Thunderstorms in the U.S. were responsible for three of the world's five costliest loss events in the first half of the year, each causing economic losses over $2 billion.
The total economic loss from these storms amounted to $18.5 billion, of which $13.5 billion was insured.
Overall losses totaled at $41 billion, while insured losses totaled $19.5 billion.
The high number of severe thunderstorms in the U.S. is presumed to have been at least partially influenced by a natural climate phenomenon. The tropical eastern Pacific off the northwest coast of South America was exceptionally warm; at the same time, it was significantly cooler than usual further west. This difference in temperature can cause teleconnection events that alter the atmospheric circulation over the U.S., increasing the likelihood of a large number of severe thunderstorms with tornadoes and hail.
"The unusual atmospheric conditions in the USA in the first half of 2017 provided the perfect conditions for powerful supercell thunderstorms, which frequently bring major hailstorms and tornadoes. The number of tornadoes observed in the first quarter of 2017 was twice as high as the average for the last year years," Peter Höppe, head of Munich Re's Geo Risks Research, said in a statement.
Related: 5 keys to preparing for tornadoes
The numbers from across the globe
Worldwide natural catastrophe losses from January to June, however, were below average. In Europe, the overall losses of $5 billion and insured losses of $1.9 billion were also below the average. Losses in Asia/Pacific and Australia totaled $9.2 billion, with $2.1 billion of these insured.
In Peru, flooding in February and March produced the costliest economic loss in the first half of the year. Following the coastal El Nino phenomenon, high sea temperatures and the subsequent increase in evaporation rates brought torrential rainfall to Peru; the capital city of Lima and rural areas in the north of the country experienced an onslaught of landslides and river floods. Overall losses came to $3.1 billion, but the insured loss was only $380 million due to the low insurance density in Peru.
Cyclone Debbie, which hit the Queensland coast of Australia in late March, was the second-most expensive natural catastrophe event of 2017, with overall losses of $2.7 billion and insured losses of $1.4 billion.
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