Latest news with #GeoffCoulson
CBC
3 days ago
- Climate
- CBC
Wildfire smoke could lessen air quality around Ottawa
A haze of smoke is possible this week as strong winds and wildfires in the west push smoke toward eastern Ontario and western Quebec. Wildfires have been raging in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and northern Ontario, forcing thousands of people out of their homes and causing air quality warnings from northern B.C. to Thunder Bay. Environment Canada is predicting an Air Quality Health Index risk of 4 or moderate for Tuesday and Wednesday in local hubs Belleville, Cornwall, Gatineau, Kingston and Ottawa. People at high risk — such as those with lung conditions or who are very young or very old — should consider rescheduling outdoor activities if they experience symptoms. According to warning preparedness meteorologist Geoff Coulson, it won't be enough to issue an air quality statement, but it could be noticeable. "It certainly looks like the sunshine could be fairly hazy," Coulson said. Environment Canada issues air quality statements when concentrations of particulate matter are above 60 micrograms per cubic meter. He expects it will fluctuate locally between 10 and 50 over the coming days. In 2023, the Air Quality Health Index for Ottawa reached 10+, the top of the scale. Environment Canada is not yet predicting the same level of risk. "This could still be a concern as we go to the end of the work week and into the weekend, so [it's] obviously a situation that the forecasters will be monitoring closely." A high air quality risk means at-risk people should scale back strenuous outdoor activities, while others should watch for symptoms and adjust accordingly. Those very high risks seen two years ago mean people should try to avoid strenuous outdoor activities, especially those with health conditions. Fires create a perfect storm Meteorologists say the situation to the west could get worse: escalating fires can raise temperatures, which can cause stronger winds, causing fires to spread farther. All In A Day on Monday. Those winds, according to Environment Canada, can also push smoke and other pollutants elsewhere. An early start to the wildfire season, along with a lack of rain in areas affected by the fires, have contributed to their strength, she said. As the fires continue, Environment Canada encourages residents to monitor the air quality forecast and take measures to protect themselves if they are at risk or conditions worsen.
CBC
3 days ago
- Climate
- CBC
Grab the sunscreen and some water — things are heating up in Waterloo region this week
Sunny, hazy and hot. That's what people can expect in Waterloo region and area Tuesday, the Environment Canada forecast says. Tuesday will see a high of 25 C with the humidex making it feel closer to 27 C. The UV index will be nine, which is considered very high. Wednesday there will be a mix of sun and cloud with a high of 28 C, but in the afternoon a cold front will move in, bringing rain with it. Geoff Coulson, a warning preparedness meteorologist for Environment and Climate Change Canada, says the hot temperatures over the next few days are "not something that's all that out of the ordinary." Normal highs for this time of year are 22 C. "The warmest temperature we've had so far this spring was back in mid-May. On May 12, we got up to 27.2 C at the airport," he said. "The forecast high right now for Wednesday is 28 C, so Wednesday's shaping up to be potentially the the warmest day of the spring so far." May saw some days being warmer than usual, others being cooler, but in the end "May came in around seasonal," Coulson said. Normal June temperatures are expected for later in the week, with rain and highs of 21 C to 24 C in the forecast. Coulson says the slower return to warmer temperatures may be really appreciated by some people. "I think it's giving everybody a chance to to get used to some of these warmer values," he said. "As we head into next week, again, looking to be slightly warmer than normal, maybe by the end of next week, temperatures getting even warmer still.
CTV News
4 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Warmer than normal summer ahead, preparing for severe weather in Simcoe County
The City of Barrie has a haze over it as wildfires burn across Ontario and Quebec. (CTV News Barrie) After a cool spring season, Environment and Climate Change Canada released their summer forecast on June 1; the official start of the meteorological summer season. Meteorologists are predicting that Ontario will see above normal temperatures for the months of June, July, and August. Geoff Coulson, warning preparedness meteorologist for Environment Canada, said the warmer weather could possibly bring more thunderstorm activity to the Simcoe County region. 'In addition to the warmth that it brings, it also brings a fair amount of humidity and that low level moisture in the atmosphere is one of the key ingredients that we look for in the development of, thunderstorm activity,' said Coulson. Preparing for severe weather conditions: Coulson added that residents need to be prepared for severe weather including tornadoes, thunderstorms, hail, heavy rain and wind. 'Stay, informed on what the current forecast is for your area, if you're planning travel, it's checking the forecast enroute and at your destination because it can be highly changeable from where you are right now to where you're going,' said Coulson. Central Ontario is no stranger to severe weather with the community remembering the 40th anniversary of the 1985 tornado on May 31. Dr. David Sills, executive director of Northern Tornadoes Project at Western University said the beginning of May is when the region starts to see tornadoes. 'We've had tornadoes in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec so far,' said Sills 'Eight tornadoes in total so far in the season that's just a bit up from the six we had at this time last season.' Severe Weather Storm clouds brew over Highway 400 between Midland and Barrie July 8, 2013. (Katherine Ward / CTV Barrie) Tornado data: Thanks to a climatology study released this year, experts now have data on how many tornadoes have touched the ground over the last 30 years. 'Ontario is now the number one province for tornado occurrence at 18.4 tornadoes per year,' said Sills. Barrie and the surrounding region are known to have significantly more tornados than other areas of the country. 'That's actually, a byproduct of having the Great Lakes around us,' said Sills. 'The tornadoes, thunderstorms don't tend to form over the Great Lakes as much so that leads to this corridor roughly from Sarnia to Barrie, to Ottawa, and then to Quebec City, so Barrie is right in the middle of that alley and seen its fair share of serious tornadoes.' Coulson said over the last 15 years, severe weather has shifted east of Lake Simcoe but now enough data has been collected to say Ontario's tornado alley is shifting. 'I think it's a little too early to say whether we're seeing a movement eastward, of where this axis of strongest storms is occurring,' said Coulson. 'So, we're going to have to keep a close eye of where this activity is occurring over the next few years to get a better sense of... are we seeing a trend in the in the motion of where most of these storms are occurring.' Barrie tornado May 31, 1985 Barrie tornado May 31, 1985 Here's how wildfires impact weather: Wildfire season has started this year with Western Canada already experiencing severe cases. The smoke from the wildfires may also have an impact on the severe weather in Ontario. 'It is quite possible if we do have an active wildfire season, some of that smoke will find its way down into the Barrie area, and that can, can act to inhibit some of the formation of thunderstorms,' said Coulson. Sills adding that the smoke eliminates the potential for severe weather. 'When you have that much smoke in the atmosphere, it tends to cut off the sunlight getting through and without that sunlight, you're not reaching your daytime maximum high temperatures,' said Sills. 'The energy for thunderstorms isn't quite there and if they do form, they're not as intense. The effects that wildfire smoke has and its relation to severe weather are now starting to be studied. The technology has also changed how storms are being tracked and recorded with newer technology allowing meteorologists to stay ahead of severe storms. 'We continue to use things like lightning detection capability, which can track, changes in lightning activity, which is now been linked to, potential development of severe storms as the lightning frequency changes,' said Coulson. Wildfire A wildfire is shown in this undated image. Public awareness: Sills adding that with new technology and a raised awareness of severe weather has a positive impact on the public. 'We noticed that the number of fatalities and injuries associated with tornadoes has gone way down, so obviously there's something good happening, and that I think is mostly due to people's awareness of tornadoes and what to do when tornadoes are forecast or there's a warning,' said Sills. Severe weather watches are now being sent out to the public hours in advance of the system reaching the area in hopes the public acts on them before an actual warning is put in place later in the day. 'The idea with the tornado watch is it gets out six hours before the event could happen,' said Sills. 'It's not saying that a tornado will happen says the ingredients are there, that it could happen so that's the time to prepare for, a tornado possibility.' Adding that having a plan to stay ahead is the right thing to do. Closing all windows and doors, tie down outdoor furniture and trampolines,' said Sills. 'Have a plan if a tornado warning is issued, where to go in the house, what supplies you have with you.'
Global News
22-05-2025
- Climate
- Global News
Rainfall warning in place for Toronto, Durham as up to 60 mm possible
Environment Canada has issued a rainfall warning for Toronto and Durham Region as up to 60 mm of rain is possible by the end of Thursday. The weather agency said, at around noon, about 35 mm of rain has already fall in the area. But another 20 mm of rain is still expected for areas east of the Don Valley Parkway before the rain tapers to showers in the evening. 'Heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads,' Environment Canada said. 'Watch for possible washouts near rivers, creeks and culverts.' Thursday's rain comes amid a stretch of rainfall that began on Wednesday and is expected to last until late Friday. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Toronto has been experiencing a stretch of unusually low temperatures that haven't been seen in late May in decades — as far back as a previous record low set on May 22, 1967. Story continues below advertisement Meteorologist Geoff Coulson, from Environment Canada, said the daytime high for Thursday, which is around 10 C to 11 C, is the normal nighttime low temperature for this time of year, and significantly below the typical daytime high of 20 C. 'In fact, the record for the coldest daytime high temperature at the airport in Toronto for May 22 … is 9.4 degrees, set back in 1967,' he said. Coulson said a cold front swept through southern Ontario on Sunday, bringing the cooler temperatures this week. NEW: Rainfall warning issued for Toronto and southern Durham Region. Rain totals are already over 40mm in some areas with an additional 20mm possible before rain tapers to showers this evening. — Anthony Farnell (@AnthonyFarnell) May 22, 2025
Global News
21-05-2025
- Climate
- Global News
Toronto's unusually low late May temperatures not seen since 1967: meteorologist
Toronto is experiencing a stretch of unusually low temperatures that haven't been seen in late May in decades. Environment Canada is forecasting a daytime high of 10 C on Thursday, which is close to 9.4 C recorded on May 22, 1967. Meteorologist Geoff Coulson says the daytime high forecast for Thursday is the normal nighttime low temperature for this time of year, and significantly below the typical daytime high of 20 C. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Coulson says a cold front swept through southern Ontario on Sunday, bringing cooler-than-normal temperatures this week. He says people planning outdoor activities over the coming days will need to dress warmly and keep an umbrella handy because periods of rain are also forecasted. Toronto temperatures hovering between 10 and 13 degrees are expected to bounce back up by the weekend with a daytime high of 18 C expected on Sunday, but another stretch of cooler weather is forecasted next week.
