Canadian Hail Claims Rise

SASKATOON - Late season hail claims in Manitoba and Saskatchewan drove up the total number filed this season, but they remain well below last year, according to the Canadian Crop Hail Association.

September storms have added to the hail claim numbers for Manitoba and Saskatchewan, while numbers are up slightly in Alberta.

The total number of claims in Manitoba now exceeds 2,500, an increase of nearly 800 since the last hail report was issued near the end of August.

Most of the new claims are from storms the night of September 10 and the early morning hours of September 11 that hit the southeast area of the province. The path of the storms included Crystal City, Snowflake, Pilot Mound, Lariviere, Darlingford, Winkler, Plum Couleee, Thornhill, Manitou, Morden, Altona and as far east as Morris.

Although the storms covered a significant area, damage was relatively light. Claims to date in Manitoba are running just slightly below the five-year average.

Approximately 4,000 hail claims have been filed in Saskatchewan, up about 700 as compared to the end of August. While there were claims on a number of dates, the majority of the new claims are from storms on September 14 and 15.

The areas filing claims for those dates include Pangman, Milestone, Lajord, Wilcox, Pense, Lumsden, Earl Grey, Loreburn, Kenaston, Conquest, Wadena, Clair, Quill Lake, LeRoy, St. Gregor, Englefeld, Bradwell, Vanscoy, Perdue, Archerwill, Rose Valley, Muenster, Humboldt, Naicam, Rosthern, Crooked River, St. Louis, Arborfield and Prince Albert.

Saskatchewan claims were record high in 2008. For 2009, claims are on track to be a record low.

No significant new storms in Alberta The past month has been quiet for hail claims in Alberta. The claim total has increased only slightly and now stands at about 1,950. Hail claim payouts in Alberta should return to the normal range this year, following record payouts in 2007 and again in 2008.