Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc. (CatIQ) has discussed the very active catastrophe experience in Canada over the last few months, a trend that could persist through the remainder of 2017.
CatIQ has provided a catastrophe update for Canada for the period June, 1st 2017 to August 31st, 2017, which reveals that the country’s catastrophe season has been far from quiet.
“Over the past few months, Canada has seen some incredibly active weather; Ontario, Quebec and the Prairies have all been hit hard this summer. Thunderstorms producing tornadoes, strong winds, hail, and heavy rain have been no strangers to these provinces, and have resulted in significant damage to personal property, vehicles, and causing wide-spread power outages.
“However, the hot and dry conditions in British Columbia cannot go unnoticed. British Columbia has been experiencing a record-breaking wildfire season,” explains CatIQ, in its catastrophe update as part of the MSA Quarterly Outlook Report.
Severe thunderstorms impacted parts of Saskatchewan and Manitoba in early June, bringing large hail that caused widespread damage to homes and vehicles. Towards the end of June, severe thunderstorms impacted parts of Alberta, which also saw large hail strike Buck Lake.
Not long after this, substantial rainfall occurred in Ontario, which resulted in flooding across the region and evacuations.
In the opening days of July, a lightning storm struck British Columbia, which resulted in severe wildfires that are ongoing (as at August 31st, 2017), and led to evacuations. As at the end of August, the wildfire was estimated to be more than 175,000 hectares in size.
Large hail, heavy rain and four tornadoes occurred in Ontario between the 12th and 13th of July, with severe thunderstorm conditions also experienced in Alberta.
Several fires also threatened the City of Williams Lake in mid-July, and although an evacuation order was ultimately lifted, two airport hangers and many white goods were damaged, reports CatIQ.
Towards the end of July Ontario again experienced heavy rain and subsequent flooding, with severe thunderstorms again hitting the region in early August.
Severe thunderstorms again impacted parts of Ontario and Quebec towards the end of August, with Ontario again being hit nearing the end of the month.
As reported by CatIQ, catastrophes in Canada were both severe and frequent over the last months, and the firm has warned of above average temperatures in the final months of the year.
“Looking ahead to the fall of 2017, temperatures are expected to be above normal for much of Canada, particularly on the west and east coasts. For most regions across the country, precipitation patterns are expected to remain near normal, however, parts of central Alberta and Saskatchewan and northern British Columbia are expected to experience above normal precipitation amounts,” said CatIQ.
