Folks, 2019 will mark a year of change for the CANWARN storm spotter program in Ontario. I retired last fall from Environment Canada but have returned this spring on a part-time basis to assist with the planning and some of the delivery of the training. Gerald Cheng and Peter Kimbell of Environment Canada will handle the majority of the sessions with me helping here and there. Resource pressures have demanded a stricter look at the number of training sessions that can be provided, resulting in a reduction of available sessions from previous years. Part of my duties during my part-time assignment this spring and summer will be to develop storm spotter training material that can be posted on-line and accessed at any time by interested parties. What form this material will take has not been determined yet and it is not likely it will be available by the end of this summer. However, we will keep you all posted as to the progress of this project and as material becomes available; you will be more than welcome to access it. For those of you who may not be able to attend a session this spring but want to refresh/reinforce your severe weather knowledge, the following websites will be helpful…
National Weather Service Spotter Guide: https://www.weather.gov/media/bis/Weather_Spotter_Field_Guide.pdf
National Weather Service Spotter Glossary: https://www.weather.gov/oun/spotterglossary
Environment Canada Lightning Safety:
https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/lightning/safety.html
In addition, Environment Canada recently launched a weather app called WeatherCAN available for both Apple and Android devices. This app represents the most direct way to receive our various severe weather watches and warnings. The app can be found in the app store on your Apple or Android device. More information on the app can be found here…
https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/weather-general-tools-resources/weathercan.html
As an additional reminder, I have also attached the CANWARN reporting tip sheet to this email to reinforce the types of reports the Weather Centre would like to receive and the ways that information can be shared with them.
My long association with the CANWARN program has provided me with many fond memories and some of the biggest highlights of my 35-year career. The devastating tornadoes that struck near Ottawa and into parts of Quebec last September were a stark reminder of why timely and credible reports of severe weather remain essential. My thanks again to all of you for your continued support of the program and your dedication in watching the sky and reporting severe weather to Environment Canada.
Please find following the list of training venues. Each venue specifies the way to RSVP your intention to attend through either a registration web link or a contact email. Some venues only have limited space, so please sign up early if you intend to go. The session in Sudbury this year will not be a full CANWARN session but rather a 1-hour presentation on severe weather focused on marine activities. More information can be found below. Should there be other venues added in the coming weeks, this announcement will be updated accordingly.
April 25 – 7 PM – Dakota-Glenorchy Room, Halton Regional Centre, 1151 Bronte Road, Oakville RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/canwarn-oakville-tickets-59771355734
April 30 – 6 PM – Holly Community Centre, 171 Mapleton Ave, Barrie RSVP at https://ca.apm.activecommunities.com/barrie/Activity_Search/34593
May 2 – 6:30 PM – Emergency Operations Centre, 275 Boler Road, London
RSVP to Amy Leggate at [email protected] – space is limited
May 4 – 9 AM – Environment Canada Headquarters, 4905 Dufferin St., Toronto RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/canwarn-toronto-tickets-59774506157
May 7 – 7 PM – RIM Park Waterloo, Forbes Room (2nd Floor), 2001 University Ave East, Waterloo, RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/canwarn-waterloo-tickets-59845612839
May 8 – 7 PM – Niagara Region Council Chambers, 1815 Sir Isaac Brock Way, Thorold RSVP at https://niagaracanwarn.eventbrite.ca
May 14 – 7 PM – Essex Centre Sports Complex, 60 Fairview Avenue West, Essex RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/canwarn-essex-county-tickets-59775334635
May 14 – 6:30 PM – Greenboro Community Centre, 363 Lorry Greenberg Dr. Ottawa RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/canwarn-ottawa-tickets-59775547271
May 28 7:30 PM – Spacecraft Brewery, 854 Notre Dame Avenue, Sudbury – (food and drink orders at 6:30, focus on marine severe weather)
RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/summer-severe-weather-presentation-sudbury-tickets-59775965522
Regards,
Geoff Coulson
Warning Preparedness Meteorologist, Meteorological Service of Canada
Environment and Climate Change Canada / Government of Canada
[email protected] / Tel: 416 739-4466
Météorologue de sensibilisation aux alertes, Service météorologique du Canada
Environnement et Changement climatique Canada / Gouvernement du Canada
[email protected] / Tél: 416 739-4466