Storm hit western and northern Europe on 5 and 6 December

Windstorm Xaver, which hit Europe on 5 and 6 December last year, will cost insurers €680m (£565m) in property claims, catastrophe data firm PERILS estimates.

Most of the losses occurred in Denmark, Germany, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands and the UK.

The PERILS estimate is based on ultimate gross loss data reported by primary insurance companies and so excludes any claims covered by government schemes.

Xaver, also known as Sinterklaasstorm, Bodil and Sven, formed in the Atlantic to the west of Iceland on 4 December 2013.

It battered the affected countries with heavy winds and storm surge. PERILS said the storm surge was particularly severe because the timing of the storm was close to that of the new moon phase on 3 December 2013.