Weather Alerts
New: Targeted warnings for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes
Get your weather forecasts and alerts: Use our mobile app WeatherCAN or visit our Weather Information map. Stay safe during severe weather with guidance from Public Safety Canada.
Why we issue weather alerts
Our meteorologists are the authoritative source for weather information in Canada, any time, day or night. We issue weather alerts to let you know about noteworthy weather and how it can impact you.
A weather alert gives you information that helps you to take appropriate action to keep yourself, your loved ones, and your property safe. Our alerts are impact-based, and tell you what the weather will do (for example, potential power outages), in addition to what it will be (for example, a severe thunderstorm).
Three types of weather alerts
Recently we launched colour-coded weather alerts. Each type of alert will appear on either a yellow, orange, or red banner to show the weather event’s severity.
The three types of alerts we issue stay the same: Warnings, Advisories, and Watches.
Each depends on severity of the weather, timing, and how quickly you should act.
Warnings
- act now to protect yourself from severe weather
- urgent messages that severe weather is either happening or will happen
- usually issued 6 to 24 hours in advance, but can be longer
- some severe weather (for example, tornadoes) can occur rapidly, with less than 30 minutes’ notice
Advisories
- act now to protect yourself from significant weather
- issued for specific weather events that are less severe but still significant
- issued for blowing snow, fog, freezing drizzle, and frost
Watches
- get ready to protect yourself from potential severe weather
- issued when conditions are favorable for the development of severe weather
- may be upgraded to a Warning when certainty increases
What weather alerts look like
Always read the full weather alert text.
The title of a weather alert appears on the coloured banner above the message. The title text includes the colour, the alert type, and the weather hazard. Sometimes the timing will follow, depending on which tool you are using to access the alert.
Figure 1: Orange Warning - Blizzard
Long description
Sample title of a weather alert: Orange Warning – Blizzard. Colour is first (orange), the alert type is second (warning), and the weather hazard is third (blizzard).
The main text of the alert includes:
- Impact level (moderate, high, or extreme)
- Forecast confidence (how certain we are it will happen)
- What the weather will be
- When it will happen
- Where it will happen
- How it may impact you
- Actions you can take to keep safe
Figure 2: Example of a colour-coded weather alert on the WeatherCAN mobile application: Orange Warning - Blizzard
Long description
Screen shot of a weather alert displayed on the WeatherCAN mobile application.
Black text on an orange background: [Exclamation mark inside a black diamond] Orange Warning - Blizzard
From: [clock emoji] Now
To: [clock emoji] 12:45 pm EDT [calendar emoji] Friday 31 October 2025
Alert text:
Issued at 11:46 am EDT Friday 31 October 2025
Impact level: High
Forecast confidence: High
Blizzard conditions with poor visibility in snow and blowing snow are expected.
Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to ONstorm@ec.gc.ca or post reports on X using #ONstorm.
In effect for:
- Ottawa North – Kanata – Orleans
[Canada wordmark]
Other weather warnings and watches
Marine Warnings and Watches
Marine Warnings and Watches are part of a separate alerting program, see the Canadian Marine Warning Program for marine conditions.
Canadian Hurricane Centre – Warnings and Watches
The Canadian Hurricane Centre is responsible for issuing Tropical Storm and Hurricane Warnings and Watches. Learn more about their forecast products.
Air Quality Warnings
With the move to colour-coded weather alerts, we will no longer be issuing Special Air Quality Statements. Instead, keep an eye out for Air Quality Warnings to let you know when specific air quality situations, like smoke, may impact you.
Weather statements
We also issue different types of weather statements, for extra detail about weather events.
Weather statements are not colour-coded.
Special Weather Statements
We issue Special Weather Statements for information only, they are not an alert.
We use Special Weather Statements to:
let you know when weather conditions are unusual, inconvenient, or are cause for potential concern
give you extra information about weather events beyond our usual forecasts or alerts
Tropical Cyclone Information Statements
The Canadian Hurricane Centre issues Tropical Cyclone Information Statements about tropical storms that are, or are predicted to be, in Canadian waters.
Marine Weather Statements
Our marine weather meteorologists issue Marine Weather Statements for more information on specific marine conditions.
Alert Ready
Alert Ready is the public name of the National Public Alerting System (NPAS) designed to deliver critical and potentially life-saving alerts to Canadians. Its alerts are immediate—interrupting TV and radio programs, and sending notifications on mobile phones.
Alert Ready is a separate emergency alerting system used for a variety of safety scenarios.
Environment and Climate Change Canada only issues Alert Ready alerts for specific weather:
- tornado warnings
- severe thunderstorm warnings that meet the following criteria:
- wind gusts of 130 km/h or greater
- baseball or greater sized hail (7cm)
Other authorized government agencies may issue other types of alerts, including for additional natural hazards. Learn more about Alert Ready.