Outdoors, we are vulnerable to severe weather conditions. This is particularly true out in nature or in open areas. When enjoying outdoor sports or activities like camping, hiking, water sports, team sports, fishing, climbing, biking or even walking, we need to know the weather forecast and be aware of the possibility of a storm developing. We should also be able to recognize the early signs of bad weather and know how to protect ourselves. As a general rule, if the sky darkens suddenly, one should seek shelter as soon as possible.
Lightning is the most common danger associated with storms. Lightning is an electrical discharge that can reach currents of 10,000 amperes, striking the ground at about 40,000 km per second. Lightning always seeks the easiest path to the ground. As soon as you see lightning or hear thunder, you should find shelter. Storms also generate very strong winds, hail, heavy rain, and sometimes even tornadoes.
To be safe outdoors, you must be familiar with your immediate environment and the surrounding area. For example, by taking note of appropriate locations to take cover, you will be able to find shelter more quickly should the sky darken and you notice thunder and lightning. Do not forget that a storm can develop without notice and you need to be able to take cover in as little as 30 minutes.
Practical advice in case of bad weather
| Storm, lightning, strong winds, hail, tornado |
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| Heavy Rain, Flash Flooding |
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Learn to be safe
To better enjoy outdoor activities and to be able to protect yourself, you should keep abreast of the latest weather reports and warnings in effect issued by Environment Canada. Various tools also provide access to this information at anytime, anywhere, even along your route.
The weather forecast and warnings from Environment Canada are available 24/7 on its weather website, weather.gc.ca where you can subscribe to the RSS service. In addition to being available from the local media, local weather conditions may be obtained using a hotline for recorded information in your area (1-613-998-3439). You can also be in touch with an Environment Canada expert seven days a week at the weather consultation service Weather One-on-One: 1-900-565-5555 (charges apply).
The Weatheradio Canada network broadcasts continuous weather reports on seven VHF frequencies . In Lanark County, the closest transmitter is located at Lavant, transmitting at 162.55 MHz. The signal can be picked up by Weatheradio receivers, which are available for purchase from several retailers in Canada (and on-line). At a few selected locations, low power broadcasts are transmitted on the regular FM band. A Weatheradio receiver is not required to hear these broadcasts. For more information on Weatheradio or on hazardous weather conditions and how to protect yourself, visit: https://weather.gc.ca/