Storm alerts issued cite possible hail for parts of N.B.

Environment Canada has issued weather alerts for several areas in New Brunswick about the potential development of severe thunderstorms with heavy downpours, large hail and damaging winds.

Alerts were issued Aug. 20 for St. Stephen and Northern Charlotte County, Fredericton and Southern York County, Woodstock and Carleton County, and Grand Falls and Victoria County. “The main threat would be heavy rainfall, but large hail and strong winds could also be a factor,” the alerts say.

Damage to homes caused by hail or wind is usually covered, notes information from the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC). This includes damage caused by flying debris or falling branches or trees, or damage to a home and contents from water entering through openings caused by wind or hail.

With regard to damage to vehicles from wind, hail or water, this is usually covered if comprehensive or all perils coverage auto insurance has been purchased, the IBC adds.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the United States reports that hail size is estimated by comparing it to a known object. These sizes include pea, about 0.6 cm in diameter; quarter, 2.5 cm in diameter; golf ball, approximately 4.25 cm in diameter; baseball, about 7 cm in diameter; and grapefruit, approximately 10 cm.

Earlier this month, Atmospheric and Environmental Research (AER), a Verisk Analytics company, announced it had begun the “Climate Change: Tornado and Hail” initiative to quantify shifts in hazard patterns related to severe thunderstorms in Canada and the U.S. The project is co-sponsored by a group of insurance industry and financial sector companies.

“Hail risk is of critical concern to the Canadian insurance market,” Jean Roy, vice president of Rating and Classification at TD Insurance, noted in a statement at the time. “AER’s plan for original research in Canada, inclusive of cloud seeding influences, will inform how our insurance products need to evolve in hail-exposed parts of the country,” Roy said.