Most thunderstorms will produce hail; the question is whether or not the hail will grow large enough to make it to the ground without completely melting.
Tag Archives Hail
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
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
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
Hailstorms feared but often little understood
When it comes to hail, size really does matter. Pea-sized hail will do little if any damage to structures or plants, while golf-ball sized hailstones can destroy everything in their path.
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
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
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
Hail research project picks up where ‘80s studies left off
Scientists at Western University are trying to better understand the nature of hail storms in Alberta
Researchers from Western University are embarking on a project to learn more about the devastating hailstorms that can wreak havoc across Alberta. The initiative, by Western’s Northern Tornadoes Project and researcher Francis Lavigne-Theriault, plans to build a climatology database on hail events in the region. “It’s something which hasn’t been undertaken since the ‘80s,” he […] Read more
Hail losses reach near record high
It was a bad year for hail on the Prairies in 2021. According to the Canadian Crop Hail Association (CCHA), both Saskatchewan and Alberta experienced more hail losses than they have in years. Saskatchewan saw an industry loss ratio of 134 percent, a major increase over the 2020 ratio of 65 percent. In Alberta the […] Read more
