Insurers look set to pay 300-500 million pounds ($480 to $800 million) to cover UK claims related to damage caused by the St Jude’s Day windstorm, broker Willis Re estimated.

The figure falls short of having a material impact on profits for the insurance industry which operates in the context of absorbing losses from Atlantic hurricanes which commonly amount to billions of dollars.

But industry blog Artemis says: “The final loss estimates are some way off, but as very early estimates of insured losses emerge the picture is beginning to point to something potentially quite meaningful for the reinsurance market.”

Northern Europe was battered by hurricane strength winds on Monday, killing more than a dozen people and causing widespread disruption as power lines and transport links were cut by falling trees.

Tim Edwards, executive director, Willis Re UK, said damage from Monday’s storm was comparable to Windstorm Kyrill in 2007. Insured losses from Kyrill were 370 million pounds in today’s terms, data from the Association of British Insurers shows.

“Losses from the storm were concentrated predominantly in the South of England, with significant damage coming from fallen trees — which were heavily laden with leaves because of the time of year — fallen tiles and smashed windows,” he said.

A spokeswoman for insurer LV, which insures more than 500,000 British homes, said it saw an eightfold increase in calls compared to a “usual Monday” and more than 750 new claims registered as a result of the storm.