This is where there's the most hail and lightning

The fourth heat wave of the year has not only brought high temperatures but has also increased the risk of thunderstorms in various parts of Switzerland. «We have already received reports of isolated storm damage from the canton of Bern,» says Stefan Müller, Head of Property Insurance at AXA. In the first half of 2026, AXA, Switzerland’s largest property and casualty insurer, recorded approximately 11,000 claims related to severe weather—which is roughly in line with the long-term average for the first half of the year. ’The severe weather season started relatively late this year; May remained calm. The hailstorm on June 9 in Ticino was particularly severe and accounts for a large portion of the costs,« says Michael Villiger, Head of Motor Vehicle Property Insurance at AXA. However, the storm season is not over yet; it typically lasts until September and may therefore continue to affect claims expenses.

Over the past thirty years, AXA’s annual average costs for storm damage to vehicles, buildings, household contents, and furnishings have totaled approximately 115 million Swiss francs. However, the number and extent of storm-related claims vary significantly from year to year. 2025 was a year with below-average severe weather—AXA recorded 72 million Swiss francs in claims. This was roughly the same as in 2019 (CHF 73 million) and 2020 (CHF 61 million), about half as much as in 2022 (CHF 142 million) and 2024 (CHF 130 million), and about four times less than in 2021 (CHF 291 million) and 2023 (CHF 240 million). «The differences are very large and have a massive impact on our claims balance. However, given its temporal and geographic volatility, severe weather risk is part of our core business and is factored into our long-term planning,» says Stefan Müller.

Storms today more short-term and intense

Weather and damage statistics do not always correlate. This is because the same severe weather event can cause significantly less or more damage depending on the population density of the affected area. In addition, preventive measures influence the extent of the damage. «Climate change is therefore only partially reflected in our statistics. What we do observe, however, based on the damage patterns, is that severe weather events in recent years have occurred over shorter time frames than in the past, and their intensity has increased significantly: extremely strong wind gusts, more heavy rain, and more frequent large hailstones—and all of this, in some cases, locally and on a small scale,» says Stefan Müller.

Hail damage as a key driver

Not all regions in the country are exposed to the same level of risk. AXA’s claims statistics paint a clear picture of where each cause of damage occurred most frequently. In terms of both the number of cases and the cost, hail damage to cars accounts for the largest share of severe weather damage. Over the past ten years, the cantons of Ticino, Jura, and Neuchâtel—as well as Bern and Nidwalden—have been particularly affected. «Major hailstorms in particular—which damage a large number of cars in a short period of time—can be a significant driver of the overall claims total,» says Michael Villiger. In contrast, there was hardly any hail damage in the cantons of Geneva, Thurgau, and Schaffhausen.

Frequent flooding in the canton of Schwyz

When it comes to statistics on flood damage, individual events have a significant impact. Over the past ten years, the canton of Schwyz has experienced the most such damage per insured household, followed by the cantons of Solothurn, Lucerne, Schaffhausen, and Aargau. The cantons of Nidwalden, Vaud, Basel-Land, Uri, and Graubünden have largely been spared from flooding over the past ten years. «Prevention plays a major role, especially when it comes to flooding—flood relief tunnels, retention basins, dam heightenings, and the national flood hazard map are paying off,» said Stefan Müller.

Ticino has the most lightning

When it comes to lightning damage, one canton clearly tops the statistics: In Ticino, the risk of lightning damage over the past ten years was eight times greater than in the rest of Switzerland. Every year, AXA records several hundred claims in this canton. Compared to Basel-Land, Vaud, and Geneva, the risk was even more than 20 times higher. The reason is clear: When warm, humid Mediterranean air is pushed against the Alps, it forms thunderclouds with strong updrafts and downdrafts and high electrical voltage. This voltage discharges as lightning.

Insurance for storms

Regional differences do not result in varying premiums for household, building, and commercial property insurance, as the legally mandated natural disaster insurance ensures uniform premiums and coverage nationwide. In addition, there is a spirit of solidarity among insurance companies: through the natural hazards pool, they offset losses among themselves to a certain extent. «This system is unique worldwide and guarantees a very high level of insurance coverage in the event of severe weather,» says Stefan Müller.

How to protect your property

By taking a few precautions, you can minimize the risk of certain types of storm damage to your property. When weather conditions are unstable, apps send quick, location-specific alerts via push notifications. If a storm with strong winds is forecast, you should secure or put away movable objects such as grills and garden chairs and retract awnings. During heavy rain, you should also close windows and, if possible, keep drains clear. If there is a risk of water entering the building, moisture-sensitive and valuable items should be placed on higher shelves. During a hailstorm, vehicles should be parked under cover and roller shutters should be raised. Because, as many people don’t realize: «Hail can’t damage windows, but it can certainly damage roller shutters,» explains Stefan Müller.

AXA is also actively involved in prevention efforts: With support from the AXA Foundation for Human Progress, the University of Geneva has established a new chair dedicated to researching climate-related natural hazards in the European Alps. The goal is to better understand risks such as debris flows, rockfalls, and icefalls, and to develop strategies for mitigating damage.

Source: Axa