A deep polar low system moved into Western Australia’s southwest coast over the weekend, prompting IAG to deploy claims staff, property assessors, and partner builders to assist policyholders as conditions deteriorated. The insurer – which operates under the NRMA Insurance, CGU, WFI Insurance, and ROLLiN’ brands – had been tracking the system since May 29 through its 24/7 Command Centre. IAG meteorologist Kathryn Turner had flagged the storm’s trajectory earlier in the week, noting that the scale of damage across affected communities would hinge on the system’s proximity to the coastline as it made landfall between May 31 and June 1.
The storm carried the potential for a combination of hazards – destructive winds, hail, heavy rainfall, flash flooding, and isolated tornadoes – across a stretch of coastline extending well south of Perth. Forecast wind gusts reached 110 km/h along the metropolitan coastline, with speeds of up to 125 km/h projected from Mandurah southward through Bunbury, Busselton, Margaret River, Augusta, Walpole, Denmark, and Albany. Turner’s assessment ahead of the storm pointed to uncertainty in the track of the polar low as a key variable, with communities closest to the coast carrying the highest exposure to wind damage.
With the system still approaching at the time of IAG’s initial alert, the insurer directed policyholders to address vulnerabilities around their properties while it remained safe to do so. IAG manager of major events response Julia Attard framed preparedness as the most practical line of defence available to households facing an approaching weather event. “Ensuring the safety of you and your loved ones is first and foremost. It’s a long weekend, so please avoid unnecessary travel and stay up to date with emergency services,” Attard said.
Among the steps Attard outlined were securing or storing loose outdoor items – including garden furniture and trampolines – that could become hazardous in high winds, as well as clearing gutters ahead of anticipated heavy rainfall. She identified wind-driven water ingress as a recurring source of storm-related property damage, and one that households could act on in advance. “Check your windows, doors, and roof for any gaps or leaks. Use plastic tarps or waterproof sheets to cover windows and tape up any gaps at the bottom of doors or windows to reduce rain entering your home,” Attard said. She also pointed to power supply disruptions as a probable consequence of the storm passing through populated areas and recommended that households have emergency supplies on hand. “Have your emergency kit ready with essentials like power banks, batteries, torches, and a first aid kit. Ensure you have plenty of bottled water, non-perishable food, medications, and pet essentials if needed,” she said.
The Western Australia event is consistent with a pattern of sustained weather-related losses documented across IAG’s broader Australian portfolio. The NRMA Insurance Wild Weather Tracker, published in March 2026, drew on five years of claims data to show that storm activity now drives more than half of all home insurance claims lodged with the insurer – 57% – with storms ranking as the single largest cause of damage ahead of hail and floods. Across the five years to Feb. 28, 2026, NRMA Insurance recorded close to 300,000 weather-related claims, a volume that works out to roughly one claim filed every nine minutes. Summer and autumn together accounted for three in five of those claims, a distribution that points to Australia’s exposure to destructive weather extending well beyond the traditional cyclone or bushfire season.
NRMA Insurance meteorologist and executive manager natural perils Peter Chan said the range of hazards facing Australian policyholders spans the full spectrum of severe weather types. “In Australia, we are exposed to just about every possible hazard, from fires and floods to severe thunderstorms and tropical cyclones. In a warming climate, extreme weather events are expected to become more frequent and intense for many regions in Australia,” Chan said. NRMA Insurance executive manager property claims Scott Lindsay said the accumulation of weather events over recent years has begun to register in how Australian households approach risk. “Severe weather can strike suddenly, but small steps to prepare ahead of time make a big difference. This season we recommend clearing your gutters, trimming overhanging branches, and checking the condition of your roof to help reduce your home’s vulnerability,” Lindsay said.
