FAQ’s

Stations that have been switched:
OTTAWA MACDONALD-CARTIER INT’L A, HAMILTON A, DEER LAKE A, GANDER INT'L A, ST.JOHN'S A, SASKATOON DIEFENBAKER INT'L A, LONDON INT'L A, SAULT STE. MARIE A, EDMONTON INT'L A, YARMOUTH A, THUNDER BAY A, CHURCHILL A, SMITHERS A, RED LAKE A, ST CATHARINES A, PENTICTON A, LETHBRIDGE A, MEDICINE HAT A, MONCTON A, SAINT JOHN A, ABBOTSFORD A, LLOYDMINSTER A, BURWASH A, CALGARY INT"L A, Kingston A, TIMMINS VICTOR POWER A, PICKLE LAKE A, CAPE DORSET A, ARCTIC BAY A and HALL BEACH

Hourly data is available from the following new NAV CANADA stations:
OTTAWA INT'L, HAMILTON, DEER LAKE, GANDER INT'L, ST. JOHN'S INT'L, SASKATOON DIEFENBAKER INT'L, LONDON, SAULT STE MARIE, EDMONTON, YARMOUTH, THUNDER BAY, CHURCHILL, SMITHERS, RED LAKE, ST. CATHARINES, PENTICTON , LETHBRIDGE, MEDICINE HAT,  MONCTON, SAINT JOHN ABBOTSFORD, LLOYDMINSTER, Burwash, Calgary, Kintston, Timmins, Pickle Lake, CAPE DORSET and HALL BEACH

Alternative data for Ottawa, go to:
Daily data: Ottawa CDA or Ottawa CDA RCS
Hourly data: Ottawa CDA RCS

Alternative data for Hamilton, go to:
Daily data: Hamilton RBG CS
Hourly data: Hamilton RBG CS

Alternative data for Deer Lake, go to:
Daily data: Cormack

Alternative data for Gander, go to:
Daily data: Gander Airport CS
Hourly data: Gander Airport CS

Alternative data for St. John's go to:
Daily data: St. John's West Climate
Hourly data: St. John's West Climate

Alternative data for Saskatoon Diefenbaker, go to:
Daily data: Saskatoon RCS
Hourly data: Saskatoon RCS

Alternative data for London, go to:
Daily data: London CS
Hourly data: London CS

Alternative data for Edmonton, go to:
Daily data: Edmonton Int'l CS
Hourly data: Edmonton Int'l CS

Alternative data for Yarmouth, go to:
Daily data: Yarmouth Cooltap or Baccaro Point
Hourly data: Baccaro Point

Alternative data for Thunder Bay, go to:
Daily data: Thunder Bay CS
Hourly data: Thunder Bay CS

Alternative data for Churchill, go to:
Daily data: Churchill Climate
Hourly data: Churchill Climate

Alternative data for Smithers, go to:
Daily data: Houston
Hourly data: Smithers

Alternative data for Penticton, go to:
Daily data: Summerland CS
Hourly data: Summerland CS

Alternative data for Lethbridge, go to:
Daily data: Lethbridge CDA
Hourly data: Lethbridge CDA

Alternative data for Medicine Hat, go to:
Daily data: Medicine Hat RCS
Hourly data: Medicine Hat RCS

Alternative data for Calgary, go to:
Daily data: Calgary Int'l CS
Hourly data: Calgary Int'l CS

Alternative data for Kingston, go to:
Daily data: Kingston Climate
Hourly data: Kingston Climate

Alternative data for Pickle Lake, go to:
Daily data: Pickle Lake (AUT)
Hourly data: Pickle Lake (AUT)

Alternative data for Timmins, go to:
Daily data: Timmins Climate
Hourly data: Timmins Climate

Alternative data for Cape Dorset, go to:
Daily data: Cape Dorset Climate
Hourly data: Cape Dorset Climate

Alternative data for Arctic Bay, go to:
Daily data: Arctic Bay CS
Hourly data: Arctic Bay CS

Alternative data for Hall Beach, go to:
Daily data: Hall Beach Climate
Hourly data: Hall Beach Climate

Why are these changes being introduced?
The equipment that is used to record weather conditions and the system used to process the data are obsolete and need to be modernized. This includes implementing a more reliable way to measure winds and to be able to issue reports of weather conditions more quickly, which is especially important during rapidly-changing weather.

Why are daily data not available for these stations? 
Currently, the Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC) and NAV CANADA are working together to resolve some issues in the processing of the new data format received from these sites. As a result, daily data for the new sites will not be available on Climate Data Online. The alternate stations listed above can provide you with daily data for these locations. We ask for your patience until these issues hav been resolved.

When do you expect to have these problems corrected?
These issues are currently being addresses and are of high priority. We hope to have them resolved as soon as possible.

Will the historical climate data be permanently lost?
The weather data is being captured at these two locations and it will be entered into our climate archives to ensure an unbroken record of weather and climate info.

Will all locations be changed?
These are the first two sites to be upgraded in Canada; over the next 5-6 years the new system will be implemented at roughly 200 stations across Canada.

Who owns / runs these observing sites?
These weather observing sites are owned and operated by NAV CANADA in support of aviation needs. The MSC works closely with NAV CANADA to use the weather reports from these sites to fulfill its needs (for example, for issuing public forecasts and warnings), and to make available to the Canadian public via WeatherOffice.gc.ca and climate archives websites.

I have further questions, who do I contact?
Please contact our National Climate Services office at climate.services@ec.gc.ca.