Calgarians brace for hailstorm season as summer heat intensifies, raising concerns over property damage and insurance claims across the city.
Calgary’s Summer Heat Fuels Hailstorm Fears
As temperatures soar across Calgary, a new season of anxiety is settling in for many residents: hailstorm season. On Thursday, the city was under a heat warning, while nearby Banff and Lake Louise faced extreme thunderstorm watches, signaling the return of unpredictable and potentially damaging weather.
Residents on Edge as Storms Loom
For those living in northern Calgary, the threat feels all too familiar. Jay Ghinger, a Cityscape resident, described the community’s response to recent warnings: “The last warning we got from Environment Canada, people covered their cars and parked them under bridges and stuff.” Ghinger is currently dealing with two unresolved hail insurance claims and fears a third is inevitable. “There’s going to be a third one; I don’t know what to do. The second one isn’t repaired yet. Some days, I feel like I should buy a house in some other community,” he shared.
Billions in Damage: The Cost of Hailstorms
The financial toll of these storms is staggering. According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), Alberta has suffered over $6 billion in hail damage during the past five years. Last year alone, Calgary’s hailstorm triggered $3 billion in insurance claims, with vehicles accounting for a third of those losses.
Aaron Sutherland, IBC’s vice-president for the Pacific and Western regions, emphasized the importance of preparation: “It’s imperative that if you have a garage, make sure you get your car in there when you see the weather forecast looking like it is. If you don’t have a garage, then something like a hail-resistant car cover could be a really valuable investment.”
Rethinking How Calgary Builds
With severe weather becoming more frequent, experts are urging a change in how homes and infrastructure are constructed. Sutherland warned, “It needs to be a reminder that we have to change the way we’re building and rebuilding because it no longer makes sense to build in northern Calgary with materials that simply aren’t equipped to withstand the type of weather that’s going to come.”
As Calgary bakes under the summer sun, residents are left hoping that this year’s hail season will be less destructive—but preparing for the worst, just in case.
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