Aon Benfield catalogues June 2012 catastrophe losses in the United States, Canada

U.S. severe weather insurance losses totalled nearly $2 billion in June 2012, according to the latest edition of Aon Benfield’s monthly Global Catastrophe Recap, which reviews natural disaster perils occurring worldwide.

In Canada, the report notes that powerful thunderstorms ripped through southern Manitoba on June 9 and 10, spawning large, almost golf-ball-sized hail and heavy rainfall. “The hardest-hit areas came in the greater Winnipeg metropolitan region, where hail damaged a number of homes and vehicles,” the report says.

“According to Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI), more than 2,500 claims were filed — which prompted the opening of a special claims center. Total insured losses were estimated to reach well into the millions of dollars.”

The report also noted a near-record rainfall in Toronto on June 1 that, when combined with construction work, led to the flooding of the Union Station subway terminal.

“According to Environment Canada, up to 50 millimeters (1.96 inches) of rain fell in the metro region,” the AON report notes. “The excessive water overflowed a sewer in the midst of being reconstructed, which flooded rail tracks and the station itself.”

In its updated summary of catastrophe events for January through to May 2012, Aon Benfield notes that “winter weather” on April 28 and 29 resulted in damage estimates of more than $100 million. Snowstorms left 20 centimeters of snow in Alberta only a week after 20 C spring temperatures.