The Canadian Crop Hail Association reported Sept. 6 that more than one million acres were damaged by hail and strong winds between Aug. 19 and 25. | File photo

Saskatchewan hit hardest by late August hail

A storm that hit Aug. 21 is expected to account for nearly two-thirds of all August hail claims made in the province

Prairie harvest was partially performed by Mother Nature’s combine this fall when hailstorms hit various regions. The Canadian Crop Hail Association reported Sept. 6 that more than one million acres were damaged by hail and strong winds between Aug. 19 and 25. Damaging storms also occurred from Aug. 12 to 18, resulting in 1,340 claims, […] Read more

A dairy truck passes as a June storms lights up the skies and drops hail  near Kenaston, Sask in 2022. Farmer interest in hail coverage is up after a "pretty hectic" 2021 hail season, says Scott McQueen of Palliser Insurance.  |  Mike Raine photo

Farmers spend money on hail coverage this year

Customers take out an average of $230 per acre and do it earlier than normal, a trend seen since ‘hectic’ 2021’ season SASKATOON — Farmers have been active buyers of hail insurance the past three years, says an industry official.Interest in the product jumped after a “pretty hectic” 2021 hail season when there was plenty […] Read more


Hail can occur pretty much anywhere across North America, but there are two main regions where chances are significantly higher. The first is the central United States. The second is the Canadian Prairies, Alberta in particular. | Getty Images

Understanding how thunderstorms form hail

If you have spent any significant time on the Prairies, you have probably experienced a hailstorm. Hail can occur pretty much anywhere across North America, but there are two main regions where chances are significantly higher. The first is the central United States. The second is the Canadian Prairies, Alberta in particular. Can it be […] Read more


Storms with large amounts of smaller hail are more destructive for crops than events with large hail, said Julian Brimelow, executive director of the Northern Hail Project at Western University in London, Ont. | Screencap via uwo.ca

Small hail, big damage; big hail, small damage

Scientists are not able to predict which will come, but Western Canada’s hail alley could see improvement

An area in Alberta known as hail alley could potentially experience larger hail but fewer hailstorms due to climate change, said a scientist whose team discovered the biggest hailstone ever found in Canada. “It’s tricky, right? I mean, we still don’t understand everything that’s happening now,” said Julian Brimelow, executive director of the Northern Hail […] Read more


Mature crops can take a serious beating from a hail storm.  |  Getty images

Hail adjusters tackle 1,300 claims to stay ahead of harvest

Crop staging results in higher payouts as the season passes; farmers reminded to leave inspection strips

Hail adjusters are working hard to stay ahead of harvest, said the Canadian Crop Hail Association. Storms are becoming less frequent but can still be destructive. Between Aug. 15 and Aug. 21 member companies of the association said they investigated more than 1,300 claims. Even small storms can cause heavy damage because crops are so […] Read more

This hailstone found in central Alberta last week had a maximum diameter of 12.3 centimetres. It is the largest hailstone ever found in Canada.  |  Western University photo

Hailstorm wreaks havoc, sets record in Alberta

A hailstorm that set a record for the largest hailstone ever found in Canada brought one of Alberta’s busiest highways to a halt northeast of Innisfail last week as it levelled crops and damaged farmhouses in Red Deer County. It knocked out windshields and set off airbags in vehicles travelling on Highway 2 near Antler […] Read more