Markets/Coverages: WTW Offers Parametric Insurance With Weather-Warning Trigger
Article 0 Comments Willis, a business of WTW, announced the launch of a parametric policy that is activated automatically when a red weather warning is issued by the UK Met Office or Met Éireann, the Irish National Meteorological Service. This has been designed in collaboration with Swiss Re Corporate Solutions, which will act as the insurer. Weather can be unpredictable and dangerous, posing risks to lives and property. National meteorological offices help to mitigate these risks by issuing color-coded warnings (yellow, amber/orange or red) to alert the public and organizations about impending severe weather and its potential impacts. The Met Office and Met Éireann reserve the issuing of Red Weather Warnings for the most severe weather which represents high risk to life, damage to property and substantial disruption to travel expected. For example, in January 2025, a red weather warning was issued for Storm Éowyn, which ultimately affected large areas of the UK and Ireland. Windspeeds peaked at 114 mph, causing significant impacts in terms of damage to property, widespread power outages and severe travel disruption. Insurance claims in Ireland reached over €240 million, with a large portion coming from commercial properties. In many cases, the weather warnings themselves trigger...