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Weatheradio Canada

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Weatheradio Canada
Broadcast areaCanada
Frequency162.4 - 162.55 MHz
Programming
FormatWeather radio
Ownership
OwnerEnvironment Canada / Meteorological Service of Canada
Links
WebsiteWeatheradio Canada

Weatheradio Canada (in French Radiométéo Canada) is a Canadian radio network that broadcasts continuous weather information. Owned and operated by Environment Canada's Meteorological Service of Canada division, the network transmits in both official languages (English and French) from 230 sites across Canada.

In most locations, the service broadcasts on one of seven specially-allocated VHF radio frequencies, audible only on dedicated "weather band" receivers or any VHF radio capable of receiving 10 kHz bandwidth FM signals centered on these assigned channels, which are located within the larger "public service band".

In some locations — primarily national and provincial parks and remote communities with little or no local media service — a transmitter operated by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation carries the service on a standard AM or FM broadcast frequency. As of August 2007, most of these AM and FM transmitters were unlicensed by the CRTC under a special license exemption granted to low-power non-commercial broadcasters.[1]

Weatheradio Canada has a national coverage rate of over 90%. However, not every populated or forecasted region of the country is within range of a transmitter.[2]

The radio frequencies used by Weatheradio Canada are the same as those used by its American counterpart, NOAA Weather Radio. Weather radio receivers designed for use in one country are compatible for use in the other. Since 2004, the service has been using Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) alerting technology to disseminate severe weather bulletins. Weatheradio has indicated that, in the future, it also plans to add other hazard and civil emergency information (such as natural disasters, technological accidents, AMBER alerts and terrorist attacks) to its broadcasts.

Weather information is broadcast using a synthesized voice. The technology employed to produce the voice is the StarCaster text-to-speech system, which uses concatenative synthesis.

History

For the most part, the VHF-FM band plan and radio technology used remains the same. While Weatheradio has evolved and incorporated many features into its broadcasts, Canada has not made any innovations to the transmission standard, as the technology was designed for American use. However, the technology is available for Canadians to implement at their discretion.

Frequencies

Weatheradio Canada signals are transmitted using FM (10 kHz bandwidth), with band spacing of 25 kHz. The service uses these frequencies:[3]

  • 162.400 MHz
  • 162.425 MHz
  • 162.450 MHz
  • 162.475 MHz
  • 162.500 MHz
  • 162.525 MHz
  • 162.550 MHz

Programming

Weather information is broadcast in both official languages which is English first then French. Weather alert broadcasts are inserted within the normal playlist, and are available in both official languages. Marine forecasts are broadcast, though on a limited schedule. Most marine forecasts are broadcast on the marine frequency, which is not available on most weather radios. One requires a special receiver capable of receiving the marine frequency, which varies by province. Environment Canada formerly broadcast a full marine forecast which included marine alerts; this has since changed between 2007 and 2009. Weather broadcasts also include the UV index for the forecasted day, and for the following day during the UV index season. The index runs from 1 (low) to 10 (extreme).

English and French

Weather information broadcasts in these 2 languages are updated at 5:00AM, 11:00AM, 4:00PM local time. Revised forecasts are issued when conditions warrant between the scheduled times as indicated here. In the late 1990s, Environment Canada stopped using the phrase REVISED before the revised forecast, though is still used in marine forecasts. Weather Conditions are updated hourly which includes: Time, City/Town, temperature, sky condition (not available in all forecasted areas), wind speed (wind gust), relative humidity (not available in all forecasted areas), barometric pressure (not available in all forecasted areas) and station identification.

Alert Test

Environment Canada conducts a Required Weekly Test (RWT) each Wednesday, this normally is done between 11:50AM and 12:00PM. This test enables users to confirm that their weather-radio devices are in working order. Environment Canada also conducts a Required Monthly Test (RMT), which broadcasts each first Wednesday of the month. Required Weekly Tests are conducted using the S.A.M.E bursts, and they do not contain the 1050 Hz tone heard in severe weather broadcasts. Only Required Monthly Tests are conducted with the 1050 Hz tone as well as S.A.M.E. bursts.[4]

Alerting

Emergency alerts are sent using Specific Area Message Encoding data bursts, for the following alerts: Hurricane Watch and Warning, Tornado Watch and Warning, Wind Warning, Winter Storm Watch and Warning, Severe Thunderstorm Watch and Warning, Snowsquall Watch and Warning. A 1050 Hz audio tone for rainfall warnings, or to activate the weather radio before broadcasting the SAME bursts. Most models will activate for the 1050 Hz tone, while some Midland weather radios only activate for the SAME bursts. The use of the S.A.M.E and 1050 Hz tone may vary by province.

Common Environment Canada Alerts (Common Alerts vary in the Canadian Territories)
Event name Code Description
Tornado Watch TOA Also known as a red box. Conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms producing tornadoes in and close to the watch area. Watches are usually in effect for several hours, with six hours being the most common (also automatically indicates a Severe Thunderstorm Watch). These are common in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec.
Tornado Warning TOR A tornado is indicated on radar by Environment Canada meteorologists, or by weather spotters. These are common in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch SVA Conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning SVR Issued when a thunderstorm produces hail 1 inch (25 mm) or larger in diameter and/or winds which equal or exceed 58 miles per hour (93 km/h). Severe thunderstorms can result in the loss of life and/or property. Information in this warning includes: where the storm is, what locations will be affected, and the primary threat(s) associated with the storm. Tornadoes can also and do develop in severe thunderstorms without the issuance of a tornado warning.
Wind Warning HWW Issued when forecasted winds are expected to gust to 90 km/h. This alert shows as a HIGH WIND WARNING on weather radios with the display feature.
Blizzard Warning BZW A warning that sustained winds or frequent gusts of 30 kn (56 km/h) or higher and considerable falling and/or blowing snow reducing visibilities to 1⁄4 mile (0.40 km) or less are expected in a specified area. A blizzard warning can remain in effect when snowfall ends but a combination of strong winds and blowing snow continue, even though the winter storm itself may have exited the region (also automatically indicates a Winter Storm Warning for Heavy Snow and Blowing Snow).
Tropical Storm Watch TRA An announcement for specific areas that tropical storm conditions are possible within 48 hours.
Tropical Storm Warning TRW A warning that sustained winds within the range of 34 to 63 kn (63 to 117 km/h) associated with a tropical cyclone are expected in a specified area within 36 hours or less.
Hurricane Watch HUA An announcement for specific areas that hurricane conditions are possible, and tropical storm conditions are possible within 48 hours. A Hurricane Watch is issued for the Atlantic Provinces, but can be issued for British Columbia if warranted.
Hurricane Warning HUW A warning that sustained winds 64 kn (118 km/h) or higher associated with a hurricane are expected, and tropical storm conditions are expected within 36 hours in a specified area. A hurricane warning can remain in effect when dangerously high water or a combination of dangerously high water and exceptionally high waves continue, even though winds may be less than hurricane force. A Hurricane Warning is issued for the Atlantic Provinces, but can be issued for British Columbia if warranted.
Winter Storm Watch WSA Means locations under this watch should monitor local weather forecasts, as there is a potential of a winter storm consisting of one or more of these: Snow, Rain, Freezing Rain. It's not wise to only refer to the display feature on a weather radio, as a Freezing Rain Watch also displays as a Winter Storm Warning.
Winter Storm Warning WSW Means a significant weather system is expected within the warning area. This alert may contain one or more of these weather types: Snow, Rain, Freezing Rain. It's not wise to only refer to the display feature on a weather radio, as a Freezing Rain Warning also displays as a Winter Storm Warning.
Tsunami Watch TSA Means that an event has occurred where a tsunami may have been or has been generated, and tsunami waves may hit along the coast in the watch area. Events that may generate tsunamis include: Earthquakes, Landslides and Volcanic Eruptions. How strong the event is and where it occurred is a determining factor on the estimated time of arrival of the first wave, and the height of the waves. Tsunami Watch is issued along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of Canada.
Tsunami Warning TSW Means that an event has occurred where a tsunami has been generated that may be a threat to life and property along the coast in the warning area. Events that may generate tsunamis include: Earthquakes, Landslides and Volcanic Eruptions. How strong the event is and where it occurred is a determining factor on the estimated time of arrival of the first wave, and the height of the waves. Tsunami Warning is issued along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of Canada.

See also

References

  1. ^ Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2007-280, August 7, 2007.
  2. ^ For example, there is no Weatheradio Canada signal receivable in Princeton in British Columbia.
  3. ^ http://www.ec.gc.ca/meteo-weather/default.asp?lang=En&n=1008697B-1
  4. ^ https://www.ec.gc.ca/meteo-weather/default.asp?lang=En&n=1C86C296-1
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