Catastrophic rounds of severe storms continued impacting U.S. and Canadian insurers in mid-September generating losses estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Hail also pelted China’s capital city.
North Dakota broke an annual record of 61 twisters recorded in 1999 with 73 to date this year, said Aon.
- Three waves of storms started rolling through the central United States and Canada on Sept. 11-12, including large hail and heavy rain in parts of Saskatchewan and Manitoba that flooded homes and businesses in some areas.
- A rare tornado outbreak struck South Dakota and North Dakota on Sept. 14, including two twisters with peak winds of 112 mph or stronger.
McCook, Nebraska, was pounded with long-duration hail up to three inches in diameter and heavy rain, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Storm Prediction Center, part of more storms on Sept. 16. The hailstorm caused extensive property and crop damage.
Severe weather across Canada continues to highlight the financial costs of a changing climate to insurers and taxpayers. The noteworthy severe weather events of 2020 include the Fort McMurray flooding and Calgary hailstorms.
Insured damage for severe weather events across Canada reached $2.4 bn last year, according to Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc. Notably, 2020 is now ranked as the fourth highest in insured losses since 1983.
According to Munich Re, this year global losses from natural disasters hit $270 bn, significantly higher than previous years.
That same day tropical storm-force wind gusts blew across coastal regions of Virginia, North Carolina and Maryland, said Aon, with more heavy rainfall and flooding, notably in Virginia Beach.
Canadians continue to experience accelerating financial losses from climate change. While acknowledging the importance of a resilient recovery, the federal government lacks any national plan to protect Canadians from floods, fires, windstorms and hail.
Craig Stewart, Vice-President, Federal Affairs, Insurance Bureau of Canada
“For all of its work on reducing future climate threats, too little attention is being paid to the losses Canadians are facing today due to past inaction”,” said Craig Stewart.
“One of the known impacts of climate change is an increase in the frequency of extreme weather events and the damages they cause. In addition to reducing emissions, Canada also needs a national adaptation plan to protect and prepare Canadians for a changing climate,” said Dr. Richard Florizone, Ph.D., President & CEO, International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and Chair of the Taskforce for a Resilient Recovery.
A large hailstorm struck in China on Sept. 13. Beijing was heavily impacted when two-inch hail fell, said Aon, and officials in China reported carriers incurred at least 48,900 automobile claims through Sept. 17.
“Insured losses from the event are initially estimated at 409 mn yuan ($58 mn),” it added.
