Damage bill from wild storms, floods and hail hits $142m

Australians have racked up a record damage bill during one particular month this year after several wild storms, hail and floods.

Bad weather has seen Aussies rack up a record damage bill during spring as severe storms, hail and flooding have wreaked havoc on homes, cars and businesses.

While the spring months are typically characterised by milder weather patterns, storms, flooding and hail has caused a hefty $142 million damage to property and possessions in October alone, according to new research from NRMA.

The insurance provider’s Wild Weather Tracker saw a record 10,000 damage claims across NSW, Queensland and the ACT during spring – a 35 per cent jump in the number of claims compared to a typical seasonal total. And the vast majority were in NSW with 8,583 home claims made by residents.

Streets flooded in Forbes mid-November.

Of the damage claims, 69 per cent were because of wild weather, including 51 per cent for severe hail damage thanks to supercell storms which lashed regions like Coffs Harbour in October.

Across the state, 15,702 motor claims for weather damage were lodged in spring, a new record 25 per cent about the average.

The areas worst hit by storms and bad weather this spring were the Coffs Coast, where a third of the state’s claims came from, followed by the Blacktown LGA in western Sydney and the Hunter Valley.

NSW tornado damage on 1 October 2021. Picture: ABC News

It comes as a La Nina weather system was officially declared for Australia’s east coast on November 23, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning NSW, QLD and Victorian residents to expect a wet and wild summer. following heavy rain, multiple large storm cells and even tornadoes in September which destroyed homes and property in Meadow Flat, Clear Creek and Bathurst- then another which flattened powerlines and vehicles in Armidale in October.

BOM Senior Meteorologist Jordan Notara said Spring 2021 had seen NSW receive the largest amount of rain in 10 years, with most areas recording up to three times the normal amount of rain they would usually during the season.

Sydney has seen a number of severe thunderstorms this spring.

He said while La Nina would “weaken” at various times through summer, residents shouldn’t rule out further large weather events until the weather system peters off at the end of summer into autumn.

”This spring has been NSW’s fourth wettest, and the wettest since 2010,” Mr Notara said.

”Throughout December and January, there will be periods of wetter weather especially throughout the southern inland and south coast as well as clear skies … January should see above average rainfall, especially around the north coast, which will continue into February.”

He added that while Sydney would see a return of warm summer days, wet weather wouldn’t be far off. 

”It doesn’t take much for more widespread storm activity to form (during summer) … one event can create a month’s worth of rainfall,” Mr Notara said. 

A large tree that fell on a house on Edmondson Ave, St Marys in October during a severe thunderstorm. Picture: Jonathan Ng

NRMA Insurance Executive Manager of Natural Perils Mark Leplastrier said the record extreme weather was a sign for Australians to take a wet and potentially wild summer seriously.

“Spring featured some of the most unpredictable and extreme weather we have seen in many years, and with a La Nina system now declared, we could be in for more wet weather over summer,” Mr Leplastrier said.

“It has been an ominous start to Storm Season. To prepare for a wetter than usual summer ahead of us, it’s important that people start thinking about how they can protect their homes from thunderstorms and fast moving hailstorms.”

NSW’S WILD SPRING WEATHER

Sept 29: Severe storms lash inland NSW, with tennis-ball sized hail reported in Bourke.

Sept 30: Three tornadoes form across inland NSW, damaging homes and property in Meadow Flat, Clear Creek and Bathurst. 

October 1: Fast moving thunderstorm hits Sydney and surrounds, leaving suburbs without power.

October 11: Tornado damages buildings, cars and rips down power lines in Armidale, leaving thousands without power.

October 13: A sudden severe thunderstorm swept across Sydney, pelting the city with large hail and causing a Mt Druitt shopping centre roof to cave in.

October 20: Freak hailstorms on the North Coast cave in a Coffs Harbour shopping centre and blanket surrounding areas with large hailstones.

November 16: Forbes residents prepare to evacuate as water threatens to inundate homes amid widespread rain across NSW.

November 26: A weather system lashes NSW and QLD, bringing widespread showers and storms 

Originally published as Damage bill from wild storms, floods and hail hits $142m