A guide to WeatherNet

Find out how we use independent data from WeatherNet, to help us handle weather related claims quickly and accurately.

WeatherNet works by tracking the weather for your exact area, down to post code level. Its specialist meteorological data is much more accurate than using the usual weather or news reports that cover large areas and might not include your street.

It means we can be more precise when checking how severe winds are, or how heavy rainfall is, for example, so we can assess what damage this could have caused to your property.

SurgeCast forecasts upcoming severe weather, so we can let our customers know and help them get ready. We were very proud to be the first Personal Lines insurer to incorporate precise geographical data with our policy holder’s postcodes to help customers prepare for bad weather.

APPLYING WEATHERNET DATA TO CLAIMS

We know how important it is that any damage is fixed quickly, so you can get back to normal as soon as possible. Nobody wants to wait a long time when their house is flooded or when strong winds have left holes in the roof.

How does it work?

Step one

Once you’ve submitted your claim, our first step is to confirm that the storm, wind or rain damage meets your policy conditions using WeatherNet.

For example, winds must reach 55 miles per hour (the minimum wind speed for a storm, according to the Beaufort Scale).2 But every situation is different, and we’ll always consider yours in detail, so we are fair and accurate for every claim. Find out more about windspeeds³

The wind, rain, snow or hail need to meet the following criteria:

Find out more about what we count as storm damage

How do I know if windspeed is 55mph?

To help you picture what the different windspeeds feel like, the table⁵, below gives a great overview:

Estimating Wind Speeds Using The Beaufort Scale

Windforce	category	km/h	mph	Knots	Description
8	Gale	62-74	39-46	34-40	Twigs break off trees; generally impedes progress
9	Strong gale	75-88	47-54	41-47	Slight structural damage (chimney pots and slates removed)
10	Storm	89-102	55-63	48-55	Seldom experienced inland; trees uprooted; considerable structural damage
11	Violent storm	103-117	64-72	56-63	Very rarely experienced; accompanied by widespread damage.

Source: Extract only, see full table at Weatherschool⁵

What is the Beaufort Scale?

The Beaufort Scale is a simple way to describe wind speed, based on what it looks like on land or at sea. It is also known as the Beaufort wind force scale’.²
Find out more about the Beaufort scale

Step two

After we’ve confirmed your policy conditions, we’ll use WeatherNet to:

match the weather conditions to your postcode
confirm the claim details match the weather criteria

This information then provides the go ahead and your claim will move forward.

Step three

To complete your claim, Ageas will:

send someone to check the damage before agreeing on the repairs needed
either choose a contractor OR give you the money to arrange the repairs yourself.

HOW DOES WEATHERNET BENEFIT YOU?

WeatherNet helps by:

Making it quick and easy for us to check your claim using accurate, independent data
Providing us with the exact postcode where the damage happened
Helping us reach a fair decision about your claim faster, whether the storm hit one street or a whole area
Making it easy to be clear about how we check weather events.

Using SurgeCast forecasting data helps us ensure our claims teams are ready to help online and, on the phone, to support you through the process.

That’s why WeatherNet is so important. It helps us respond faster, more fairly and more precisely, so you can return to normal sooner.