Colour-coded weather alerts are here!
Starting today, all our weather alerts are colour-coded to show risk at a glance. Our warnings, advisories, and watches now come in yellow, orange, or red, so you can quickly understand the potential risk the weather may pose. What do the colours mean?
How do we decide on the colour?
Our meteorologists set the alert colours by combining forecast data, weather models, and Impact Guides. They consider two main factors:
➡️ How confident they are the weather will happen
➡️ The possible impact that weather may have
These two factors are brought together in an Alert Colour Matrix. Where the level of confidence (how sure we are) meets the level of impact on the matrix, we find the colour to describe that alert.
Because the same weather can have different impacts depending on the timing, location, or population, the colours help us understand the real risk for where we live.
How the colours show weather impact
Let's say a snowstorm is on its way, and our forecast confidence is very high (we are certain it's coming); the alert colour will change depending on the possible impact of the storm:
➡️ Moderate, we would issue a yellow alert
➡️ High, we would issue an orange alert
➡️ Extreme, we would issue a red alert
But no matter the colour, always read the full alert text for details and recommended safety actions.
Moving forward
In the coming years, alerts and forecasts will continue to improve, offering clearer warnings, more context for day-to-day weather, and longer outlooks for possible extreme events.
To get the best experience and ensure you receive the latest features and improvements, please update your WeatherCAN app when prompted. Updating now will help everything run smoothly and prepare for upcoming changes to the alert system.
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