Extreme Temperature Forecasting In Canada: A Meteorological Service of Canada Perspective

Extreme Temperature Forecasting In Canada: A Meteorological Service of Canada Perspective

In 2011 Canada's national weather service, the Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC), consolidated extreme temperature (Heat/Cold), Air Quality and UV forecasting under the responsibility of the Health and Air Quality Forecast Services Program. In an effort to modernize Canada's Extreme Temperature Forecast Program, the MSC has begun working with Health Canada, provincial and municipal governments and non-governmental organizations to determine user needs and develop impact based products and services. Work is being undertaken to investigate warning triggers based on epidemiological and climatological data. The purpose is to develop regionally relevant, health-evidence based triggers for the warning program. The proposed changes will also incorporate user needs. This presentation will provide an overview of the findings to date and the steps proposed by Environment Canada for extreme temperature forecasting, the threshold criteria changes that have been implemented and proposed future changes currently being explored.