- Radiowiz
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
RadioActive wrote:
This isn't radio related, but after this endless and horrible winter, I feel you may need to know this - during a walk this afternoon, I actually saw two robins pecking in the grass where a huge snowbank used to be. So either spring really is on the horizon or else these two birds have really terrible travel agents! Nice to see them back. And no, they don't have access to a Weather Radio, either.
This sounds like the kind of morning show chatter I'd hear on Indie 88.
Maybe you should write their show prep! 
- RadioActive
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
This article from the CBC details how the shutdown will work, and contains this statement:
"Environment Canada said operating the network costs about $4 million per year, and the cost to decommission Weatheradio and Hello Weather will be $2.5 million over two years."
Why does it cost $2.5 million to turn something off? Only in government could not doing something cost taxpayers so much money!
Environment Canada to disconnect Weatheradio service this monthSo, $4M/ yr? Whats that? About ten cents per year coming out of the pockets of each of us?
For a huge saving like that, it's worth putting our safety at risk.
You may not be alone in your position. This letter in Radio World tries to point out why this service is still valuable.
"One does not need a crystal ball to see that tornadoes, floods and wildfires will continue to affect Canada, and with these threats comes the specter of death.
When your nearest cell tower, your fiber optic internet connection, your landline phone and your electricity are burned, flooded or blown out, only a radio-based alert signal will be able to get through."
Canada’s Decision to Abandon Weather Radio Is Ill-Advised
- WPE9HAY
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
Algonquin Park: Mew Lake/Lake of Two Rivers Campgrounds are served by Weatheradio as "CJNK" 50 w 100.1 FM
CFBK Huntsville and CBC repeater in Whitney are just listenable.
Yes there is minimal cell service but.......
- RadioActive
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
For a service so few even knew about, it's certainly attracting a lot of attention as it meets its demise on March 16th. This columnist in The Calgary Herald argues shutting down the Weatheradio broadcasts is not only foolish, but dangerous.
Weatheradio Canada must be maintained for public safety, emergency preparedness
- markow202
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
For a service so few even knew about, it's certainly attracting a lot of attention as it meets its demise on March 16th. This columnist in The Calgary Herald argues shutting down the Weatheradio broadcasts is not only foolish, but dangerous.
Weatheradio Canada must be maintained for public safety, emergency preparedness
Whats dangerous TODAY is the individual not having up to date equipment such as a cell phone. Thats a red-flag on its own. Atop this, I need a special radio to even pick up this weather station which nobody has these days,
Last edited by markow202 (March 9, 2026 10:09 am)
- turkeytop
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
Looks like the US may be going in the opposite direction making the NOAA radio network more robust.
Looks like the regime in Washington is more concerned about public safety than is the regime in Ottawa.
Last edited by turkeytop (March 10, 2026 12:40 am)
After all is said and done, more is usually said than done.
- Hansa
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
This livestream may be your last chance to hear Weatheradio if you don't have the special reciever. It's still on the air this morning but is going off the air sometime today:
Last edited by Hansa (March 16, 2026 6:46 am)
- RadioActive
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
Ironic timing considering the sheer volume of Special Weather Statements out on Monday.
- andysradio
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
They have gone into a loop advising listeners of the alternatives. Date and time are still being given
- turkeytop
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
On the plus side, I can now DX the weather band without my scanner locking on to the local channel.
After all is said and done, more is usually said than done.
- Hansa
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
It's now dead air.
- andysradio
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
It's now dead air.
Which one? The two in Peterborough are still going.
- RadioActive
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
Interesting that while we've just shut down our Weatheradio network here, the U.S. has just voted to strengthen their version of it.
NOAA Weather Radio Modernization Act
- turkeytop
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
I live in a small city in south-west Ontario. There are areas within three hours of home where cell coerage is unreliable.
After all is said and done, more is usually said than done.
- LOSat
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
Agreed once you get away from the London area in SWO there are many dead spots, regardless of what the coverage maps say.
- Radiowiz
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
I live in a small city in south-west Ontario. There are areas within three hours of home where cell coerage is unreliable.
Agreed once you get away from the London area in SWO there are many dead spots, regardless of what the coverage maps say.
Thanks to the amazing great Rogers,
you have an alternative now that you did not have before:
- Evuguy
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
I took a listen the other night to the Toronto and Niagara Weather Radio Canada VHF signals. They are still on air with a loop in alternating English/French advising the service is discontinued. They are still providing time of day and station identification. Otherwise, I don't know if others here had noticed, but in recent times these stations were giving weather forecasts predominantly in French. Being the francophone population isn't very large in this area, I'm not sure what Environment Canada had in mind. Note, if you have a VHF band radio, you can still listen to the marine weather forecasts on 161.650 and 161.775MHz.
Youtuber and ATSC 3.0 advocate "WNY Over The Air" has some comments on this shutdown and an audio excerpt from the current Niagara signal:
- RadioActive
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
I tried the "Hello Weather" phone number just see what happened to it. They're still connected and still answered automatically, but it informs callers that the service has been discontinued, and suggests you get the app or go to Environment Canada's site for the latest climate info.
- RadioActive
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
And now comes this. What could possibly go wrong? (Plenty if my experience with AI is any indication. It gets almost everything I ask it wrong.)
Environment Canada to use AI in new weather forecasting model
- RadioActive
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
An example of how the now shuttered Weatheradio is missed by many.
Camper shaken by Muskoka storm after plug pulled on Weatheradio
- Scarboroughbluffsradiof99
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
What they should have done is have ither low-power fm transmitters accross canada or put weatherradio on an hd subchannel of cbc radio 1.
The low-power transmiter idea is a better idea, maybe put them in the 87 range.
- Saul
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
What they should have done is have ither low-power fm transmitters accross canada or put weatherradio on an hd subchannel of cbc radio 1.
The low-power transmiter idea is a better idea, maybe put them in the 87 range.
Maintaining the weather band and the absolute handful of FM flea-power stations is like maintaining the horse and buggy. The technology's days are gone. I wonder how many Canadians have a radio capable of receiving 162 MHz and how many who have those radios would think to check. I know we love radio, but the delivery truck's being updated. There's new, quite reliable ways to know which way the wind blows.
- Scarboroughbluffsradiof99
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
What they should have done is have ither low-power fm transmitters accross canada or put weatherradio on an hd subchannel of cbc radio 1.
The low-power transmiter idea is a better idea, maybe put them in the 87 range.Maintaining the weather band and the absolute handful of FM flea-power stations is like maintaining the horse and buggy. The technology's days are gone. I wonder how many Canadians have a radio capable of receiving 162 MHz and how many who have those radios would think to check. I know we love radio, but the delivery truck's being updated. There's new, quite reliable ways to know which way the wind blows.
There not reliable in an outige.
Radio is.
There's even lots of am frequencies available, they could put weather radio on am.
- andysradio
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
With the closure of weatheradio, the CBC should be made to beef up its forecasts with more frequent casts covering more areas
- Saul
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
What they should have done is have ither low-power fm transmitters accross canada or put weatherradio on an hd subchannel of cbc radio 1.
The low-power transmiter idea is a better idea, maybe put them in the 87 range.Maintaining the weather band and the absolute handful of FM flea-power stations is like maintaining the horse and buggy. The technology's days are gone. I wonder how many Canadians have a radio capable of receiving 162 MHz and how many who have those radios would think to check. I know we love radio, but the delivery truck's being updated. There's new, quite reliable ways to know which way the wind blows.
There not reliable in an outige.
Radio is.
There's even lots of am frequencies available, they could put weather radio on am.
Well, can't argue with your enthusiasm and passion for radio. Just don't complain about your taxes, okay? 
- turkeytop
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
Maintaining the weather band and the absolute handful of FM flea-power stations is like maintaining the horse and buggy. The technology's days are gone. I wonder how many Canadians have a radio capable of receiving 162 MHz and how many who have those radios would think to check. I know we love radio, but the delivery truck's being updated. There's new, quite reliable ways to know which way the wind blows.There not reliable in an outige.
Radio is.
There's even lots of am frequencies available, they could put weather radio on am.Well, can't argue with your enthusiasm and passion for radio. Just don't complain about your taxes, okay?
Environment Canada syas it costs about $4M/ yr to operate. That's about 10 cents for every Canadian. With savings like that, it's worth putting our safety at risk. Enjoy your tax cut.
After all is said and done, more is usually said than done.
- mjf
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
I wonder how many Canadians have a radio capable of receiving 162 MHz and how many who have those radios would think to check.
Well, I'd say that most of the people who have weather radios have them because they are the ones who venture off into areas without cell service or because they have jobs where they're outside and need to keep on top of the weather conditions. Lots of people I know who are regular campers have a weather radio. These people bought a weather radio for a specific purpose and would definitely think to check!