2025 Natural Catastrophe losses should not lull market into false sense of security, warns Willis

Core Insights - Natural catastrophes caused over US$100 billion in insured losses in 2025, marking the sixth consecutive year above this threshold, but a decrease of $40 billion compared to 2024, indicating persistent natural catastrophe risk despite no hurricanes making landfall in the US [1][2] Industry Trends - The Natural Catastrophe Review by Willis highlights the need for insurers to adopt sound strategies to manage high catastrophe risk, emphasizing investment in resilience and mitigation rather than avoiding risk [2] - Insured losses from natural catastrophes in 2025 were over $100 billion globally, indicating a higher risk floor for catastrophic perils [2] - The report discusses structural pressures and systemic vulnerabilities that exacerbated the impact of natural catastrophes in 2025, advising insurers to update their risk perspectives [2] Risk Modelling and Case Studies - Wildfire is identified as a core contributor to insurance portfolio volatility, necessitating adjustments in wildfire models to reflect current conditions and realistic replacement costs [3] - Risk modelling must account for compound perils, as cumulative damage from multiple perils can lead to delayed claims and disputes [3] - The warming North Atlantic is altering hurricane behavior, with implications for the Caribbean and the potential for more intense storms later in the season [3] - Flood risks are expanding beyond traditionally defined zones, with extreme rainfall leading to severe flooding in areas not typically considered high risk [3]