June is shaping up to be a costly month for Canada's property and casualty insurers.
In its monthly global catastrophe recap, Aon estimates the amount of damage caused by Mother Nature in June in Canada at $70 million. This amount is likely to increase because the extent of damage from the forest fire that devastated Lytton, BC is not yet known. Aon anticipates that it will be at least in the low seven figures.
Recap of the June events
On June 8, parts of southern Québec and Ontario experienced destructive winds, torrential rain and hail. Trois-Rivières was particularly hard hit, Aon says. The economic damage from this event is estimated at over $25 million.
On June 11, southern Saskatchewan, including the city of Regina, experienced heavy rainfall. The resulting water accumulation closed roadways. The damage is expected to exceed $20 million.
Strong winds rocked eastern Ontario and Quebec on June 21 and 22. Four tornadoes were recorded in Québec, including one in Mascouche that resulted in one death. Total economic losses are estimated at $30 million, and most of it will be insured damage, Aon notes.
Heat wave and forest fires
In addition, an unprecedented heatwave scorched Canada between June 26 and 30, breaking numerous temperature records across the western provinces.
A weather station in Lytton BC set a new Canadian national heat record for three consecutive days between June 27 and 29, ultimately soaring to 49.6°C.
Following days of record heat, the arrival of dry thunderstorms and more than 700,000 lightning strikes sparked more than 180 forest fires in British Columbia, Canada, from late June to early July. The most significant occurred in the village of Lytton, where at least 90 per cent of structures were destroyed. Two people were killed. Aon says it expects losses in the millions of dollars.
