Exceeds $840M: High, insured losses from severe June storms in Sask., Man.
The Prairies have been bombarded with severe, damaging weather this year, with June 9-10 storms in Saskatchewan and Manitoba reportedly fetching a bill of more than $840 million of insured losses.
It's been quite the storm season on the Prairies this year with more than 70 twisters already reported.
Many of those storms and tornadoes have generated a fair amount of a damage as a result, with two days of severe weather in June (9-10) in Saskatchewan and Manitoba leading to more than $840 million of insured losses, according to an estimate from Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc. (CatIQ).
Among the storms was an EF-3 tornado near Oxbow, Sask., on Tuesday, June 9, Canada's strongest twister so far this year. The storms also generated large hail, torrential rain and flash flooding, affecting thousands across Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
“The frequency and severity of extreme weather have increased in recent years, particularly in Manitoba and Saskatchewan,” said Aaron Sutherland, vice-president of the Pacific and Western branch of Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), in a news release.
“This trend demands action and that we rethink how we can better protect communities. Surging insurance claims are contributing to pressure on home insurance premiums. One of the most effective ways to reduce the cost of home insurance over the long term and better protect communities is to invest in resilience now.”
2026 has brought 11 destructive events in Canada
According to IBC, Canada has recorded 11 catastrophic weather events, of which, five have affected Manitoba and Saskatchewan. That includes a dust storm that brought damaging winds to southern Manitoba, and central and southern Saskatchewan--bringing $40 million of insured losses.
In addition, preliminary estimates for additional severe weather events that swept impacted Saskatchewan and Manitoba from June 26–30, July 4–6 and July 10–11 will soon be announced by CatIQ.
“This year is shaping up to be another challenging year of extreme weather across the Prairies,” said Sutherland. “Families and businesses have had their lives disrupted and their property damaged. Insurers will continue to help them recover and rebuild from this storm and others. It’s what they’re there for.”
Last year, wildfires in Manitoba and Saskatchewan caused an estimated $430 million of insured losses, while flash flooding, hail and strong winds resulted in an additional $330 million of insured losses, IBC said.
According to the insurance firm, there have been 30 catastrophic weather events in Manitoba and Saskatchewan since 2021. The affairs brought more than $2.5 billion in insured losses.
Aikens Lake, Man., wildfire, on July 11, 2025. (Andrew Paterson/X)
To put that into an individual ratio, the damage is equivalent to nearly $1,000 of insured losses per person across the two provinces during the past five years--an increase of 140 per cent from the previous five-year period.
Thumbnail courtesy of Claudette Gabbs (@ClaudetteGabbs)/X/Submitted to The Weather Network.