Extreme weather events during the year cost hundreds of millions of euro but, with climatologists warning of their increased frequency, the State will be forced to spend more on defences next year. FBD Insurance said the storm cost it €9 million in claims, which was just below the €10 million it faced in claims following Storm Ophelia in October 2017. “We have observed an increase in both the frequency and the severity of weather events in recent years,” it said. “Climatologists would suggest that extreme weather events may become more frequent and more severe in the future. “Also, the concentration of the storm damage in urban or rural areas will impact on the potential insured losses.

Source: The Irish Times December 31, 2018 00:22 UTC