Canada Ends Weatheradio Service Permanently

Environment and Climate Change Canada announced the permanent shutdown of Weatheradio, a nationwide radio service that has provided continuous local weather forecasts and severe weather alerts since the 1970s, effective Monday. The decision affects listeners across Canada, where more than 90 percent of the population has access to the service's 230 transmitters spanning from the Arctic to Newfoundland and Vancouver Island.

The agency cited rising maintenance costs as the primary reason for discontinuing the VHF-band broadcasts, which require specialized radios to receive. In addition, the dial-in Good Morning service, allowing users to call for recorded local forecasts, will end on the same day. Officials emphasized that technological progress has expanded access to weather information through other channels. "Since Weatheradio was introduced, there have been many technological advancements that have permitted us to increase the availability of our weather information services and products," the agency stated in an email. Cellular coverage continues to grow nationwide, while satellite internet services are reaching more remote communities.

Listeners are directed to the agency's...