Sixty-nine tornadoes and flash floods which killed 39 people and injured 250 across 20 states in the US in April are likely to lead to hundreds of millions of dollars in insured losses, according to Impact Forecasting.

Widespread damage occurred across states in the Plains, Mississippi Valley, Southeast, Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic, in the first billion-dollar economic loss event of 2014 due to storms, the Aon Benfield subsidiary says.

Later in the month another severe weather outbreak led to major damage in many of the same areas. Hailstones the size of softballs struck the city region of Denton, Texas. Insured losses were estimated at more than $US650 million ($694 million).

Impact Forecasting says Cyclone Ita, which hit north Queensland in April, brought high winds and heavy rains but caused minimal wind and flood damage to homes in Cooktown, Port Douglas, Hopeville, Mossman, and Cairns.

However, the agricultural sector was heavily affected, with crop losses from Mossman through the Herbert and Burdekin valleys. The Insurance Council of Australia reported 680 claims worth $8.4 million.

The rain from Cyclone Ita also led to extensive flooding in the Solomon Islands’ capital of Honiara, killing at least 23 people. A state of emergency was declared after the Matanikau River burst its banks, flooding more than 50,000 residents.