Environment Canada: Atlantic Region News Releases

WEATHER AWARE IS WEATHER PREPARED:
SEVERE SUMMER WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK JUNE 9-13

HALIFAX, June 4, 2002 – Environment Canada has designated June 9-13, 2003 as Severe Summer Weather Awareness Week to remind Atlantic Canadians to monitor the weather and air quality in order to keep safe this summer.

The annual summer awareness week campaign is part of Environment Canada’s commitment to providing Canadians with timely and accurate weather services to protect the health and safety of Canadians.

In addition to the warm days that arrive with summer, the season also brings severe weather that can be a threat to people and property. Lightning, heavy rain, strong winds, hail and tornadoes accompany severe thunderstorms every summer in Atlantic Canada.

"Severe weather can develop quickly in the summer, so it’s vital that people be aware of the weather and know what to do in a weather emergency in order to protect themselves, and their property," explains John Parker, Severe Weather Meteorologist with Environment Canada.

Last year severe weather struck in each province of Atlantic Canada. A tornado touched down in northwestern New Brunswick and left a trail of damage across some communities. Severe winds hit Prince Edward Island in July damaging trailers. The province was also hit with numerous severe lightning events. Nova Scotians witnessed severe hail and heavy rain while Newfoundland experienced severe lightning storms and hail. When severe weather is expected, Environment Canada issues a special weather warning to alert the public. The Severe Weather Awareness Web site contains information on the types of severe weather we can expect in this part of the country, links to web sites on lightning safety, guides for preparing storm kits and other key information. In addition, beginning June 6, a special air quality and severe weather quiz invites contestants to submit their answers with the chance of winning a wireless thermometer. The web site address is: www.atl.ec.gc.ca/weather/severe.

This spring, the Government of Canada announced $75 million in investments for the Meteorological Service of Canada to improve the quality of its forecasts and services to Canadians in all regions. The main focus of these investments is to develop better understanding of severe weather events in order to provide more timely and precise local weather warnings across Canada

Poor air quality is another hazard that often occurs in the summer. Warmer temperatures allow a build-up of ground-level ozone-a major component of smog. Exposure to ground-level ozone can cause irritation and breathing difficulties, especially for people who exercise outdoors, or who have chronic heart or lung conditions.

The air quality component is something new for the 2003 severe summer weather awareness campaign. “Because we’re located downwind of industrial areas in central Canada and northeastern part of the United States, we’re prone to elevated concentrations of ground-level ozone,” says Mike Howe, Environment Canada’s regional Air Quality Prediction Program manager.

Environment Canada issues an air quality forecast and air quality index twice a day, at 5AM (5:30 AM NDT) and 4PM (entire region) in the Atlantic Provinces from May 1 to October 31. The newly updated Air Quality Forecast Web site contains a wealth of information on air quality and air pollution, including the daily forecast, historical air quality data, the Air Quality Index, as well as links to related health, climate change, and other sites. The forecast can be found on the Environment Canada web site at www.atl.ec.gc.ca/airquality/, or by calling Environment Canada’s local telephone information lines.

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 VHF-FM Weatheradio and cable television stations. Weather forecasts are also available on telephone information lines and on the Internet at www.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca.

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For more information please contact:

Nova Scotia & Prince Edward Island spokesperson
Mike Howe
Manager, Air Quality Prediction Program
Meteorological Service of Canada - Atlantic Region
Environment Canada
(506) 451-6015 / (902) 426-1205
 
New Brunswick and Regional Francophone spokesperson
Bernard Duguay
Severe Weather Meteorologist
New Brunswick Weather Centre
Meteorological Service of Canada - Atlantic Region
Environment Canada
(506) 451-6027

Newfoundland spokesperson
Bruce Whiffen
Severe Weather Meteorologist
Newfoundland Weather Office
Meteorological Service of Canada - Atlantic Region
Environment Canada
(709) 772-7349

Newfoundland spokesperson
Dermott Kearney
Severe Weather Meteorologist
Newfoundland Weather Office
Meteorological Service of Canada - Atlantic Region
Environment Canada
(709) 256-6610

Regional Air Quality Spokesperson
Mike Howe
Manager, Air Quality Prediction Program
Meteorological Service of Canada - Atlantic Region
Environment Canada
(506) 451-6015 / (902) 426-1205

Regional Climate Change spokesperson
Steve Szabo
Manager, Climate Change Division
Meteorological Service of Canada - Atlantic Region
Environment Canada
(902) 426-7984