Prairie thunderstorms, funnel clouds, hail cause $48M in insured damage
July storms walloped Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba
The Insurance Bureau of Canada says severe storms that swept across the Prairies last month caused more than $48 million in insured damage.
Intense thunderstorms produced strong winds, hail, lightning, heavy rain and funnel clouds in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
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Most property damage was reported in Saskatchewan, where up to 130 millimetres of rain in a short period resulted in significant flooding in Estevan.
The downpour overwhelmed the local stormwater network and caused streets to flood and sewers to back up.
Bill Adams, a vice-president with the insurance bureau, said severe storms are happening more often and with greater intensity across the Prairies.
He advises people to understand their insurance policies and be prepared for an emergency.