Environment Canada Releases New Colour-Coded Alert System
- Austin Gagnier
- 4 days ago
- 1 min read
Environment Canada has unveiled their new alert system, which now includes colour-coded weather alerts. Warnings, Watches and Advisories will continue to be issued, but will now come with a risk level and colour attached to them.
Statements will continue to be issued, however they are not colour-coded, and will be used for information only. These will be issued when weather conditions are unusual, inconvenient, or a cause for potential concern.
An example of a watch that may be issued is a Orange Watch - Snow Squall. This means there is a Snow Squall Watch in effect, with an Orange level.
How are alert colours decided?
Environment Canada considers the confidence and the impact of the incoming weather to decide the alert colour.
For example, if there is Very High forecast confidence and Moderate impact, it will be a Yellow alert.
If there is Very High forecast confidence and High impact, it will be an Orange alert.
If there is Very High forecast confidence and Extreme impact, it will be a Red alert.
When considering impact, Environment Canada will take many factors into account, including location, existing conditions (such as snow already on the ground), timing and how vulnerable the area is.
When considering forecast confidence, Environment Canada accounts for current weather observations, forecaster expertise, and weather prediction models.
More information can be found here: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/weather/severeweather/weather-alerts/colour-coded-alerts.html
