Canada’s national Weatheradio service (and the companion Hello Weather phone line) officially shut down very recently, on March 16, 2026. While the decommission began in mid-March, final transmitter shutdowns across the country were completed in the early morning hours of March 31, 2026.
The decision was driven by several logistical and technological factors:
Why did it shut down?
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Obsolete Technology: Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) stated that the VHF broadcast technology, which launched in 1976, had become obsolete and increasingly difficult to maintain.
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High Maintenance Costs: Operating the network of roughly 225 transmitters cost approximately $4 million annually. The government determined these resources were better spent on modernizing digital alerting systems.
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Shift to Digital Alternatives: With the expansion of cellular networks, satellite internet (like Starlink), and mobile apps, the government concluded that most Canadians now access weather data through:
What remains?
It is important to note that Marine Weather broadcasts were not part of this shutdown. The Canadian Coast Guard continues to operate its continuous marine radio broadcasts to ensure safety for mariners on the Great Lakes and coastal waters.
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