Z-WINDTM
Precision Wind Intelligence for Every Property
Z-WIND translates wind science into precise insights that deliver underwriting clarity, pricing precision, and stronger profitability.
Predicting the Impact of Every Storm
Z-WIND captures how roof design, condition, and local climatology interact to drive wind losses. Built and validated on verified carrier claims data, it delivers transparent, property-level insights for underwriting, pricing, and reinsurance, bringing confidence to one of insurance’s most volatile perils.
20× Predictive Lift
Delivers unmatched accuracy in forecasting wind-related losses..
IBHS Research-Backed
Grounded in the latest IBHS research showing that roof cover damage in wind events depends heavily on roof characteristics and design.
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Property-Level Precision
Models how wind interacts with each structure’s geometry, materials, and surroundings to quantify loss probability and severity at the parcel level.
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Trained on Carrier Data
Built and validated on real-world carrier loss experience across all major U.S. wind regions for stability, reliability, and regulatory confidence.
Nationwide Coverage
Delivers consistent, property-specific wind risk scores across the contiguous U.S., ready for use in underwriting, pricing, and reinsurance.
Transparent and Regulatory-Ready
Regulator-reviewed across wind-prone states, Z-WIND delivers the documentation and transparency required for underwriting and rating applications.
Z-WIND Claim Frequency Score: Pinpointing Properties at Highest Risk of Damage
Z-HAIL’s Claim Frequency Score estimates the probability of hail damage at the property level, capturing how roof complexity, condition, and local climatology interact to determine the likelihood of loss.
Carriers use it to refine underwriting and pricing, manage exposure, and target inspections efficiently.
Z-WIND Claim Severity Score: Quantifying How Much It Will Cost
Z-WIND’s Claim Severity Score predicts the expected magnitude of loss once damage occurs. Trained on verified carrier claims, it accounts for roof design, construction quality, and exposure intensity.
It helps insurers price accurately, structure deductibles, and improve loss ratio performance.
“Expanding our use of ZestyAI’s hail and wind models reaffirms our commitment to precision and efficiency in landlord underwriting.
These insights help us make informed decisions quickly and manage exposure with greater confidence.”
Datha Santomieri
Co‑Founder & COO, Steadily
How Z-WIND Works
Z-WIND combines atmospheric science, structural analytics, and carrier-verified loss data to predict how wind interacts with each roof. Every step, from data ingestion to governance, is designed for accuracy, transparency, and regulatory trust.
From Real-World Data to Wind Risk Signals
Z-WIND ingests roof condition and materials, geometry and pitch, nearby vegetation, regional wind and climate patterns, and carrier-verified loss data—capturing the real factors that drive wind vulnerability.
Those inputs are transformed into wind-engineering signals: aerodynamic vulnerability, material performance, and vegetation interaction, all aligned with IBHS research to reflect how wind actually damages roofs.
Built on Verified Losses, Tuned for Precision
Z-WIND uses gradient boosted machines trained on carrier-verified wind loss data from across the U.S. The model quantifies how roof design, condition, and regional climatology interact to predict both claim frequency and severity with accuracy, explainability, and actuarial alignment.
20× Predictive Lift
Outperforms traditional regional models for property-level wind loss.
Two-Part Modeling Framework
Generates independent Claim Frequency and Claim Severity Scores to provide granular control in underwriting, pricing, and product design.
Mitigation-Aware Scoring
Reflects verified improvements, such as roof replacements or material upgrades, in real time to ensure up-to-date, fair, and transparent scoring.
Aligned With Average Annual Loss (AAL)
Scores are calibrated to AAL for seamless integration into rating, reinsurance, and product strategies.
Built to Earn Regulatory and Market Trust
Z-WIND undergoes rigorous internal testing, external review, and continuous monitoring to ensure accuracy, fairness, and stability across geographies and property types.
Claims-Based Validation
Trained, tested, and validated on carrier loss experience to confirm predictive performance and calibration across diverse portfolios.
Annual Performance Benchmarking
Re-evaluated each year against new storm seasons to maintain model precision and reflect evolving climatology.
Continuous Monitoring
Z-WIND’s production models are continuously monitored for performance drift, data integrity, and geographic stability.
Transparent Documentation
Comprehensive DOI-ready documentation includes model specifications, validation results, and variable-level explanations.
Regulatory Alignment
Developed in accordance with ASOP 12, 23, 25, and 38 to meet actuarial and DOI standards for use in rating, underwriting, and reinsurance.
Ready for Filing, Designed for Transparency
Z-WIND is built to meet the highest actuarial and regulatory standards for use in rating, underwriting, and reinsurance.
Reviewed and approved for use across the Midwest, Great Plains, and South, Z-WIND comes with the documentation, fairness testing, and model governance required for DOI review and adoption.
DOI Reviewed and Approved
Approved for use in rating and underwriting across wind-prone states, with additional regulatory reviews in progress.
Actuarial Standards
Developed in alignment with ASOP 12, 23, 25, and 38 to ensure actuarial soundness, fairness, and defensibility.
Model Documentation
Comprehensive technical documentation, validation summaries, and variable-level transparency available to support DOI review and filing.
Rate Filing Support
Pre-calibrated relativities and AAL-aligned outputs available to streamline adoption into approved rating plans.
Mitigation-Aware
Supports real-time scoring updates when policyholders complete verified mitigation, ensuring rating accuracy and rewarding resilience.
Instant Insight. Seamless Integration.
Z-VIEW delivers instant, web-based access to Z-WIND risk scores, roof imagery, and top risk drivers; no IT setup required. Underwriters and actuaries use it to review roof condition and complexity, understand wind exposure, and see the factors driving each score.
All Z-WIND insights are also available through the ZestyAI API, enabling direct integration into underwriting, pricing, and portfolio management workflows.
“One of the most meaningful ways we protect our customers and their homes is to work with them to understand and mitigate risk.
Adding property insights and climate models for hail and wind will give us a comprehensive view of risk, allowing us to better serve our customers.”
Rebecca L. Stolte
Assistant Vice President, Amica Mutual Insurance
“ZestyAI’s AI-powered risk models offer the kind of granular, verified intelligence that strengthens risk evaluation across a broad spectrum of perils, from climate-related threats to non-weather water."
Brian Voorhees
Chief Operating Officer, Applied Home National Underwriters
“ZestyAI’s models will help us bring greater fairness and resilience to the market while equipping homeowners with practical mitigation guidance."
Kelly Campbell
Executive Director. Colorado FAIR Plan
"As a carrier, assessing the condition and ability of a roof to withstand exposure to risks like hail and wind is key to effective property underwriting.
ZestyAI's technical capabilities and analytics provide greater perspective and efficiencies while evaluating the properties we insure."
Jonathan Schulz
AVP Personal Lines, West Bend Mutual Insurance
See Wind Risk with Property-Level Precision
Z-WIND models how wind interacts with every structure to predict loss and price accurately—using carrier-validated data and regulator-approved transparency. Book a demo today.
