Insured losses from a Calgary hailstorm last August have risen to $C3.25 billion ($3.6 billion), Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc (CatIQ) estimates.

The storm is the second-costliest disaster in Canadian history for insured losses, and resulted in more than 130,000 claims.

The fourth loss figure for the hailstorm is up from the $C2.948 billion ($3.3 billion) estimate issued 90 days after the event hit the city’s northern areas.

“While the storm itself was not unusually severe for the region, the extent of the damage and the scale of the industry loss total reflect how the distance of a few kilometres in the track can result in tremendous loss differences when it comes to severe convective storm,” CatIQ CEO Laura Twidle said.

“There was nothing apparent about the storm from a meteorological standpoint to suggest it would result in one of the costliest events in Canadian history.”  

The Insurance Bureau of Canada says the nation’s insurers have been calling on governments to invest in disaster resilience measures for more than a decade, including through improving building codes and helping homeowners understand the risks and increase preparedness.

“We are seeing more of these events, in both frequency and severity,” the bureau’s VP of Pacific and western Aaron Sutherland said. 

“When homeowners repair or replace roofing, there are impact-resistant products available that can help reduce or eliminate the chance of future loss or damage from another hailstorm.”