Scientific paper | Empirical evaluation of windstorm losses and meteorological variables over the Netherlands

Author(s): M. d. S. Fonseca Cerda, H. de Moel, D. van Ederen, J. C. J. H. Aerts, W. J. W. Botzen, T. Haer
Date: 2024-11-28
Language: English

This paper evaluates how well different meteorological variables explain residential windstorm insurance losses in the Netherlands. It combines high-resolution, asset-level claims from Achmea (2017–2021) with both Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institue (KNMI) station observations and downscaled ERA5-based reanalysis data. Wind gusts and daily maximum wind speeds show the strongest relationships with losses and claims, while pressure, humidity, and temperature correlate weakly. The hazard–damage relationship becomes clearer at higher spatial aggregation levels, and a wind-speed threshold around ~22 metres per second is observed where losses and claims rise more strongly.

Relevant climate hazards: Wind