Canadians will now get colour-coded weather alerts. Here's what they mean

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECC) has unveiled an overhaul to its national weather alert system, aiming to make the risks associated with its weather alerts clearer for Canadians.

Its new colour-coded system “will make it easier to quickly understand the severity of extreme weather and its expected risk at a glance,” said the weather service in a statement on Wednesday. “This new system is part of the ongoing modernization of our public weather program and aligns with best practices worldwide, including those promoted by the World Meteorological Organization.”

Going forward, each type of weather alert   — warnings, advisories and watches — will include a colour ranging from yellow, to orange, to red, each reflecting a different level of seriousness connected with the weather event.

Why move to colour-coded alerts?

“Moving to colour-coded weather alerts (will help) people understand what weather will do in addition to what it will be,” says ECC.

To illustrate, the weather service points to past weather events that would have been designated red: the 1998 ice storm in Ontario and Quebec that crippled transmission towers, “ snowmageddon ” in St. John’s, Newfoundland, in 2020 that buried the city and the 2021 atmospheric river in British Columbia that severely damaged highways.

Weather alerts can be issued for a wide range of hazards, such as thunderstorms, rain or snow, blowing snow, wind, and heat.

What will a Yellow Alert mean?

Yellow alerts will be the most common, issued when hazardous weather may cause damage, disruption or an impact on health that will most likely be “moderate, localized, and/or short-term.”

A yellow alert associated with wind will state: “Yellow Warning – Wind.” In that situation, says ECC, you may see some short-term utility outages, larger tree branches broken and a risk of injury from flying or falling debris.

What about Orange?

Orange alerts will be for severe weather that is likely to cause damage and disruption that could be major, widespread and potentially lasting a few days.

During an an alert stating “Orange Warning – Wind,” you may see: widespread utility outages, some roof damage, small-to-medium trees snapped and increased risk of injury from flying or falling debris.

When will Red Alerts be issued?

Environment Canada expects red alerts will be rare.

“They (will be) issued when very dangerous and possibly life-threatening weather will cause extreme damage and disruption. Impacts have the potential to be extensive, widespread, and prolonged.”

During a “Red Warning – Wind,” you may see: long duration, widespread utility outages, structural damage to homes and buildings, significant damage to trees, including orchards and parks, a high likelihood of injury due to flying or falling debris.

How will meteorologists decide which alert to issue?

In devising which alert to issue, Environment Canada meteorologists will use a new “Alert Colour Matrix.” Drawing on the latest atmospheric data and establishing the degree of confidence that a forecast will come to pass (from low to very high) they will then set out the the impact a weather event will have on people, property, and communities (from low to extreme).

Where can Canadians see the alerts?

Canadians looking for the latest forecasts and severe weather alerts can visit Canada.ca/Weather or download the WeatherCAN mobile app, which is available for free on Android and iOS devices.

What’s next for weather forecasting in Canada?

Meanwhile, says Environment Canada, it will be launching a series of initiatives over the next year to improve severe weather alerts, provide more context to daily forecasts and extend the outlook for possible extreme weather.

“We continue to experience more frequent and extreme weather in Canada, which makes it more important than ever for Canadians to have access to clear, accurate, and easy-to-understand weather alerts,” said federal Environment and Climate Change minister, Julie Dabrusin, in a press release accompanying the ECC announcement. “By improving how severe weather is reported, we are helping Canadians better understand and prepare for potential impacts, so they can make informed decisions about how and when to protect themselves, their loved ones, and their property.”

Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.