Hurricane Barry established a new state record in July for the highest hurricane-induced rainfall of 16.59 inches in Arkansas in the US. Five states have set new hurricane-induced rainfall records since 2017 alone: Texas, Hawaii, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Arkansas.

The Cat 1 storm came ashore near Intracoastal City, Louisiana, later leading to widespread flood and thunderstorm damage. According to figures from Aon’s latest catastrophe report, total economic losses, largely flood-driven, were expected to exceed the equivalent of £500m. Public and private insurers paid out the equivalent of nearly £350m.

Meanwhile two record-breaking heatwaves hit Europe. Five countries recorded all-time national highs (Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and United Kingdom). Extreme heat, coupled with relatively low rainfall in some regions affected multiple economic sectors.

Steve Bowen, Meteorologist and Head of Catastrophe Insight within Aon’s Impact Forecasting team, said: “The summer of 2019 has thus far highlighted several meteorological and climatological hazards across the Northern Hemisphere and further exposed humanitarian vulnerabilities. Parts of Europe and the Arctic have endured record-breaking heat which has resulted in an accelerated seasonal decline of polar sea ice, exacerbated wildfires, and enhanced drought conditions. At the same time, seasonal flooding across Asia has affected millions of people. As we continue to face further population and exposure growth in regions which are among the most at-risk as climate conditions evolve, the issue of resilience becomes even more pronounced.”

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