What is it?
Windstorm is the most damaging of the natural perils covered by property insurers. During major windstorm events the damage can be substantial – considerable losses occur every year in the UK.
A storm is a period of violent weather defined as:
- Wind speeds with gusts of at least 48 knots (55mph)* or;
- Torrential rainfall at a rate of at least 25mm per hour or;
- Snow to a depth of at least one foot (30 cm) in 24 hours or;
- Hail of such intensity that it causes damage to hard surfaces or breaks glass
*Equivalent to Storm Force 10 on the Beaufort Scale.