Written by Jenny Hagan westcentralonline.com
A summer marked by flooding, hail, damaging winds and tornadoes across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba caused more than $1.8 billion in insured damage, according to new estimates from Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc.
The Insurance Bureau of Canada says 10 major weather events contributed to the losses, with heavy rain and flooding accounting for much of the damage across the Prairies this year.
Saskatchewan was affected by several of the costliest events, including a June storm system that produced tornadoes, hail, damaging winds, torrential rain and flash flooding.
The largest event listed by IBC occurred June 9 and 10, when severe storms across Saskatchewan and Manitoba caused more than $900 million in insured damage.
The system affected tens of thousands of residents and businesses and brought tornadoes, hail, strong winds and flash flooding to the two provinces.
Earlier in the season, a May 14 wind event caused more than $40 million in insured losses across Saskatchewan and Manitoba after strong gusts created a dust storm and damaged homes and businesses.
A slow-moving storm from June 26 to 30 caused more than $160 million in insured losses across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, while another widespread storm from July 4 to 6 caused more than $270 million in damage across the three Prairie provinces and northern Ontario.
Another round of severe weather on July 10 and 11 caused more than $140 million in insured losses in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
That outbreak brought heavy rain, hail and 10 tornadoes across the two provinces.
A July 18 storm added more than $40 million in losses across Alberta and Saskatchewan, with flooding and damaging winds affecting parts of both provinces.
IBC says insured losses from extreme weather across Canada have averaged about $3.7 billion annually over the past decade.
That compares with an average of $1.4 billion annually in the previous decade and $883 million in the decade before that.
The organization says annual insured losses have increased by approximately 320 per cent since the late 1990s and early 2000s after accounting for inflation.
Canada recorded its costliest year on record in 2024, when insured losses from extreme weather topped $9.4 billion.
Aaron Sutherland, vice-president of Pacific and Western with IBC, said floods, hailstorms and tornadoes again caused extensive damage across the Prairies this summer.
IBC is calling for measures including stronger land-use planning, more resilient infrastructure, updated building standards and incentives to help property owners reduce their exposure to severe weather damage.
