Comparing an insurer's perspective on building damages with modelled damages from pan-European winter windstorm event sets: a case study from Zurich, Switzerland

Abstract. With access to claims, insurers have a long tradition of being knowledge leaders on damages caused by windstorms. However, new opportunities arisen better assess the risks winter windstorms in Europe through availability historic footprints provided Windstorm Information Service (Copernicus WISC). In this study, we compare how modelling building complements claims-based risk assessment. We describe and use two windstorm models: an insurer's proprietary model open source CLIMADA platform. Both WISC dataset purposefully built, probabilistic hazard event set across canton Zurich, Switzerland. These approaches project considerably lower estimate for annual average damage (CHF 1.4 million), compared claims 2.3 which originates mainly from different assessment return period most damaging Lothar–Martin. Additionally, approach allows rare events, such as 250-year-return-period causing CHF 75 million damages, including evaluation uncertainties. Our study emphasizes importance complementing perspective with understand risks. The presented open-source provides straightforward entry point small insurance companies.