Environment Canada weather alerts available on Twitter

WATCH: Environment Canada has created a weather alerts system now available on Twitter across Canada. Global’s Sarah Volstad reports.

MONTREAL – If there’s one thing all Canadians care about, it’s the weather.

Environment Canada announced Tuesday it’s finding new ways to broadcast up-to-the-minute alerts with a new Twitter-based weather service.

It’s the first system of its kind, according to Twitter Canada.

Canadians can choose to receive the alerts from a list of 830 locations across the country in both English and French.

The goal is to modernize the way Canadians receive their weather updates – and do it in a timely and location specific manner.

“Our weather alerts are already publicly accessible through lots of tradition ways,” said Leona Aglukkaq, federal Environment Minister.

“But with the growing use of social media and smartphones, there are other ways available to help Environment Canada extend the reach of its weather alerts and make them accessible.”

Tweets will be sent out every time a weather alert is issued or ends – all Canadians need is a good Internet connection.

Environment Canada estimates that roughly 25,000 alerts will be sent out each year.