Environment Canada: Atlantic Region News Releases

MORE RESEARCH ON HURRICANES WILL BE CONDUCTED THIS YEAR BY THE CANADIAN HURRICANE CENTRE

In addition to tracking and forecasting hurricanes that affect Canada, the Canadian Hurricane Centre researches hurricane activity in the northern Atlantic.

To better understand the nature of hurricanes that come into Canadian waters, scientists from Environment Canada and the National Research Council are once again planning data-gathering flights into, and around, tropical cyclones this year.

Previous flights into Hurricane Michael in 2000 and into Tropical Storm Karen in 2001, proved that Canadian-style hurricanes are very different from their tropical cousins.  As a result, the National Search and Rescue Secretariat (SAR) is funding a large research project to continue studying the impacts of these storms over eastern Canada.

Jim Abraham, Director of Meteorological Research for Environment Canada and leader for the SAR field study project, is excited about the things that will be learned as a result of the research.  “Some hurricanes actually reach their maximum intensity as they merge with cold-air systems over Canada,” says Abraham. “We really need to understand why this happens, and we need to be able to warn mariners and the public well in advance.”

Environment Canada scientists are also part of a global community in hurricane study. In mid-November, the Meteorological Service of Canada will host an international workshop in Halifax for world experts to gather to discuss the state-of-knowledge of hurricanes in mid-latitudes and to pour over the data from the Canadian field study. 

“Canada is recognized internationally for its leadership in forecasting and researching these hybrid hurricanes,” says Abraham. “Since countries in Western Europe, Northeastern Asia, New Zealand and Australia, as well as our neighbours to the south, are also impacted by these storms, it makes a lot of sense to meet and compare notes to collectively improve our understanding.”

For more information, please contact:

Peter Bowyer

Program Manager

Canadian Hurricane Centre

Environment Canada

(902) 426-9181