Winter storms in New Zealand were among dozens of natural catastrophes to strike last month, according to Aon Benfield’s latest report.

Heavy snow, rain and wind swept the country from June 18 to 21, with areas near Otago and Canterbury recording their largest snowfalls in 30 years.

No fatalities or injuries were reported but anticipated insured losses stand at $NZ40 million ($34.16 million).

Major flooding across central Europe caused losses of up to $US22 billion ($23.98 billion), with $US5.3 billion ($5.78 billion) insured, Aon Benfield says.

Unprecedented floods also hit Canada’s Alberta province, killing four and causing $US3.8 billion ($4.14 billion) of losses, with insured loss estimates at $US1 billion ($1.09 billion).

Monsoon rainfall inundated northern India and Nepal, causing flooding and landslides that left at least 5000 people dead or missing.

Total economic losses were $US1.1 billion ($1.2 billion), with insured losses expected to reach $US500 million ($545 million).

“Flooding is becoming an increasingly expensive and devastating peril globally and we continue to work with our clients to help them understand and manage their exposures,” said Steve Jakubowski, the President of Impact Forecasting, Aon Benfield’s catastrophe modeller.

“We have now developed flood models for six European countries with significant flood risk and also for the US and Thailand, which are helping insurers and reinsurers to manage their aggregated exposures in these regions.”