Property risk
Hail damage
Calgary sits in one of the most hail-prone regions in North America, and storm cells are extremely local.
What happens
Alberta's hail corridor, running roughly from Calgary through Red Deer to Edmonton, produces some of the costliest hailstorms in Canadian history. The 2020 Calgary hailstorm remains among the most expensive insured events the country has recorded.
Damage concentrates on roofing, siding, windows, screens, soft metals, skylights and anything left outdoors. Vinyl siding cracks, asphalt shingles lose granules and bruise, aluminium dents, and screens tear.
Storm cells are narrow. One community can take severe damage while an adjacent one takes none, which means regional weather data indicates that an event happened near a property — never that a specific property was affected.
Roof damage is frequently not visible from the ground and does not produce leaks immediately. Compromised shingles may not fail until a subsequent rain or the following spring melt.
Why vacancy makes this worse
Nobody hears it, nobody looks afterwards, and the resulting damage is discovered when water arrives months later. Documentation made shortly after an event establishes timing in a way that reconstruction from memory cannot.
What a visit can observe
- Impact marks, spatter patterns or cracking on siding and trim
- Dents on soft metals — gutters, downspouts, flashing, vents, air conditioner fins
- Torn or punctured window and door screens
- Granule accumulation at downspout outlets
- Broken or cracked glazing and skylights
- Shredded foliage and stripped plants
- Damage to vehicles or outdoor furniture left on the property
Reducing the risk
- Book a check after any significant hail event near the property.
- Move vehicles and outdoor furnishings under cover before an extended summer absence where possible.
- Have a qualified roofing professional assess the roof if ground-level evidence suggests impact.
- Confirm what your policy covers regarding hail and what deductible applies, before the season.
Related questions
What should I do about hail if my Calgary home is empty?
Book a check after any significant hail event near the property, and do it promptly rather than eventually.
Calgary sits in one of the most hail-prone regions in North America, and storm cells are narrow — one community can take severe damage while an adjacent one takes none. Regional weather data tells you a storm occurred near your property; only someone at the property can tell you whether it was affected.
The value of a prompt check is timing. Documentation made within a day or two of an event establishes when damage occurred, which is a far stronger position than reconstructing events from memory months later when a leak finally appears.
A ground-level check documents impact on siding, screens, soft metals, glazing, decks and anything left outdoors. Roof damage frequently is not visible from the ground and does not leak immediately — compromised shingles can hold until the next significant rain or the following spring. If ground-level evidence suggests impact, a qualified roofing professional should assess the roof properly.
Before the season, two practical steps: move vehicles and outdoor furnishings under cover where possible, and confirm with your broker what your policy covers for hail and what deductible applies.
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