Insurance rates in Western Manitoba are on the rise — and brokers say homeowners can thank unpredictable weather.

Manitoba has seen everything from tornadoes to hail storms to flooding in recent months, and according to insurance brokers, those are part of a decade-long trend of extreme weather that’s forcing rates up.

"If this weather becomes the new norm then for sure as claims costs increase, the premiums to pay for then have to increase," said Greg McGregor a broker with Wawanesa Mutual Insurance.

McGregor said, on average, he’s seeing rate increases of about eight to 10 per cent this year over last. That translates to about $80 per homeowner.

Dallas Williamson is one of the people affected by the rate hike. About a month ago, his home in Reston filled with water after flash flooding hit the area.

"It’s quite a range of emotions — fear, panic and then relief shortly after when the water did start to recede," he said.

But that relief was short lived when he found out the insurance premiums he was paying wouldn’t help. Overland flooding was not covered under his insurance.

Now, hearing that rates are going up has added insult to injury.

"If they are going to increase the rates I hope they increase the coverage and broaden the spectrum a little bit," he said.

If not, it’ll leave Williamson and others crossing their fingers the federal government will pay out disaster assistance.

For now, McGregor doesn’t think the higher rates will creep as far as Winnipeg.

"It is very localized — the rating. So, a storm that happens in Reston for the most part is not going to affect Winnipeg premiums," he said.

But that’s not out of the question in the future.

Steve Kee of the Insurance Bureau of Canada said the industry is watching recent weather events — such as the major flooding in southern Alberta — closely.

"We’re continuing to see incidents of severe weather increase, and it’s something I think we all have to take a role in and see how we’re going to deal with this moving forward," said Kee.