of all collision claims, which is 8 percent higher in winter than spring. Claims from collisions where one vehicle failed to yield to an oncoming vehicle rose 14 percent since the winter of 2013/2014.

Related: 10 best all-wheel drive cars and SUVs in the snow