Winter weather concerns as extreme cold gripped the prairies
Extreme cold gripped the prairies as survey showed rising winter-weather concern. Wind chills near −40°C hit Manitoba and Saskatchewan over the weekend.
An Arctic air mass drove extreme cold across Manitoba and Saskatchewan over the weekend, with wind chills approaching −40°C, raising the risk of frozen pipes, ice dams, roof stress and power outages.
Property experts said prolonged cold also increased the likelihood of falling branches and trees, and in some cases, house fires linked to improper use of space heaters.
A cold day on the prairies at Loverna, Saskatchewan. PHOTO BY KATE WINQUIST
Public-opinion polling from First Onsite Property Restoration suggested anxiety about winter weather was rising across the Prairies. In Manitoba and Saskatchewan, 79 per cent of respondents said they worried about winter storms, while 74 per cent said they were concerned about extreme cold, burst pipes and power outages — both up seven points from 2024, according to the company’s annual Property and Weather Survey.
The survey also found 64 per cent of Prairie respondents believed climate change was driving higher home and business insurance costs.
The growing concern followed another costly year for weather-related damage in Canada. Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc. (CatIQ) reported insured losses reached $2.4 billion in 2025, with $3.4 billion in total societal losses.
Among the major events cited was an Ontario–Quebec ice storm that caused $490 million in insured damage, making it the second-costliest ice storm in Canadian history, CatIQ said.
First Onsite, a national property restoration company, said freeze-thaw cycles and heavy snow accumulation strained roofs and increased the risk of water intrusion when temperatures fluctuated.
“Colder temperatures, melting snow and freeze-thaw cycles increase risks to homes and commercial properties,” Jim Mandeville, senior vice-president at First Onsite Property Restoration, said in a statement.
The company said property owners could reduce winter damage risk by insulating exposed plumbing, keeping indoor temperatures consistent, clearing snow safely from roofs where possible, and ensuring emergency supplies were available in case of outages.
First Onsite’s director of operations for the Prairies, Curtis Azevedo, was available to discuss common cold-weather damage patterns, prevention measures, and what homeowners and businesses could do immediately after a winter-related loss.
Winter-weather damage prevention tips
For homeowners and businesses, the company recommended:
responding quickly to water damage to help prevent mould growth
insulating vulnerable pipes and letting faucets drip during prolonged extreme cold
reducing ice dam risks through safe snow removal and proper attic insulation and ventilation
preparing for outages with flashlights, batteries, generators and emergency supplies
keeping a list of emergency contacts, including plumbers, electricians and insurers
First Onsite released its annual winter preparedness guidance earlier this season, citing forecasts of a colder, stormier winter across parts of the country.