Jasper wildfire, flooding, hail among top weather events of 2024: Environment Canada

A wildfire that left a third of a popular Rocky Mountain tourist town in ashes, remnants of a hurricane season that led to record-breaking rainfall and a hailstorm that grounded airplanes are among the top weather-related events of 2024.

A wildfire that left a third of a popular Rocky Mountain tourist town in ashes, remnants of a hurricane season that led to record-breaking rainfall and a hailstorm that grounded airplanes are among the top weather-related events of 2024.

Environment and Climate Change Canada released Tuesday its annual top 10 list of the country's most impactful weather stories.

The agency did not rank the stories.

In Alberta, a devastating wildfire hit Jasper National Park and the town of Jasper, making it one of the costliest events in the park's history.

The July fire cut road access through the park and forced the townsite's 5,000 residents, along with about 20,000 park visitors, to flee through smoke and falling ashes.

Flames ended up scorching about 350 homes and businesses. Officials estimated $283 million in lost property value.

The Insurance Bureau of Canada has said the fire caused at least $880 million in insured damages, considered the ninth highest natural disaster insurance payout in Canadian history.