Climate and property risk analytics provider ZestyAI has announced that its Severe Convective Storm suite, which includes Z-HAIL, Z-WIND, and Z-STORM, has received regulatory approval from the Minnesota Department of Commerce.
This approval enables Minnesota insurers to better assess storm risks, enhance underwriting accuracy, and implement proactive risk management strategies.
Minnesota has experienced significant damage from severe convective storms, with three billion-dollar weather events in 2024 alone, according to NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information. A July storm in the Twin Cities caused over $1.8 billion in insured losses, highlighting the urgent need for innovative risk management solutions.
ZestyAI’s Severe Convective Storm suite provides property-specific insights by combining advanced climatology analysis with detailed property data. Built on extensive loss data and validated by regulators, these tools help insurers assess and address storm risks with greater accuracy.
Z-HAIL analyses roof characteristics, including accumulated damage, to predict which properties are likely to file claims.
Z-WIND uses AI-generated 3D modelling to evaluate roof condition, complexity, and potential weak points.
Finally, Z-STORM forecasts the frequency and severity of storm damage claims by examining how weather patterns interact with individual property features.
These models empower insurers to move beyond reactive damage assessments, allowing them to identify high-risk properties, allocate resources more effectively, and help policyholders reduce risks.
Bryan Rehor, Director of Regulatory Affairs at ZestyAI, said, “Minnesota’s exposure to hail and wind damage underscores the importance of property-specific insights.
“With this approval, insurers can access validated models to deliver precise underwriting and rating decisions and encourage risk-reduction measures among policyholders.”
