How we use weather observation site info for current weather observations

What is being reported at the weather observing sites

It’s important to know what the weather will be so you can plan outdoor activities and protect yourself and your property from weather-related hazards.

This is why Environment Canada provides Canadians with access to detailed current weather conditions for locations across the country including: land based stations, coastal marine stations, and from ships and buoys operating in offshore marine areas and on larger lakes. Environment Canada collects and redistributes weather and climate observations from hundreds of staffed and automated sites across the country, including data from contributing agencies such as NAV CANADA, the Department of National Defence, and the Canadian Coast Guard. This approach to data collection gives Canadians access to the widest array of available meteorological data.

At staffed locations, usually at an airport, an observer uses a combination of instruments and human observation to measure a full range of meteorological phenomena, which are then coded for distribution nationally and internationally.

Automated observing platforms are another cost effective form of weather and climate observation, where elements are monitored and measured by a suite of sensors, operating 24/7. As with data from staffed sites, this data is coded for distribution nationally and internationally. Current conditions in towns and cities are usually updated hourly and include: temperature, humidity, dewpoint, air pressure and tendency, precipitation amounts, wind speed and direction, and (where available) visibility, present weather, cloud cover, and air quality. When appropriate, the current conditions page will also display the Wind chill or Humidex values as derived from the observational data.

Current and historical marine weather conditions include much of the same information and are available for specific coastal weather stations and buoy locations on larger lakes and in the offshore waters.

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