Canada’s weather warning system has changed. Here’s how

Environment and Climate Change Canada has changed its weather warning system across the country.

General watches and warnings are being replaced with a colour-coded, risk-tiered system so you have a better idea how the forecast will impact you and how you should prepare.

The changes align with recommendations from the World Meteorological Association and follow updates already implemented by 31 weather agencies across Europe.

Environment and Climate Change Canada will continue to issue the types of warnings you normally see throughout the course of the year, including severe thunderstorm watches and warnings, rainfall warnings, snowfall warnings and wind warnings. 

Special weather statements are still in the mix, which appear in grey.

Those statements will continue to give information about a weather event that is potentially significant or of interest, but doesn’t quite reach warning-level criteria.

The difference moving forward is that each of these warnings will now have a colour-coded alert level of yellow, orange or red. The alert level will be based on an assessment of both the potential impacts of the weather event and also the forecast confidence.

So the higher the impact and the higher the confidence that the incoming weather will actually deliver those impacts, the higher the alert level. 

Let’s talk about the colour levels and break down the impacts for you:

For the majority of warning-worthy storms and hazardous events, you’ll likely see a yellow warning. 

Yellow alerts are the baseline for watches and warnings and can be issued for a wide range of weather situations. This is the type of weather that will bring hazardous or dangerous conditions, affecting travel and causing delays or cancellations. There could be health-related impacts, like reduced air quality or heat warnings.

Orange warnings are the next phase and will be issued for storms that are likely to cause widespread and or significant damage.

Here we are talking about widespread wind storms, or crippling ice storms that cause thousands of homes and businesses to lose power for days.

Orange alerts will be issued for winter storms that take a few days to completely dig out of. If an orange-level warning is issued for your area, you should prepare to take action to protect yourself and your property.

The highest warning level is red. If a red alert is issued, it means dangerous and potentially life-threatening weather is on the way, or is occurring.

Under a red alert, you should expect prolonged and extensive disruptions to travel and power, with widespread damage to property and infrastructure. Examples include Hurricane Fiona in September 2022, or the 2024 snowstorm that brought 150 cm of snow to parts of Cape Breton, or flooding events, like the ones experienced by Maritimers over the past few years.

If a red alert is issued, it means you should act now to stay safe from destructive weather.

By focusing on the weather impacts rather than the weather itself, the main goal is to enhance storm preparedness and better communicate how to prepare in advance.

So when a warning is issued for your area, it’s important to read the content of that warning to determine which weather situation is being covered and then act accordingly.

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