Meteorological Service of Canada

Meteorological Service of Canada

The Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC) primarily provides public meteorological information and weather forecasts and warnings of severe weather and other environmental hazards. MSC is a division of Environment Canada. It monitors air quality, climate, atmosphere, water quantities, ice and other environmental issues. It also conducts research on many scientific issues. Meteorological Service of Canada operates a network of radio stations throughout the country transmitting weather and environmental information 24 hours per day. This service is called Weatheradio Canada.

MRC administrates five weather forecast offices: Pacific and Yukon Storm Prediction Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia; Prairie and Arctic Storm Prediction Centre, split between an office in Edmonton, Alberta and Winnipeg, Manitoba; Ontario Storm Prediction Centre (Downsview, Ontario); Quebec Storm Prediction Centre (Montreal, Quebec); Atlantic Storm Prediction Centre (Dartmouth, Nova Scotia). The Atlantic Storm Prediction Centre also houses the Canadian Hurricane Centre. It also manages the Newfoundland and Labrador Weather Office Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador.

MSC operates the Canadian Meteorological Centre, which is tasked with providing forecast guidance. The Canadian Ice Service provides ice observations and forecasts for mariners. In support of Canada’s military, some MSC meteorologists are seconded to the Department of National Defence.

Munk School of Global Affaires. Early meteorology in Canada. The British Army began regular meteorological and magnetic observations on the campus of Toronto University in 1840, stimulating colonial society’s fascination with science. After the Province of Canada took over the program in 1853, it built a new observatory, which became the headquarters of the Meteorological Service of Canada. Superintendent G. T. Kingston set up a system of stations, many telegraphically linked, which enabled the Service to issue both storm warnings and daily forecasts by 1876. Opened in 1909, this building was the Service’s headquarters until its centenary in 1971. Today this building houses the Munk School of Global  Affaires. Photo : © Elena