Lightning strikes during a summer 2019 storm looking east from Setters Place in Red Deer. (rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By rdnewsNOW staff

COSTLY PRAIRIE STORMS

Summer prairie storms cause $900 million in insured losses

Sep 13, 2019 | 8:43 AM

EDMONTON- The Insurance Bureau of Canada says the severe storms that hit Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba from July 13 to 15 and southern Alberta and Saskatchewan on July 30 caused over $130 million in insured damage.

The severe weather that rolled across the three provinces in mid-July brought with it significant hail, winds of more than 100 kilometres per hour and 68 millimetres of rain.

Severe storms on July 30 in southern Alberta and southern Saskatchewan saw hail that smashed and dented autos and caused significant damage to homes.

“Western Canada was impacted by several storms this past summer, but these two stand out in terms of the catastrophic losses suffered,” said Celyeste Power, Vice-President, of the Western, Insurance Bureau of Canada. “Severe, unpredictable weather like this is becoming more frequent, resulting in higher costs to homeowners, insurers and governments.

Last year, insured damage from severe weather across Canada exceeded $2 billion, the fourth-highest amount of annual losses on record. That trend has continued in 2019, with close to $900 million in insured losses recorded already this year.”

Last seen March 31

Missing: Eugenie Headman, 66, of Maskwacis

13h ago

mayor hopes to meet housing minister this month

Alberta demands Ottawa back off on housing funding stripped from Red Deer

Apr 02, 2026

Last seen Jan. 15

Missing: Courtney Cattleman, 17, of Maskwacis

Apr 02, 2026

(The Canadian Press)