DARTMOUTH, December 3, 2004 - “Weather Aware - Weather Prepared” is the theme of Environment Canada's fourth annual Severe Winter Weather Awareness Week, which runs this year from December 6 -10th in the Atlantic provinces.

Several dramatic storms affecting the Atlantic provinces over the past year have helped draw public attention to the serious nature of severe weather, however every storm inevitably catches some off guard. Too often people wait until a particular storm is on the way before taking action to protect themselves and their families, or worse they do not react at all, sometimes with unfortunate consequences.

“Winter started off early with a big bang this year for many people, giving us a taste of the kind of severe winter weather we can experience in the Atlantic provinces,” says Bill Appleby, Director of the Meteorological Service of Canada, Atlantic Region. “In addition to encouraging people to listen regularly to updated forecasts and to be generally more aware of the weather, we are urging people to take concrete steps to prepare for severe winter weather at the beginning of the season, well before a particular storm is forecast.”

Appleby explains that how people should prepare for severe weather depends on where they live because different areas are prone to certain weather extremes. For example, Atlantic Canada typically receives more freezing rain other any other area of North America. New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland lie along a major storm track and are prone to high winds and heavy snowfalls. In mainland Nova Scotia heavy rain, thunderstorms and potentially snow-melt can result in flooding.

In recent years storm surges have been especially notable in the coastal areas of Prince Edward Island, eastern New Brunswick and northern Nova Scotia. With possible increased storminess due to climate change, Atlantic Canada is more and more at risk from the impacts of these higher water levels, including flooding and coastal erosion.

Wind chill is a concern whenever wind speeds climb, however it tends to be a particular problem in Labrador and parts of New Brunswick due to their continental climates where strong winds coupled with cold air masses are more common.

“Each year, more than 80 people in Canada die from over-exposure to the cold and many more suffer injuries from hypothermia and frostbite,” says Appleby. “Wind chill is a major concern because it speeds up how quickly a body loses heat, leaving children, the elderly and even pets especially vulnerable.”

Environment Canada implemented a new national wind chill index in 2001. Expressed in temperature-like units, wind chill forecasts are now much more representative of what people actually feel. So, if the outside air temperature is -10°C and the wind chill is -20, it means that your face will feel as cold as it would on a calm day when the air temperature is -20°C.

By taking a few simple precautions and staying weather-aware, Atlantic Canadians can help ensure a safe and enjoyable winter. "It's basic information," says Appleby, "but being aware of your local Environment Canada forecast, dressing for the weather, driving prudently and having an emergency kit in your home and car is a smart start to being prepared."

As Canada's official source for weather warnings, Environment Canada offers several ways for the public to get the latest weather information. Environment Canada weather information and warnings are provided to radio and television stations and are available in some areas through special services such as Weatheradio and cable television stations. People can also access forecasts at any time by calling recorded forecast phone lines or by visiting the Environment Canada web site at http://www.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca. Individuals and businesses can also make use of the 1-900 telephone service for one-on-one access to a forecaster who can provide weather information tailored to their needs.

As part of Severe Winter Weather Awareness Week, Environment Canada has updated its comprehensive severe weather Web site which provides key information to help Atlantic Canadians to better prepare for winter weather. The Web site contains information on severe weather conditions such as wind chill, links to local road conditions, and guides for preparing home and vehicle winter safety kits. Web visitors can test their weather knowledge by taking the on-line weather quiz and enter to win an electronic weather thermometer or an Environment Canada Weather Trivia Calendar. The site address is: http://www.atl.ec.gc.ca/weather/severe

Contact: