Australians are familiar with the ravages of drought, bushfire and flood, but severe storms are the nation's most costly natural disasters, according to financial analysts.
Storms are unpredictable, often ferocious and people are rarely prepared for them.
They're also one of the most difficult weather events to predict long term, but atmospheric scientist Kim Reid says there is a general consensus that storms will become more intense, yet less frequent, as climate change progresses.
