Sources & Methodology
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At Snowstorms.ca, our goal is to provide accurate, useful, and transparent weather information for Canadians. This page explains the types of sources we rely on, how we research and verify information, and how weather data displayed across Snowstorms.ca is collected and presented.
Weather information can change quickly, and historical records can vary between sources. We aim to make it clear where our information comes from and how it should be interpreted.
Our Approach to Sourcing
We prioritize authoritative and primary sources whenever they are available.
Depending on the subject, sources used by Snowstorms.ca may include:
- Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)
- Government of Canada departments and agencies
- Provincial, territorial, and municipal governments
- Emergency management and public safety agencies
- Canadian climate and historical weather databases
- Universities and academic institutions
- Peer-reviewed scientific research
- Meteorological organizations
- Official reports and historical records
- Reputable weather data providers
- Established Canadian and international news organizations
Whenever practical, we trace important facts, statistics, records, and scientific claims back to the original source rather than relying solely on secondary reporting.
The sources appropriate for a current weather forecast are different from those required for a historical storm or educational article. Our sourcing process therefore varies depending on the type of content being produced.
Current Weather Data
Current conditions, forecasts, temperatures, precipitation, wind, snowfall, and other weather information displayed on Snowstorms.ca may be provided through third-party weather data services and APIs.
This information may be automatically retrieved, processed, cached, and displayed by Snowstorms.ca.
Automated weather data is generally presented substantially as supplied by the underlying data provider, although Snowstorms.ca may organize, format, calculate, convert, or summarize the data to make it easier to understand.
Weather observations and forecasts can differ between providers because of differences in weather models, observation stations, update schedules, forecasting techniques, and other factors.
Forecasts should always be understood as predictions rather than guarantees of future conditions.
Weather Alerts, Watches and Warnings
Snowstorms.ca does not independently issue official weather alerts, watches, warnings, or advisories.
When official Canadian weather alerts are displayed or referenced on Snowstorms.ca, we aim to rely on information originating from Environment and Climate Change Canada or other appropriate government and emergency authorities.
Snowstorms.ca may organize, summarize, or explain alerts to help readers understand their meaning and potential impacts.
However, our explanatory content should not be interpreted as replacing the original alert or instructions issued by the responsible authority.
During hazardous or rapidly changing weather, readers should consult official government and emergency management sources for the latest information.
Historical Weather Events
Our historical weather coverage is researched using multiple sources whenever sufficient information is available.
Sources may include:
- Government weather and climate records
- Environment and Climate Change Canada
- Historical weather observations
- Government reports and archives
- Academic research
- Books and historical publications
- Newspaper and broadcast archives
- Emergency management reports
- Municipal and provincial records
- Reputable contemporary and retrospective reporting
For significant historical events, we aim to verify important details across multiple reliable sources rather than relying on a single account.
Particular attention is given to information such as dates, snowfall totals, temperatures, wind speeds, fatalities, damages, geographic impacts, records, and other quantitative claims.
Differences Between Historical Sources
Historical weather records are not always perfectly consistent.
Different sources may report different snowfall totals, temperatures, wind speeds, damage estimates, casualty figures, or geographic boundaries for the same event.
These differences can result from factors including:
- Different observation locations
- Different measurement periods
- Changes in measurement practices
- Preliminary versus finalized data
- Different definitions of an event
- Incomplete historical observations
- Inflation adjustments to economic losses
- Later revisions to official records
When credible sources disagree, Snowstorms.ca aims to use the most authoritative available information and provide appropriate context where the difference is significant.
We do not attempt to create false precision where reliable records do not support it.
Weather and Climate Records
Where possible, Snowstorms.ca relies on official climate records or recognized meteorological sources when identifying records.
We also consider the geographic area, measurement period, weather station, and definition associated with a record.
For example, a provincial snowfall record may differ depending on whether the measurement refers to snowfall during a single day, a storm, a month, or an entire season.
We aim to make these distinctions clear when they materially affect the meaning of a claim.
Educational and Glossary Content
Educational articles and glossary pages are designed to explain weather terminology, phenomena, alerts, forecasting concepts, and related subjects in clear language.
These pages may draw from:
- Environment and Climate Change Canada
- Government weather agencies
- Meteorological organizations
- Universities
- Scientific publications
- Textbooks and educational resources
- Other authoritative technical sources
Technical concepts may be simplified to make them easier for a general audience to understand. We aim to preserve the scientific meaning of the concept while avoiding unnecessary technical language.
Rankings and Comparisons
Snowstorms.ca may publish rankings and comparisons involving Canadian cities, municipalities, provinces, territories, weather events, or climate conditions.
Examples may include rankings of the snowiest, coldest, warmest, rainiest, or windiest places in Canada.
Where rankings are based on data, we aim to explain the metric being compared and use consistent criteria across the locations included.
Results may differ depending on the weather stations, geographic boundaries, time periods, datasets, and definitions used.
Where these methodological choices materially affect a ranking, we aim to explain them within the relevant article.
Calculations and Derived Data
Some information displayed on Snowstorms.ca may be calculated or derived from underlying weather data rather than reproduced directly from a source.
Examples could include averages, comparisons, rankings, conversions, probabilities, indexes, or other calculated values.
When we perform a meaningful calculation that affects the interpretation of the information, we aim to make the methodology understandable to readers.
Calculated values may be rounded for readability.
Predictive Tools and Estimates
Snowstorms.ca may develop tools that use weather forecasts, historical information, statistical methods, or other data to estimate the probability of weather-related outcomes.
These tools may include predictions or estimates relating to snowfall, travel impacts, school closures, or other weather-related events.
Predictions and probabilities are estimates, not guarantees.
Where a predictive tool is provided, we aim to explain the major factors or methodology used to generate its results so readers can understand what the output represents.
Official decisions, such as school closures or transportation cancellations, remain the responsibility of the relevant organization or authority.
Geographic Information
Weather information on Snowstorms.ca may be organized by province, territory, municipality, city, or other geographic area.
A weather value associated with a municipality does not necessarily represent conditions at every location within that municipality.
Weather conditions can vary significantly over short distances, particularly during localized events such as snow squalls, thunderstorms, freezing rain, lake-effect snow, and heavy precipitation.
Where weather information is associated with coordinates or a weather station, those observations or forecasts should be understood as representing that location or its surrounding area rather than every point within the broader municipality.
Source Attribution
We believe readers should be able to understand where important information comes from.
Where appropriate, Snowstorms.ca links directly to government agencies, research organizations, academic publications, news reports, and other sources used in our research.
Historical and research-intensive articles may also include a dedicated sources section identifying the principal references used to prepare the article.
External links are provided for attribution, verification, or additional reading and do not necessarily indicate an endorsement of the external organization or all information it publishes.
Source Quality
Not every source carries the same evidentiary weight.
When evaluating information, we consider factors such as:
- Whether the source is primary or secondary
- The authority and expertise of the publisher
- The methodology used to produce the information
- Whether the information can be independently verified
- The publication date and relevance of the information
- Whether more authoritative information is available
- Consistency with other credible sources
Government records, original datasets, scientific research, and other primary sources are generally preferred for factual and quantitative claims.
Secondary sources may be particularly useful for documenting impacts, eyewitness accounts, historical context, and contemporary reporting.
Corrections and Updates
Weather information and historical records can change as new data becomes available, preliminary information is revised, or errors are identified.
Snowstorms.ca may update published content when more accurate or authoritative information becomes available.
If we identify a material factual error, we aim to correct it promptly and transparently in accordance with our Corrections Policy.
Readers who believe they have identified an error are encouraged to contact us.
Our Commitment
No weather information service or publication is completely immune from errors, and weather forecasting itself involves uncertainty.
Our responsibility is to approach that uncertainty transparently.
Snowstorms.ca aims to distinguish between official information, third-party weather data, historical research, calculated information, and predictions; use authoritative sources whenever reasonably available; provide appropriate context; and correct material errors when they are identified.
Questions about our sources, methodology, or published information can be submitted through our Contact page.