THE INSURANCE Council of Australia (ICA) has released figures from 2025 with extreme weather events tallying up to almost $3.5 billion in insured losses from 264,000 claims – the late November storms in our region accounted for a staggering $1.4 billion of these losses, according to data released by the ICA.

In comparison, insured losses from extreme weather events in 2024 totalled $581 million and from 2023 totalled $2.35 billion, demonstrating the unpredictable nature of extreme weather year on year.

Last year saw five events declared significant or catastrophic by the Insurance Council, including the North Queensland Floods in February, Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred in March, Mid North Coast floods in May, and two Severe Storm events in October and November. (See table below)

While the costliest event for 2025 was Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which saw 132,000 claims lodged and more than $1.5 billion in insured losses, the hailstorms of October and November left similar damage bills.

The Severe Spring Storms, which impacted South-East Queensland and Northern NSW from the end of October through to early November, resulted in $601 million in insured losses across 35,500 claims.

These figures were backed up by a Coolum woman who stated that she had lost many items during the November storms.

“We had a large lightning bolt hit our roof, and it took out three TVs and a portable air conditioner. Thankfully though, our insurance company were quick to respond and replaced the items, but all up it was just shy of $4,00,0, which we were reimbursed,” the local resident said.

In late November, more severe storms and hail impacted the two states, resulting in 70,200 claims and $814 million in insured losses. Together, losses from the two events totalled $1.4 billion.

Other, more locally severe events included flooding in Western Queensland, storms in Casterton and Harden, and bushfires in Halls Gap. These smaller events are not counted in this data.

Insurers expect further claims will be made from these events, meaning the eventual cost of extreme weather in 2025 will grow.