Winter storms in the US caused more than $US1.5 billion ($1.67 billion) of losses last month, according to Impact Forecasting’s January Global Catastrophe Recap.

Four distinct weather events struck the country, the Aon Benfield subsidiary says.

Impact Senior Scientist Steve Bowen says it has been the costliest season for US winter weather peril since 2011, with losses from physical damage and business interruption mounting quickly.

“The elevated losses this year are a reminder to insurers that the risks associated with the winter weather peril remain significant,” he said.

The report says an active windstorm season continued in Europe, with losses in the hundreds of millions of dollars from storms Anne and Christina.