Installation proceeds on a $95-million upgrade of Canada’s weather-forecasting infrastructure, with the completion of a new radar system in Blainville, Quebec.
Improved prediction of weather-related events and emergencies, many exacerbated by climate change, will help communities better prepare for outcomes, such as flooding.
“As our climate changes, we will see more and more extreme weather events occur across the country. That’s why we have taken action and invested in new technologies to ensure the continued safety of all Canadians,” said Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Catherine McKenna. “This new weather radar in Blainville will ensure we continue to deliver accurate and timely weather forecasts and warnings to give Canadians more time to protect themselves from the effects of severe weather.”
It’s finally here! The new #WeatherRadar in #Blainville is up and running! It’s one of a series of new #weather radars that will ensure more timely & accurate #SevereWeather warnings. #QC https://t.co/BCxK3AJ1yY pic.twitter.com/xpDynOesI4
— Environment Canada (@environmentca) October 16, 2018
Announced in early 2017, the upgrade contract signed with Selex ES was for the purchase and installation of twenty new radars by March 31, 2023. The contract also contains options to replace the remaining radars within the same timeframe. As part of this project, the radar network will be expanded by one radar to be installed in the Lower Athabasca region in Alberta.
As of October 1st, the new state-of-the-art weather radar in Blainville, Quebec, has been operational, replacing the weather radar at McGill University. This is the second in a series of new weather radars being installed across Canada and the first new weather radar in Quebec. The replacement of three additional weather radars across Canada is also underway in 2018, and seven radars will be replaced each year until the end of the project in 2023.
Weather radars are the primary tool used by meteorologists to forecast short-term severe weather events associated with thunderstorms, tornadoes, ice storms, and blizzards. The new radars will provide more frequent updates, and they will have an extended tornado-detection range.
