The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) said last year was among the five worst years on record for insured damages caused by severe weather events, but it wasn’t the worst.
Noteworthy extreme weather events last year include a cold snap in Atlantic Canada; Ontario and Quebec spring snowstorm; Tantallon, NS, wildfire; nova scotia floods; Prairies summer storms. Winnipeg hail storm. Ontario severe summer storms. Wildfires in Okanagan and Shuswap Region, British Columbia; and forest fires in Behchok-Yellowknife and Hay River in the northwest of the country.
The record number of wildfires ranks as Environment Canada’s most important weather story of 2023.
These are the 10 costliest years for natural disasters in Canada as measured by insurance payouts, adjusted for inflation in 2022.
1. 2016 – $5.96 billion
Notable event: Fort McMurray wildfire
2. 2013 – $3.87 billion
Notable Events: Floods in Alberta, Greater Toronto Area; Toronto ice storm
3. 2022 – $3.4 billion
Notable Events: Hurricane Fiona. Forest fires
4. 2023 – $3.13 billion
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Notable Events: Wildfires in British Columbia; Nova Scotia floods
5. 1998 – $2.83 billion
Notable event: Ice storm in eastern Canada
6. 2021 – $2.48 billion
Notable events: Calgary hailstorm. Floods BC
7. 2020 – $2.46 billion
Notable Events: Fort McMurray flood; Calgary hail storm
8. 2018 – $2.4 billion
Notable Events: Ottawa area tornado; New Brunswick Flash Floods
9. 2011 – $1.97 billion
Notable Events: Slave Lake, Alta., wildfires
10. 2012 – $1.65 billion
Notable event: Calgary rainstorm
& Edition 2024 The Canadian Press