File photo.
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has recently their list of Canada’s 10 most impactful weather stories of 2024 and Alberta is on their a few time.
The major hailstorm that hit north Calgary and affected many Airdronians was number five, while the Jasper wildfire was number one.
"Canada’s 10 most impactful weather stories for 2024 tell the tale of record-breaking heatwaves, destructive winds, and relentless rainfalls that prompt weather watches, warnings, and alerts. The stories illustrate how severe weather events evolve and how local responses can be safely navigated with informed decisions," stated ECCC.
Here is the full list according to Environment and Climate Change Canada:
- From heatwave to wildfires: Jasper’s summer inferno
- Central Canada bears the brunt of the 2024 hurricane season
- Western Canada plunged into a January deep freeze
- Atmospheric rivers deliver double blow to British Columbia
- Billion-dollar hailstones: Calgary’s costliest weather disaster
- Southern Ontario’s summer of floods
- Arctic communities face unusual heatwave
- Cape Breton's Winter Wallop
- Summer split: Maritimes sizzle while Alberta shivers
- Wildfires and evacuations in western Labrador
"Significant loss, damage, and displacement also characterized this year’s top weather events. Two wildfire events prompted full local evacuations, totalling the displacement of over 12,000 residents and 20,000 visitors. Jasper, the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies, was changed significantly when fire consumed approximately 16 per cent of the area’s forest and 30 per cent of its town. Combined damages for the four costliest weather events amounted to over $7 billion, with all ranking among the costliest weather events in Canadian history. Tragically, over 40 fatalities were also attributed to the impacts of the highlighted events."
The Jasper wildfire caused around $880 million in insured damage. The town also reported that while 358 structures were destroyed, mostly businesses and homes, the total number of housing units lost was around 800.
About 25,000 people fled Jasper townsite and its national park on the night of July 22, and the 5,000 residents of Jasper were allowed to return on August 16.
The hailstorm that peppered northern Calgary and the area but narrowly missed Airdrie has been deemed the second-costliest event ever in Canada.
"This hailstorm is the second-costliest event in Canada's history, following the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire. With yet another record-setting summer for insured losses due to severe weather, these losses will pressure insurance premiums moving forward," the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) said.
The estimated insured damage losses were nearly $2.8 billion. IBC added that Alberta has experienced five of the top ten costliest disasters in Canadian history, all of which have occurred since 2016, placing significant strains on home, business, and auto insurance premiums.
Severe weather has cost insurers over $3.6 billion in Alberta this summer alone.
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