Stay Prepared: Environment Canada Unveils New Color-Coded Weather Alerts

OTTAWA — Environment Canada has introduced a new color-coded alert system for severe winter weather. This system adds yellow, orange, and red warnings, giving Canadians clearer insights into the severity of weather events.

Gerald Cheng, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, explained that this change comes after years of planning. “We want to use colors because they work well,” he said. This method is already successful in countries like the UK and France, which use color coding to better convey weather risks to their populations.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the new color levels:

• Yellow: Hazardous weather that may cause localized damage or health issues. These alerts are the most common.
• Orange: Severe weather likely to cause significant disruptions. These alerts are less frequent.
• Red: Extremely dangerous weather with potential life-threatening impacts. Red alerts are rare.

Each color indicates the potential level of risk in your area, helping you prepare appropriately. For instance, a powerful ice storm in early January 1998 led to red alerts in Ontario and Quebec, causing deadly outages and injuries.

Aside from warnings, watches alert residents to possible severe weather, while advisories highlight significant, yet less severe, weather conditions like blowing snow or freezing drizzle. Special weather statements are still marked in grey for informational purposes.

Cheng emphasized that each alert helps Canadians gauge risk levels. An orange alert, for example, means the weather poses a major threat. The emphasis on color coding is part of a broader effort to modernize how weather information is communicated.

Recent studies show that clear, colorful alerts can significantly improve public understanding. According to a 2023 survey by the National Weather Service, 78% of respondents found color-coded warnings easier to understand than traditional text-based alerts. This suggests that Canadians will likely benefit from the new system.

Julie Dabrusin, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, said, “With increasing extreme weather in Canada, it’s essential that we provide clear and accessible weather alerts.” The goal is to empower Canadians to make informed decisions to protect themselves and their property during severe weather.

This modernization comes at a crucial time, as climate change continues to escalate weather events across the country. By using more effective communication methods, Environment Canada aims to enhance public safety.

For more details on the new alert system, check out Environment Canada’s [colour-coded alerts](https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/weather/severeweather/weather-alerts.html#toc1).

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