Prairies (Rural Roots Canada) – Damaging winds, heavy rain, and hail ranging from pea to tennis ball size wreaked havoc across the Prairies over the last two weeks.

The Canadian Crop Hail Association says almost 800 claims of crop damage from storms rolling through Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba were made between June 7 and 21.

While the moisture was welcome for some, it’s also a cause for concern, according to Darryl Tiefenbach with Co-operative Hail Insurance Company.

“This is good for crop growth and development but could also create a favourable environment for hail storm development,” he said.

Crop damage varied from province to province, from minor to severe, depending on the size of the hail.

Regional Breakdown of Storm Damage

Alberta

Crops damaged: alfalfa, barley, dry beans, camelina, canola, chickpeas, corn, faba beans, flax, hemp, lentils, oats, onions, peas, potatoes, rye, sugar beets, triticale, wheat

Communities impacted: Acme, Bassano, Bieseker, Blackie, Bon Accord, Brant, Brooks, Calahoo, Cardston, Chancellor, Cheadle, Cluny, Cochrane, Crossfield, Didsbury, Egremont, Elkwater, Ensign, Guy, Hamlin, Hays, Heisler, Holden, Hussar, Lavoy, Legal, Lomond, Lougheed, Lyalta, Manning, Medicine Hat, Milo, Namaka, Pickardville, Purple Springs, Ranier, Rockyford, Rolling Hills, Scandia, Seven Person, St. Isadore, Standard, Strathmore, Taber, Tilley, Viking, Vulcan, Waskatenau, Wostok

Saskatchewan

Crops damaged: beans, canola, chickpeas, corn, lentils, peas, rye, wheat

Communities impacted: Alida, Arcola, Assiniboia, Brownlee, Cadillac, Carlyle, Carnduff, Cypress County, Delmas, Estevan, Grand Coulee, Gull Lake, Meota, Moose Jaw, North Portal, Outlook, Oxbow, Richardson, Stoughton, Unity

Manitoba

Crops damaged: barley, canola, corn, edible beans, fall rye, field peas, grain corn, oats, rye, soybeans, sunflowers, wheat

Communities impacted: Arborg, Beausejour, Birtle, Carman, Cartier, Decker, Dominion City, Elie, Elkhorn, Foxwarren, Gladstone, Kola, Medora, New Bothwell, Ninette, Notre Dame de Lourdes, Pilot Mound, Roblin, Rosser, Russell, Sanford, Sifton, Snowflake, Somerset, Stanley, Stonewall, Tourond

Read more: Prairie Weather This Week – Midweek Update June 25