Last month’s global catastrophe losses are expected to top $US10 billion ($13.99 billion), according to Impact Forecasting’s monthly update.

The Aon Benfield subsidiary estimates the South Carolina and eastern US floods will cost at least $US2 billion ($2.79 billion), putting them among the top 10 most costly non-tropical-cyclone floods in the country since 1980.

Public and private insurers have already reported more than $US400 million ($559.69 million) in payouts.

Hurricane Patricia was the strongest tropical cyclone recorded in the western hemisphere, reaching a maximum sustained wind speed of 325kmh and making landfall in Mexico.

Preliminary damage from Patricia is estimated at $US300 million ($419.86 million), with losses expected to be negligible due to low insurance penetration.

Impact Forecasting Meteorologist Steve Bowen says it was a costly month.

“Many of the major weather events – such as record-breaking tropical cyclone activity in the Pacific Ocean, the historic South Carolina floods and deepening global droughts – were clearly affected by the current El Nino’s growing fingerprint on global weather patterns,” he said.

“Given the increasing intensity of El Nino, it is expected these impacts will become even more defined around the world as we enter the boreal late autumn and winter months.”

This year 22 tropical cyclones in the northern hemisphere reached Category 4 or 5, breaking the previous record of 18 in 2004.

Most were in the Pacific Ocean, with warm surface temperatures enhanced by El Nino.

Other catastrophes last month included a 7.5-magnitude earthquake in northern Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan and India that killed 403 people.

Typhoon Mujigae became the year’s costliest tropical cyclone, making landfall in China and the Philippines.

Super Typhoon Koppu hit the Philippines, killing at least 58 people, while Hurricane Joaquin lashed the Bahamas. Severe thunderstorms in the French Riviera hit areas from Monaco to Frejus, causing flash flooding. Drought conditions worsened in Papua New Guinea.