Image credit: CNW Group/Environment and Climate Change Canada
In its fight against the escalating threats posed by climate change, Canada has announced the completion of a comprehensive upgrade to its weather radar system.
The initiative, representing a significant investment of $180.4 million since 2016, has equipped the country with 32 advanced weather radars and an additional radar for training, marking a major step forward in its meteorological services.
Under the modernization project, 31 aging radars were replaced, and another one was added in Alberta. Meanwhile, the training radar was set up in Ontario. The final radar to be installed in the network is British Columbia’s Halfmoon Peak radar (pictured above).
The coverage area of the radars increased from over one million square kilometres to more than four million square kilometres.
Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, highlighted the importance of providing meteorologists with the latest technology to offer quick and accurate forecasts.
“This reliable, modern network of weather radars will give Canadians more lead time to take appropriate actions to protect themselves, their family, and their property from the effects of severe weather,” he said.
The initiative has been praised for enhancing Canada’s weather prediction capabilities, contributing to job creation, and demonstrating an effective, transparent procurement process that benefits all Canadians. The project has also been lauded for its potential to mitigate the effects of climate-related disasters.
Craig Stewart, vice president for climate change and federal issues at the Insurance Bureau of Canada, commented:
“As natural disasters occur more frequently and severely, Canada is becoming a riskier place to live, work, and insure. Severe weather events in 2023 caused $3.1 billion in insured damage in communities across the country, recording one of the highest annual totals in the previous four decades.
“The Insurance Bureau of Canada is pleased to see this investment in upgrading our weather forecasting technology across the country. The increase in climate-related disasters should concern us all, even if we have yet to be directly affected. Governments, the insurance industry, and all Canadians have a responsibility to adapt.”
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