PERILS Raises Insured Loss Estimate for Windstorm Nils (France) to €767m – May 2026
Impact Assessment Rationale
The €767 million insured loss estimate is significant for the European windstorm season and notable for French property and motor insurers, but is below major catastrophe thresholds typically driving high-impact reinsurance losses; the event is geographically confined to southwest France.
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Summary
PERILS, a Zurich-based catastrophe insurance data provider, has raised its second industry insured loss estimate for extratropical windstorm Nils (also known as Ulrike) to €767 million, a 31% increase from the initial estimate of €586 million issued in late March 2026. The storm struck the Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Occitanie regions of southwest France from 11–13 February 2026, generating the largest single-event loss of the 2025/2026 European windstorm season. At its peak, approximately 900,000 households lost electricity, extreme winds damaged thousands of structures, and flooding and avalanches compounded the destruction. The event is described as the most impactful storm to hit southwestern France since Klaus in January 2009.
This summary is AI-generated from linked source reports and may change as more information becomes available. See our correction policy for how to report errors.
Structured Intelligence
known
- PERILS has issued a second industry loss estimate of €767 million for Windstorm Nils, covering property and motor lines.
- This is a 31% increase from the initial estimate of €586 million issued on 27 March 2026.
- The storm affected Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Occitanie regions in southwest France from 11–13 February 2026.
- Approximately 900,000 households were left without electricity at peak impact.
- Two fatalities were recorded.
- Windstorm Nils is the largest single-event loss of the 2025/2026 European windstorm season.
- A further updated estimate (loss footprint by CRESTA zone and lines of business) is scheduled for 13 August 2026.
reported
- The storm also caused avalanches in the French Alps in addition to wind damage and flooding.
- Transport came to a virtual standstill in affected areas at peak impact.
- Thousands of houses, roofs, and lightweight structures were damaged.
- The 2025/2026 European windstorm season is described as the second consecutive season with notably low losses overall.
uncertain
- Total economic (insured + uninsured) loss quantum is not specified.
- Breakdown of loss by property vs. motor lines not yet disclosed.
- Full geographic extent of avalanche damage in the French Alps is unquantified.
Affected Countries
Key Entities
Sources
Trade Media
- Reinsurance News14 May 2026, 05:40
Timeline
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Initial Detection
PERILS, a Zurich-based catastrophe insurance data provider, has raised its second industry insured loss estimate for extratropical windstorm Nils (also known as Ulrike) to €767 million, a 31% increase from the initial estimate of €586 million issued in late March 2026. The storm struck the Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Occitanie regions of southwest France from 11–13 February 2026, generating the largest single-event loss of the 2025/2026 European windstorm season. At its peak, approximately 900,000 households lost electricity, extreme winds damaged thousands of structures, and flooding and avalanches compounded the destruction. The event is described as the most impactful storm to hit southwestern France since Klaus in January 2009.
PERILS has disclosed an increased second industry loss estimate for extratropical windstorm 'Nils', also known as 'Ulrike', to €767 million. This is a 31% increase from the initial loss estimate of €586 million, issued by PERILS on March 27th, 2026... Nils generated the largest event loss of the 2025/2026 European windstorm season.
Source: Reinsurance News (Trade Media) · View source