Federal meteorologists are exploring the use of artificial intelligence to boost the accuracy and speed of weather forecasting, according to a Department of Environment briefing note. Blacklock's Reporter says the move comes amid ongoing efforts to modernize outdated infrastructure and respond to growing public demand for better forecasting tools.“Artificial intelligence is an emerging approach to help meteorologists generate and analyze weather prediction information,” said the May 14 memo titled Artificial Intelligence And Weather Forecasting. The department said it is examining how machine learning could be used to enhance service delivery and offer earlier, more precise warnings of severe weather..“AI technologies are rapidly transforming the models that are used for weather and environmental forecasting,” the note stated. “Canada is looking at opportunities for AI to provide earlier warnings of weather and environmental events and their impacts as well as to update forecasts in near-real time.”The department said it is considering integrating AI tools into its current forecasting systems to complement existing models used by meteorological centres around the world.The initiative follows a 2020 audit that found much of Environment Canada's forecasting equipment to be outdated. At the time, the department operated a network of 31 radar stations, many of which were so old that replacement parts were no longer available. Plans were set in motion to upgrade or replace 1,125 land-based weather stations at a rate of 20 to 30 per year..The Meteorological Service also oversees 75 ocean buoys and 31 balloon launch sites to gather upper-atmosphere data. While the service has issued forecasts since 1871, some tools remained rudimentary well into the 21st century — including snow measurement sticks that weren’t replaced by electronic sensors until 2017.A 2022 evaluation found that Environment Canada’s three-day forecasts were accurate 87% of the time, while five-day forecasts reached 77% accuracy. However, the department acknowledged ongoing pressures including advancing technologies, shifting public expectations, and a growing private weather sector.“Pressures include evolving technology, changing consumer preferences, the growth of the private weather sector and the shift to impact forecasting in the context of climate change,” the department wrote.
