How to Use the Weather Network App and Environment Canada Alerts

Why Check the Weather on Your Phone?

Canadian weather can change quickly — from sunshine to snow squalls in a matter of hours. Having weather information on your phone means you always know what to expect before you head out. This is especially important for safety during winter storms, heat waves, and severe thunderstorms.

The Weather Network App

The Weather Network is a Canadian company and one of the most trusted weather sources in the country. Their free app provides detailed forecasts tailored to your exact location.

Setting Up the Weather Network App

Download The Weather Network from the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android)
Open the app and allow it to use your location when prompted
Your local forecast will appear automatically
To add other locations (like a cottage or where your children live), tap the search icon and enter the city name

Understanding the App Home Screen

When you open the app, you will see several key pieces of information:

Current temperature — Shown in large numbers at the top (you can switch between Celsius and Fahrenheit in settings)
Feels like temperature — What the temperature actually feels like with wind chill or humidity
Hourly forecast — Swipe left to see conditions for the next several hours
14-day outlook — Scroll down for a two-week overview
Radar map — Shows where rain or snow is right now and where it is heading

Environment Canada Weather Alerts

Environment and Climate Change Canada issues official weather alerts for dangerous conditions. These include:

Weather Warnings — Severe weather is happening or will happen soon (e.g., winter storm warning, tornado warning)
Weather Watches — Conditions are favourable for severe weather to develop
Weather Advisories — Less urgent but still notable conditions (e.g., frost advisory, fog advisory)

You can view these alerts in The Weather Network app, or download the free WeatherCAN app from Environment Canada for official government alerts directly on your phone.

Enabling Critical Weather Notifications

To make sure you never miss an important alert, turn on push notifications:

In The Weather Network app, tap the menu icon (three lines)
Go to Settings and then Notifications
Turn on Severe Weather Alerts
Choose your alert preferences (warnings only, or watches and advisories too)

On iPhone, also go to Settings, then Notifications, find The Weather Network, and make sure Allow Notifications is turned on. On Android, go to Settings, then Apps, then The Weather Network, then Notifications.

Checking Road Conditions Before You Travel

Before driving in winter, check road conditions to stay safe:

Ontario — Visit 511on.ca or call 511 for road conditions
British Columbia — Visit DriveBC.ca for highway conditions and webcam views
Alberta — Visit 511.alberta.ca for real-time road reports
Quebec — Visit Quebec511.info for road conditions in French and English
All provinces — The Weather Network app also shows road risk ratings for your area

When the app shows a high risk for driving, it is best to delay your trip if possible.

Understanding Wind Chill and Humidex

Two uniquely Canadian weather measurements to know:

Wind chill — In winter, wind makes it feel much colder than the actual temperature. If it is -10°C but the wind chill is -25°C, exposed skin can freeze in minutes. Always dress for the wind chill, not the actual temperature
Humidex — In summer, humidity makes it feel hotter than the actual temperature. A humidex of 40 or higher means you should take it easy, drink plenty of water, and stay in air conditioning if possible

Having weather information at your fingertips helps you plan your day, dress appropriately, and stay safe during extreme conditions. Take a moment today to set up your weather app and turn on alerts — it only takes a few minutes and it could keep you safe this winter.