Storm Impact and Loss Estimates
European Windstorms Austen and Boelo, which struck Western Europe between 22 and 25 October 2026, will likely result in combined economic and insured losses running into hundreds of millions of euros, according to Aon Impact Forecasting. The UK, Ireland and France bore the brunt of the weather systems, suffering structural damage, power outages and transport disruption. Storm Austen, named by the UK Met Office on 20 October, brought a peak UK gust of 179 kph at Padstow in Cornwall. A second system, Storm Boelo, followed immediately between 23 and 25 October, depositing heavy rainfall onto ground already saturated by Austen and compounding flood risks in northern parts of the UK and Ireland.
Regional Disruption and Financial Exposure
France is expected to account for the largest proportion of the overall losses, following widespread power outages that left nearly 300,000 homes without electricity across departments including Brittany and Normandy. In the UK, south-west England saw over 9,000 properties lose power during Storm Austen, while subsequent storm surges and heavy rainfall caused coastal flooding in Scottish towns such as Largs, Gourock and Skelmorlie. The two successive weather events were also associated with at least four fatalities. Alongside France, the UK and Germany are anticipated to record notable claims as insurers tally property and infrastructure damage across the affected regions.