Wild winter weather in the northern hemisphere caused losses of $US4 billion ($5.65 billion) to the global economy last month, Aon Benfield’s Global Catastrophe Recap shows.

Half of the losses were in the US, where a powerful winter storm brought “prodigious” snowfall, high winds, coastal flooding, freezing rain, ice, sleet and severe thunderstorms to the east during the second half of last month, killing 58 people.

It was the fourth-largest winter storm in the northeast and mid-Atlantic since the 1950s, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Emergencies were declared in 11 states and Washington DC.

Meanwhile, Pacific storm systems fuelled by El Nino brought heavy rainfall, snow and isolated severe weather to parts of California, causing economic losses expected to exceed $US125 million ($176.5 million). Public and private insurers paid out more than $US65 million ($92 million).

Total economic losses in the US were estimated to exceed $US2 billion ($2.82 billion), while insured losses were projected to be “well into the hundreds of millions”.

East Asia was also hit hard last month. A prolonged period of cold weather and snowfall hit much of the region, causing significant damage and affecting travel.

At least 116 people were killed in Taiwan, Thailand, Japan, South Korea and China.

Economic losses in China alone totalled $US1.6 billion ($2.26 billion).

Other notable natural hazard events last month included Windstorm Marita (also called Gertrude), which hit the UK, Ireland and Scandinavia and resulted in economic and insured losses expected to exceed $US100 million ($141 million).

Heavy rain in Brazil and Ecuador killed at least 12 people and destroyed more than 15,000 homes. Total combined economic losses were more than $US110 million ($155 million).