Colour-coded weather alerts now in effect for Clarington

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has introduced a colour-coded system for weather alerts effective Nov. 26, 2025, assigning yellow, orange or red to all Warnings, Advisories and Watches to indicate expected impact levels. Alerts issued for Clarington will display the colour alongside the standard alert text.

The colours are intended to show the level of risk from hazardous weather. Each tier corresponds to the expected degree of damage, disruption or health impacts.

Yellow signals hazardous weather that may cause moderate, localized or short-term damage, disruption or health impacts. Yellow alerts are the most common.

Orange indicates severe weather likely to cause significant damage, disruption or health impacts, with major, more widespread effects that may last a few days. Orange alerts are uncommon.

Red denotes very dangerous and possibly life-threatening weather expected to cause extreme damage and disruption. Impacts are extensive, widespread and prolonged. Red alerts are rare.

The same type of weather can have different impacts depending on timing, location and population, so each alert is assigned a colour based on expected impact in the affected area.

In example materials for wind warnings, potential Yellow impacts include some short-term utility outages, larger tree branches broken, and a risk of injury from flying or falling debris.

For Orange, potential impacts include widespread utility outages, some roof damage, small-to-medium trees snapped, and an increased risk of injury from debris.

For Red, potential impacts include long-duration, widespread utility outages; structural damage to homes and buildings; significant damage to trees, including orchards and parks; and a high likelihood of injury due to flying or falling debris.

ECCC notes the examples are illustrative and do not cover every possible impact. The department advises the public to read the full alert text for important details and safety guidance.

ECCC published the backgrounder describing the system on Nov. 26, 2025.