The first half of 2026 saw estimated insured natural catastrophe losses of USD 42 billion, 16% below the ten-year average. Insured losses from severe convective storms were also below trend, with the biggest outbreaks largely sparing the most exposed regions in the US. At the same time, June’s record heat and persistent dry conditions set the stage for an active wildfire season in Europe and other parts of the world.
Balz Grollimund, Head Catastrophe Perils at Swiss Re, said: “A less costly first half of the year does not mean the risk has gone away. One major hurricane, earthquake, or wildfire can quickly change the picture. Europe’s recent wildfires highlight how hotter and drier conditions are making large wildfires more likely and, with more homes, businesses, and infrastructure built in risk-exposed areas, also more costly.”
As the world’s fastest-warming continent, Europe now experiences 64% more hot days, defined as days when the daily maximum temperature reaches 30°C or more, than in the 1950s. June’s record heat in western Europe, together with persistent dry conditions, also created an environment more conducive to wildfires across western and southern Europe, where major fires affected France and Spain in July.
Wildfire risk has so far accounted for only a relatively small share of insured losses in Europe. Yet it is the fastest-growing weather peril globally. Insured wildfire losses in Europe have increased by an estimated 8-11% per year in real terms since 1970, Swiss Re Institute’s research shows.
The early start to Europe’s wildfire season illustrates how hazards are changing. Fire seasons are becoming longer, while conditions conducive to wildfires are becoming more frequent and affecting regions historically less exposed.
Above-average storm activity, below-trend losses
Although severe convective storm activity across the US remained above average, relatively few of the highest-impact events affected Texas, the Southern Plains, and the Southeast, where the combination of frequent storms and high concentrations of insured assets typically generates the largest insured losses. This illustrates how insured losses depend not only on the severity of events, but also on where they strike.
Insurance covered around 42% of first-half economic losses, above the 30-year average of 33%, reflecting the concentration of damage in highly insured markets and across widely covered perils.
A quieter first half does not necessarily mean a quieter year
Historically, the second half of the year accounts for an average of 58% of global insured natural catastrophe losses, mainly driven by North Atlantic hurricanes. While El Niño tends to suppress Atlantic hurricane activity, it does not eliminate landfall risk: 22% of US hurricane landfalls since 1950 occurred during El Niño conditions. Atlantic hurricanes, however, are only one component of second-half catastrophe risk. El Niño may influence tropical cyclone activity in the Central and East Pacific and could alter the risk of floods, wildfires, and other weather extremes elsewhere.
Beyond seasonal outlooks, the long-term drivers of catastrophe losses remain unchanged, including growing exposure in hazard-prone areas and rising reconstruction costs. Strengthening resilience and reducing underlying risk will therefore be increasingly important in maintaining the affordability and availability of insurance.
