Canadian Hurricane Centre
What we do
The Canadian Hurricane Centre (CHC) helps keep people in Canada and their homes safe from tropical storms on land or at sea.
We share information in many ways:
- Weather forecasts: Provide general advice to all Canadians and technical details with weather experts. Watches and warnings: We let you know when tropical storms are coming.
- Maps of storm paths: These maps show you where all the tropical storms in the North Atlantic are going.
- Facts about storms: We share important details about tropical storms and what dangers they bring.
- Talks for the public: We give presentations to help people understand tropical storms.
- Training for groups: We teach other groups about tropical storms.
- Science papers and talks: We share what we learn with other scientists.
Who we work with
We work closely with groups in Canada and other countries. In Canada, we team up with:
- The Canadian Centre for Meteorological and Environmental Prediction (CCMEP)
- Environment and Climate Change Canada's local storm centers
- The Eastern Canadian Meteorological Aviation Centre (CMAC-East)
- The Aviation and Defense Service's Weather Services Centres
Because we work closely together, our warnings, forecasts, and activities match up with what these groups need:
- the public
- local news stations
- provincial emergency groups
- Public Safety Canada
- local emergency planners
The CHC leads the way on all weather matters for hurricanes and tropical storms in Canada. We also send our staff to meetings around the world about these storms. We work with the United States National Hurricane Center and add our own detailed forecasts and warnings for Canada to their work.
The CHC is the main contact point for the United States National Hurricane Center from the Canadian government.
Our Team
Tropical storms hit Canada more often than people think. Our weather forecasters get special training to predict "Canadian-style" tropical storms. These storms form differently than storms in other parts of the world.
What we do during hurricane season
Hurricane season in the Atlantic runs from June 1 to November 30. Every day during this time, the CHC checks big weather patterns and global hurricane models. This helps us figure out if a tropical storm might form.
If a tropical storm might hit Canadian waters within 72 hours, the CHC's forecast desk opens and staff work 24 hours a day.
Every six hours, or more often, the CHC creates and shares public updates and maps that show the storm's path. If the storm's effects reach Canada, or if many news channels are interested, we might bring in more staff.
How to reach us
You can reach us through the Meteorological Service of Canada.
If you see severe weather, tell the Environment and Climate Change Canada weather experts in your province or territory.
Where we are
The Canadian Hurricane Centre, the Atlantic Storm Prediction Centre (ASPC), and the National Lab for Marine and Coastal Meteorology are all at Environment and Climate Change Canada's Atlantic Region office in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
This office has over a dozen forecasters and all the newest tools for making forecasts. Our computers connect to Environment and Climate Change Canada's supercomputer network in Dorval, Quebec. This network gives us the newest weather models.