Toronto, Ontario -- The three-day ice storm that hit Ontario and Quebec in the early spring, has caused about $416 million in insurance claims, including auto claims, a new report has found.
Between March 28 and 31, regions of Ontario and Quebec suffered through a prolonged period of wintry precipitation. Locations in the Kawarthas recorded 35 hours of freezing rain and 25 mm of ice accretion.
The accumulated ice put significant strain on power lines, trees, and other surfaces, causing extensive damage and leaving hundreds of thousands of customers without power. Power disruptions persisted for weeks in the hardest-hit areas.
A prolonged period of wintry precipitation struck southern Ontario and Quebec between March 28 and 31, 2025. Locations in the Kawarthas recorded as many as 35 hours of freezing rain and ice accretion of up to 25 mm. The accumulated ice put significant strain on power lines, trees, and other surfaces, causing extensive damage and leaving hundreds of thousands of customers without power. Power disruptions persisted for weeks in the hardest-hit areas.
Released by CatIQ, the loss number covers property and vehicle claims and additional loss adjustment expenses. The report is the firm's third loss estimate for the ice storm. In its previous, which were issued on April 30 and May 15, CatIQ estimated losses between $342 million and $402 million.
Caroline Floyd, Director of CatIQ, commented: “While we typically expect to see increases in claims numbers slow by the 90-day mark, the continued growth in personal claims is not surprising, given the location of the most significant damage. It is understandable that there may have been delays in reporting damage from cottage or holiday properties that were only more recently re-opened for the summer season.”
Ice events are common across the Lower Great Lakes and St. Lawrence regions; one of the most impactful events in Canadian history struck parts of the region in 1998. April is also a common month for these events, with other major storms occurring in April 2018 and 2023.
Severe weather events now lead to the majority of auto and property insurance claims in Canada. In the summer of 2023, four major catastrophes led to 228,000 insurance claim. Only 113,000 other claims were filed in the period.
