# Severe weather in Ontario > Extreme weather is on the rise. Learn how to protect yourself from floods and other severe weather events that often hit Ontario: wildfires and summer storms. Preparing for severe weather in Ontario Ontario faces a range of severe weather threats each year. Floods are the most significant natural hazard, but parts of the province are also subject to wildfires, tornadoes and hail. Acera Insurance is here to help you prepare for extreme weather events, which are becoming more frequent and severe. Here’s what you should know about protecting yourself from severe weather in Ontario. If you have any questions, please contact a member of our team or visit us at any of our Ontario branches: Brampton Kingston Muskoka (Huntsville) Newmarket Ottawa Richmond Hill Ontario floods Flooding in Ontario can happen at any time of the year but is most common in the spring due to rapid snowmelt and rainstorms. Flooding in Ontario is commonly caused by: Rapid snowmelt Heavy rain Ice jams High lake levels or storm surges How big of a risk are floods in Ontario? Ontario’s geography and climate make flooding a persistent risk, particularly in low-lying urban areas and near rivers. Between 2023 and 2024, catastrophic floods caused nearly $1.3 billion in insured losses across Ontario, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada. The flash floods in Toronto and the GTA in July 2024 were the most destructive, resulting in nearly $1 billion in insured losses. Toronto also experienced significant damage following floods in 2005 and 2013. How to prepare for floods in Ontario Acera Insurance’s flood preparedness guide provides useful insights to help you safeguard your home, business or farm. Protect your home and vehicles from floods 10 ways to protect your home from floods Insuring your home and vehicles against floods Protect your business from floods Safeguard your business property from floods Business insurance solutions for floods Protect your farm from floods 19 flood protection tips for farms Farm insurance options for flood coverage Related reading: 9 tips to help you stay safe during a flood Severe summer storms in Ontario: Rain, hail & tornadoes Summer weather in Ontario can be volatile. Intense rains and thunderstorms, hail, extreme winds and tornadoes have all caused significant destruction across the province. Between 2020 and 2023, severe summer weather caused $1.6 billion in insured losses across Ontario. The 2022 derecho — which saw winds hit speeds in excess of 120 km/h — caused more than $875 million in insured damage, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada. How big of a risk are tornadoes in Ontario? Ontario experiences an average of 18 tornadoes per year, particularly in southern and central parts of the province. Tornado season typically runs from May to September, with peak activity in June and July. How to prepare for tornadoes in Ontario Acera Insurance’s tornado preparedness guide outlines key strategies to help you stay safe and mitigate damage. How to protect your home and vehicle from tornadoes 5 steps to protect your home from tornadoes Home and vehicle insurance for tornadoes How to protect your business from tornadoes 7 tornado preparedness tips for businesses Business insurance for tornado risks How to protect your farm from tornadoes 9 tornado protection strategies for farms Farm insurance for tornado damage Related reading: How to stay safe during a tornado How big of a risk is hail in Ontario? On average, Ontario experiences 39 days of hail each year. Hailstorms typically occur in the summer, with storms primarily concentrated in southern Ontario. How to prepare for hail in Ontario Protect your home and vehicles from hail 10 ways to protect your home and vehicles from hail Home and vehicle insurance for hail damage How to protect your business from hail 4 steps to safeguard your business from hail Business insurance options for hailstorms How to protect your farm from hail 7 farm hail protection tips Farm insurance solutions for hail damage Related reading: 5 tips to stay safe during a hailstorm Ontario wildfires While wildfires are more common in Western Canada, Ontario experiences significant wildfire activity, particularly in the northern and central regions. Wildfire season in Ontario runs from April to October, with peak activity in July and August. How big of a risk are wildfires in Ontario? Ontario has vast forested regions that are vulnerable to wildfires, particularly in dry and hot conditions. In the past 10 years, Ontario has averaged nearly 700 wildfires each season. How to prepare for wildfires in Ontario While most of wildfires in Ontario happen in secluded regions, it’s still wise to prepare for the risk that these blazes present. Acera Insurance’s wildfire preparedness guide provides expert recommendations to help protect your home, business or farm from wildfires. Protect your home and vehicles from wildfires 8 ways to protect your home from wildfires Insuring your home against wildfires Protect your business from wildfires 10 wildfire preparedness tips for businesses Business insurance for wildfire risks Protect your farm from wildfires 7 farm wildfire protection tips Farm insurance for wildfire protection Related reading: How to stay safe during a wildfire Are you ready for severe weather in Ontario? You can’t control severe weather in Ontario, but you can take steps to protect what matters most. Speak with an Acera Insurance advisor today to learn more about home, auto, business and farm coverage options for floods, wildfires, tornadoes and hail. You can also visit a member of our team at any of our Ontario branches: Brampton Kingston Muskoka (Huntsville) Newmarket Ottawa Richmond Hill