Environment and Climate Change Canada has launched a new weather warning system aimed at improving public understanding of weather risks. Starting today, the agency will replace its traditional watches and warnings with a color-coded, risk-tiered system. This change is designed to help Canadians better prepare for severe weather events. The new system aligns with recommendations from the World Meteorological Organization and follows similar updates made by 31 weather agencies across Europe. It features three alert levels represented by colors: yellow, orange, and red. Each color indicates the potential impact of weather events and the confidence in the forecast. Environment and Climate Change Canada will continue to issue familiar warnings, including severe thunderstorm watches, rainfall warnings, snowfall warnings, and wind warnings. Additionally, special weather statements will still be issued in grey for significant weather events that do not meet warning criteria. The color-coded alerts are as follows: **Yellow Alerts** Yellow alerts serve as the baseline for weather warnings. They can be issued for a variety of hazardous conditions, such as warning-worthy storms and snowfall events. These alerts indicate that travel may be affected, leading to delays or cancellations, and may also signal health-related impacts like reduced air quality or heat warnings. **Orange Alerts** Orange alerts indicate a higher level of risk. They will be issued for storms likely to cause widespread or significant damage, such as severe wind storms or ice storms that result in prolonged power outages. Residents should prepare to take action to protect themselves and their property when an orange alert is issued. **Red Alerts** Red alerts represent the highest level of warning. They indicate dangerous and potentially life-threatening weather conditions. For example, post-tropical storm Fiona, which severely impacted Nova Scotia in September 2022, would be classified as a red alert event. Under a red alert, individuals should expect extensive disruptions to travel and power, along with widespread property damage. The primary goal of this new system is to enhance storm preparedness by focusing on the impacts of weather rather than the weather itself. When a warning is issued, it is crucial for individuals to read the details to understand the specific weather situation and take appropriate action to ensure their safety.