The Future of Hydrological and Meteorological Services in Canada

Summary

Weather impacts everyone and influences a wide variety of government, industry, and personal decision-making, including emergency preparedness, climate adaptation, and travel plans. The Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC) is responsible for providing accurate and timely forecasts for everyone in Canada.

Public hydro-meteorological services, such as the MSC, are operating at a transformative time—the public is accessing information in new ways, the impacts of climate change are being felt across the country, and AI has the potential to radically change how services are delivered. In addition to these trends, Canada’s weather service is subject to changing geopolitical structures and financial constraints. To better understand current and future challenges, the MSC asked the CCA to convene an expert panel to examine the essential functions of a public hydro-meteorological service in the context of technological and other trends.

The Future of Hydrological and Meteorological Services in Canada highlights the essential functions of Canada’s weather service in the context of key trends and considers how the delivery of these functions could be improved. The report examines how the MSC could support leadership and coordination both at home and abroad and meet evolving user needs through engagement and critical communication strategies and products.

Sponsor: Environment and Climate Change Canada (Meteorological Service of Canada)

Question: What are the essential functions of Canada’s public meteorological service, and how are these changing in the context of climate change, new technology, a shifting information landscape, and other trends?