Calgary’s August hailstorm was second costliest severe weather event in Canadian history: IBC

The hailstorm that hit Calgary at the beginning of August caused $2.8 billion in insured losses, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), making it the second most expensive event in Canada’s history.

An emergency alert was issued just before 7:45 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 5, warning Calgary and area residents of a storm that could produce strong wind gusts, heavy rain, and up to baseball-sized hail.

At Calgary International Airport just a half-hour later, alarms were blaring, roof panels were falling, and water was pooling on the floor.

The terminal building suffered significant damage, and some gates were evacuated for the safety of guests and staff. The airport authority later said that 10 gates in Concourse B would be closed for 18 months to complete repairs.

The north end of the city was especially impacted, with intense winds, 10 to 15 millimetres of rain, and hail up to five centimetres in size.

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) characterized the storm as a supercell.

By the end of the storm, IBC says nearly one in five homes in Calgary was impacted.

“Catastrophic weather has hit our province hard this year and the impact on Calgary residents from this summer’s hailstorm is unprecedented,” said Aaron Sutherland, Vice-President, Western and Pacific, IBC.

“Alberta’s insurers have been on the ground assisting customers with needed repairs and financial support, and working to process over 130,000 claims from the hailstorm. Rebuilding will take time and our industry will continue to be there to support impacted communities every step of the way.”

Alberta has been home to five of the top 10 costliest disasters in Canadian history, all of which have happened in the last eight years. The 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire remains the costliest event in Canadian history.

The Calgary area has seen devastating hailstorms in recent years, including the 2020 and 2021 hailstorms that caused over $1.2 billion and $700 million in insured damage, respectively, the IBC says.

Insured damage from the Jasper wildfire is estimated at $880 million, meaning severe weather has cost insurers over $3.6 billion in Alberta this summer. IBC says in all of 2023, severe weather caused around $3.1 billion in insured damage across the entire country.

The increased frequency of severe storms and the resulting damage places significant strain on homes, businesses, and auto insurance premiums.

IBC says this summer has been the most damaging on record across the country because of insurance claims related to major weather events. Four events are responsible for 228,000 insurance claims so far this year — a 406 per cent increase compared to the previous 20-year average.

The organization is calling for federal and provincial government to improve climate resilience. One suggestion is the adaptation of a wide-spread municipal Resilient Roofing Rebate Program, which Calgary adopted in June 2021.

IBC vice-president of climate change and federal issues, Craig Stewart, is also calling for improved hail alerting that urges people to park their cars safely and stay indoors, improved building codes that incorporate hail-resistant siding and roofing in high-risk areas, and provincial and federal retrofit programs.