Getting a handle on the year’s top weather stories
Shares
The pandemic was undoubtedly the most discussed issue in 2020, supplanting what is normally the biggest talking point for Canadians: the weather.
Complaining about it, in particular, is the great Canadian pastime.
And we had much to complain about this year, as evidenced by Environment Canada’s top-10 weather stories, compiled by senior climatologist David Phillips.
Phillips has been putting together the annual compilation for 25 years, something that’s become a “worse-dressed list” of weather incidents.
When looking back at this year, there were 93 events that Phillips would consider ‘Top 10’ quality.
366
A hailstorm that caused one billion dollars in damages in Calgary is the top weather story of 2020
Canada’s Top Ten Weather Stories of 2020 are ranked from 1 to 10, according to factors that include the impact they had on Canada and Canadians, the extent of the affected area, economic impacts, and longevity as a top news story.
The Top Ten Weather Stories of 2020
Calgary’s Billion-Dollar Hailer
Fort McMurray’s Flood of a Century
Endless Hot Summer in the East
St. John’s Snowmageddon
The Year’s Most Powerful Tornado
Frigid Spring Helps Canadians Self-Isolate
Fall in Canada – Winter in the West and Summer in the East
BARRIE, ONT. The pandemic may be the top story of 2020, but the weather has also significantly impacted Canadians this year. Environment Canada announced its 25th annual top 10 weather stories for 2020 on Wednesday. Senior climatologist Dave Phillips added record highs and lows, tornadoes, flooding and hurricanes to the list, but it was a hailstorm in Calgary that topped them all. The storm caused $1.3 billion in insurable damages. The most expensive hailstorm in Canadian history, Phillips said. The hailstorm on June 13 lasted just moments, but it pounded the area with baseball-sized ice balls propelled in 70km/h winds. Calgary s Billion-dollar Hailer
Last Updated: Wednesday, December 16, 2020 15:45
Extreme weather events in 2020 have cost Canadians millions and the economy billions, said the government of Canada’s senior climatologist David Phillips at an online news conference. He said for the insurance industry alone, there were nine catastrophes costing 2.5 billion dollars. In presenting the top ten weather stories of the year, Phillips said there were actually 93 extreme events that could have made the list. He called 2020 a destructive and disruptive year and “a most impactful year on the numbers of Canadians affected by the weather.”
Hail the size of tennis balls
The number one event was a storm on June 13 in the western city of Calgary, which at the best of times, is known as the hailstorm capital of Canada. This storm generated winds of 70 km/hr driving hail the size of tennis balls crashing through the windows of cars and homes and toppling threes. Where property was insured, claims totalled 1.3 billion do