Sixteen minutes before an EF5 tornado tore through Moore, Oklahoma, on May 20, a tornado warning was issued.
The devastating Moore tornado, which killed 24 people, has served as a reminder of the importance of public warnings as early as possible in the event of severe weather.
“Warning times in Canada are generally 10 to 20 minutes,” said Geoff Coulson, Warning Preparedness Meteorologist at Environment Canada. “But they’re a bit longer for severe thunderstorms.”
But those few minutes can be precious. How can Canadians be informed of severe weather?
Environment Canada operates a Weatheradio network designed to issue warnings and watches to the public in the case of severe weather, such as a tornado. The network consists of 185 transmitters from across the country which broadcasts watches, warnings and forecasts.
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“It’s a way to get direct information from Environment Canada,” Coulson said. “One to two minutes after a warning goes up, it is sent out to the radio.”
The radio receives the signal and is automatically activated, producing a loud tone followed by a specific description of the threatening weather. The receivers – which are designed to operate in Canada and the United States – are relatively inexpensive, starting around $40. They can be bought at radio stores such as Durham Radio or Radioworld out of Ontario or Tiger Direct.
It’s particularly important for boaters, campers and schools to have the warning systems, Coulson said, as they may not be near a television or radio. In 2011, Environment Canada gave a Weatheradio to every school in the country that was within range of a transmitter.
“There is recognition that it’s a very important tool to alert the public to potential storms,” said Coulson. The severe weather warnings and watches aren’t just limited to tornadoes or severe thunderstorms. Advisories are also issued for winter storms and marine warnings.
Each year, Canada gets an average of 80 tornadoes. That is far lower than the 1,000 that the United States receives. Because of this, Canada isn’t equipped with warning sirens as much of the southern United States is, although there are a few, mostly in southwestern and southern Ontario, the heart of Canada’s “tornado alley.” One such place is the University of Western Ontario.
John Carson, Director of Campus Police at the university, said that they monitor conditions using a Weatheradio.
The siren isn’t just designed to warn people on campus. “In our test last summer,” Carson said, “it could be heard 5 kilometres away… It provides a warning to the broader community at large.”
For more information on Environment Canada’s Weatheradio network, visit Environment Canada.
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