Canadian Hurricane Centre: responsibilities

The Canadian Hurricane Centre (CHC) coordinates with the United States National Hurricane Center (in Miami) because they are the World Meteorological Organization's Regional Specialized Meteorological Center for the Atlantic Ocean Basin. The CHC supplements the forecasts of the NHC through detailed forecasts and warnings tailored specially for Canada. As the Government of Canada’s single point of contact with the NHC, the CHC leads all meteorological matters relating to hurricanes and tropical storms affecting Canada. CHC staff membres represent Canada at national and international meetings dealing with such phenomena. the CHC also promotes and identifies the requirements for meteorological research on hurricanes and tropical storms to the Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC).

The primary responsibility of the CHC is to provide forecasts and warnings on tropical cyclones that threaten Canada or Canadian waters within the next 72 hours by doing the following tasks:

• Preparing and issuing Canadian tropical cyclone information statements to provide general information and guidance to all Canadians and technical information for the meteorological community
• Preparing and issuing hurricane and tropical storm watches and warnings for all coastal and inland regions that are threatened within specified lead times
• Preparing and issuing tropical cyclone track maps to provide a graphical overview of all tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic

Track map Post-tropical Storm Cristobal (2008)

• Preparing other tropical cyclone-related products, as required, to satisfy the needs of Environment Canada or its clients
• Providing media interviews on meteorological matters relating to tropical cyclones

In carrying out its role within the Meteorological Service of Canada, the CHC works closely with the Canadian Meteorological Centre (CMC); the Eenvironment Canada regional Storm Prediction Centres; the Eastern Canadian Meteorological Aviation Centre (CMAC-East); and the Aviation and Defense Service's Weather Services Centres. These close working relationships ensure consistency in the warnings and forecasts of all agencies and their activities with the public, local media, provincial emergency measures organizations, Public Safety Canada, and regional emergency planners.