Alerts

An Alert is used to heighten awareness and/or initiate preparation for action. Alerts are issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Meteorological Service (MSC) for weather or environmental hazard events that are either occurring, imminent, or forecast to develop.

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Warning
A type of alert issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Meteorological Service (MSC), where a hazardous weather or environmental event that poses a significant threat to public safety and property is certain or imminent.

Watch
A type of alert issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Meteorological Service (MSC), where conditions are favourable for the development of weather or an environmental hazard that poses a significant threat to public safety and property, but the occurrence, location, and/or timing of the expected hazardous condition(s) is still too uncertain to issue a warning. It is intended to heighten public awareness of the potential impact of the event, and serves as a lead-up to a warning.

Advisory
A type of alert from Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Meteorological Service (MSC), where a certain weather or environmental hazard (for example air quality and tsunami) is either occurring, imminent or is expected to occur.

Special Weather Statement
A type of alert from Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Meteorological Service (MSC) where:

• A warning or watch is not warranted because the expected conditions are less menacing than those of a warning or;

• A warning or watch is not yet practical to issue because of the high degree of uncertainty of occurrence, location and/or timing of the possible hazardous condition(s)

A special weather statement can be used to describe any hazard (unlike an advisory). The statements do not have a formal “in effect” status, since there is no requirement to update or end them.