Severe winter weather awareness week held
December 2-6, 2002

DARTMOUTH, November 27, 2002 – "Being aware of and prepared for severe winter weather" is the message behind Environment Canada’s second annual severe winter weather awareness week, December 2-6, 2002 in Atlantic Canada.

"Winter storms are a fact of life in Atlantic Canada, yet each year some people are still caught unprepared, putting themselves or their property at risk," says Bill Appleby, Director of the Meteorological Service of Canada, Atlantic Region.

Severe Winter Weather Awareness Week provides an opportunity to raise awareness of the hazards of winter weather and to remind people ways to stay informed and stay safe.

"Weather conditions can change quickly," says Bill Appleby, "so the best course of action is to check the forecast regularly and adjust your plans accordingly, especially if you are planning to be on the highways or out of doors for a long period of time."

As Canada’s official source for weather warnings, Environment Canada offers a number of 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 have access to the forecasts at any time by calling the 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 specific weather information for their needs.

"How you prepare for severe weather may also depend on where you live," says Bill Appleby, "because different areas are prone to certain weather extremes."

Atlantic Canada—especially Eastern Newfoundland—typically receives more freezing rain than any other area of North America. Last February Gander experienced an ice storm that deposited more than a centimetre of ice on trees and power lines over a two-day period.

New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and the island of Newfoundland lie along a major storm track and are prone to high winds and heavy snowfalls from severe winter storms. In mainland Nova Scotia heavy rain, thunderstorms and potentially high snow-melt and flooding can occur with higher frequency. The west coast of Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton, experience heavy snow-squalls born over the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Wind chill values in Labrador and parts of New Brunswick tend to be higher than in the rest of the region due to their continental climates where strong winds coupled with cold air masses are more frequent. As wind speed climbs, the length of time it takes to cool a person or an animal to the actual air temperature decreases, increasing their risk of hypothermia and frostbite. This can present a serious risk to people, pets and livestock. Environment Canada implemented a national wind chill index in 2001. Expressed in temperature-like units, the wind chill forecasts are much closer to 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.

Recently, storm surges have been especially notable over PEI, eastern New Brunswick and northern Nova Scotia. This was highlighted by storms in both January and October of 2000, November 2001 and September 2002. With the potential for increased storminess due to climate change, this makes Atlantic Canada increasingly susceptible to the negative impacts of higher storm surge, higher wave heights and increased coastal flooding and damage in a future warmer climate.

By taking a few simple precautions and staying weather-aware, Atlantic Canadians can help ensure a safe and enjoyable winter. "It may sound like basic information," says Bill Appleby, "but dressing for the weather, driving prudently and having an emergency kit in your home and car is a good start to being prepared."

As part of Severe Winter Weather Awareness Week, Environment Canada has developed a special Web site which provides key information from a number of different sources to help Atlantic Canadians prepare for winter weather conditions. The Web site contains information on severe winter weather and the wind chill index, links to web sites on local road conditions, guides for preparing winter safety kits for the home and vehicle, and other key information. The site address is: http://www.atl.ec.gc.ca/weather/severe

New Brunswick
Rick Fleetwood
(506) 451-6038

Bernard Duguay
(506) 451 6027
New Brunswick Weather Centre

Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island
John Parker
Maritimes Weather Centre
(902) 426-9200

Newfoundland and Labrador
Bruce Whiffen
Newfoundland Weather Centre
(709) 772-7349

For questions on Climate Change in Atlantic Canada:
Gary Lines
Climate Change Meteorologist
(902) 426-5739