Early estimates from Aon have suggested that aggregated economic losses from heavy snow, frigid cold, freezing rain and ice in the US during February will be in the low-digit billions of dollars, with insured losses likely to exceed $1 billion.
Five separate periods of weather impacted the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Plains and Southeast of the US during the month, killing 72 people.
Steve Bowen, impact forecasting senior scientist and meteorologist at Aon, said: "As we begin to transition to the start of the severe weather season, it will be interesting to see if a cooler pattern lingers into the spring months. Should such a scenario occur, it is entirely possible that US tornado totals could remain at historically low levels for a fourth consecutive year."
Elsewhere, two spells of winter weather impacted parts of Europe and Asia. In Europe, 19 people died as heavy snow fell across large areas of the continent resulting in power outages and transport disruptions. While in Asia, large avalanches killed at least 286 people and destroyed 1250 homes in Afghanistan.
Flooding affected all six inhabited continents during February, with the costliest event occurring in Indonesia, killing six people. Total damages in Jakarta alone were listed at $235 million.
