June 2026 Hail Damage in Winnipeg: Your Roof, Your Claim, and the Two-Year Deadline

What happened on June 9

Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a tornado warning that covered west Winnipeg, Grosse Isle, Stony Mountain and nearby municipalities, warning of damaging winds, large hail and intense rain. The hail was the big story for roofs:

• Tennis-ball-sized hail in Winnipeg and Sanford.
• Toonie-sized hail reported in North Kildonan.
• Golf-ball-sized hail in Beausejour and New Bothwell.
• Hail around 100 mm across — grapefruit size — near Otterburne.
• Wind gusts of 94 km/h in Winnipeg.

Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc. (CatIQ), which tracks insured losses in Canada, estimates the June 9–10 storms across Saskatchewan and Manitoba caused about $923 million in insured damage. Roofers across Winnipeg saw calls jump several times over within days.

Hail damage is easy to miss

A roof can look fine from the driveway and still be damaged. Hail knocks the protective granules off asphalt shingles, bruises the mat underneath, and cracks seals. The roof may not leak for months — then it fails early, often after a winter of freeze and thaw.

Signs worth a closer look from the ground:

• Dents in eavestrough, downspouts, roof vents, or the metal caps on your chimney.
• Piles of shingle granules at the bottom of your downspouts.
• Dented or split siding, window trim, or fence tops on the side that faced the storm.
• Dents on cars or patio furniture that were outside that night.

Please do not climb onto your roof to check. A roofer can inspect it safely and document what they find in a way your insurer will accept.

How long do you have? Two deadlines, not one

You may have heard that you have two years to make a hail claim in Manitoba. That is close, but it mixes up two different deadlines. Getting them straight protects your claim.

1. Report the damage to your insurer right away. Manitoba’s Insurance Act says you must “immediately” give your insurer written notice of a loss. This rule is built into every home insurance policy in the province. Then send a proof of loss as soon as you reasonably can.
2. You have two years to take legal action. If your insurer denies or underpays your claim, the Act gives you two years from when you knew — or should have known — about the damage to start a lawsuit. For the June 9 storm, that points to about June 2028.

Already waited? Call your insurer anyway, today. Manitoba courts can excuse a late notice when refusing the claim would be unfair, and the sooner you report, the stronger your position.

Still waiting for your roof? You have not missed out

We are working through a large backlog of residential shingle estimates from this storm, in the order they came in. If we do not get to replacing your roof this year, you can still get the money your policy owes you. What matters is that your insurer knows about the damage and that the damage is documented.

One thing to check: many policies pay the full replacement cost only once the work is done “within a reasonable time,” and pay a lower depreciated amount until then. Ask your insurer, in writing, how long you have to finish the repair and still receive full replacement cost. Keep their answer.

What to do this week

1. Call your insurer or broker and report hail damage from June 9, 2026. Write down your claim number, the date, and who you spoke to.
2. Take photos of any dents, broken shingles, and granules you can see from the ground. Date them.
3. Ask your insurer how long you have to complete repairs for full replacement cost, and get the answer in writing.
4. Request an estimate from a local roofer, even if the work cannot start until spring. An estimate on file backs up your claim.
5. If water gets in, cover the spot and call a roofer for a temporary repair. Keep your receipts — most policies expect you to prevent further damage.

Be careful with door-knockers

After a big storm, out-of-province crews often knock on doors offering fast, cheap roofs. Before you sign anything, check for a local address, WCB coverage, references from nearby homes, and a written warranty from a company that will still be here when you need it. Never sign over your insurance payment to a contractor you have not checked out.