What do the colour-coded warnings mean?
How Environment Canada’s new weather warning system works
Starting today, Environment and Climate Change Canada has changed the way it classifies its weather warnings. CBC Meteorologist Ryan Snoddon explains it’s all about risk and impact.
Environment and Climate Change Canada updated its weather warning system last month to provide a colour-coded, risk-tiered system that aims to offer a clearer picture of extreme weather’s impact — and indicate how the public should prepare.
The alert level is based on an assessment of both the potential impacts of the weather event and the forecast confidence.
The changes align with recommendations from the World Meteorological Organization and have already been implemented by 31 weather agencies across Europe.
The most common alert is yellow, which indicates hazardous weather that could cause moderate or localized effects — such as damage, service disruptions and/or health impacts — in the short term.
Orange alerts are uncommon but are issued when forecasters have high confidence that severe weather is likely to cause significant damage, disruption or health impacts that are widespread and could last for a few days.
Red alerts are rare but will be issued when very dangerous and possibly life-threatening weather is forecast and expected to cause extreme damage and prolonged disruption.
