Huge cost of Southern Prairies storms revealed

Low pressure prompted heavy rainfall, hail and tornadoes – and now the cost has been calculated

Insurance News

By Lyle Adriano

The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) issued a release yesterday reporting that for the third week of July, the Southern Prairies sustained over $66 million in insured damage as a result of severe summer storms.

A low pressure system caused heavy rainfall, large hail, high winds, tornadoes, and extreme lightning across the southern regions of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba from July 18 to 20, the release noted. In particular, Medicine Hat, AB suffered from significant hail damage, while Saskatchewan and Manitoba experienced tornado activity. Winds of up to 107 km/h buffeted the city of Winnipeg, the report detailed, while outlying areas west of the city experienced winds upwards of 122 km/h.

“This summer has brought storm after storm to the Prairie provinces,” said Bill Adams, vice president of IBC Western and Pacific. “As the traditional storm season begins to wind down, Canadians should take this opportunity to review their insurance policies, make sure they’re adequately covered, and implement a plan for when bad weather strikes.”

Earlier, during the second week of July, a storm system that hit Alberta and Saskatchewan resulted in nearly $65 million in insured damage.


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