Canadian Hurricane Centre
Centre canadien de prévision des ouragans
Agency overview
Formed1987
JurisdictionCanada
HeadquartersDartmouth, Nova Scotia
Websitehttp://www.ec.gc.ca/ouragans-hurricanes/Default.asp?lang=En&n=DA74FE64-1

The Canadian Hurricane Centre (CHC; French: Centre canadien de prévision des ouragans) is an organisation that monitors and warns of the threat of tropical cyclones such as hurricanes and tropical storms. CHC is a division of the Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC), which is in turn an agency of Environment Canada. Founded in 1987, CHC provides guidance to MSC's weather centres in eastern and Atlantic Canada, and is based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. CHC frequently consults with its United States counterpart, the National Hurricane Center in Miami, to coordinate the tracks and positions of storms that pose a threat to Canada.

History

1985's Hurricane Gloria and its less-than-expected damage prompted Environment Canada to create the CHC due to confusion between information received from the US National Hurricane Centre and US media and on-the-ground information and observations.[1] Its first hurricane warnings were issued in 2008 for Hurricane Kyle, which struck near Yarmouth, Nova Scotia on September 28, 2008, and quickly became extratropical while maintaining much of its strength into New Brunswick and Labrador.

Duties

The organization gathers information on tropical and post-tropical cyclones (systems in the process of becoming extratropical cyclones), predicts their evolution and assesses their potential impact on Canada. Their area of responsibility is bound by the Canada-United States border and extends into waters offshore Canada to 200 nautical miles (370 km). Like other hurricane centres, the Canadian Hurricane Centre makes presentations about tropical cyclones to schools, businesses, the media, and other governmental agencies. They also coordinate with the public concerning additional queries about hurricanes in Canada.[2]

Frequency

While hurricanes are relatively uncommon in Canada, they do approach or strike from time to time. Recent occurrences include:

Also of note due to its rarity and the damage caused is Hurricane Hazel which hit Toronto, Ontario in 1954, and remained a strong storm even after crossing over the U.S. East Coast.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Canadian Hurricane Centre (2004). What is the Canadian Hurricane Centre? Environment Canada. Retrieved on 2009-02-16. Archived July 26, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ↑ Canadian Hurricane Centre (2004). Canadian Hurricane Centre's Responsibilities. Environment Canada. Retrieved on 2009-02-16. Archived May 15, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
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