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Weather Permitting: Twenty-Five Years of Ice Storms, Hurricanes, Wildfires, and Extreme Climate Change in Canada
From the longtime host of The Weather Network comes a behind-the-scenes look at Canada’s biggest weather events and climate phenomena.
For more than twenty-five years, Chris St. Clair was on the frontline of Canada’s biggest weather events as a popular presenter on The Weather Network . For the first time, he shares his never-before-told stories covering the country’s most astounding weather events.
From the flooding of the Red River in Winnipeg to the ice storm in Montreal, the hurricanes in Newfoundland, the devastating wildfires in Fort McMurray, the hailstorm in Calgary, and the heat dome and horrifying floods in British Columbia, St. Clair recalls these extreme weather events and relays their impact on communities across the country. He also follows Canadian snowbirds south to Florida and recounts their dramatic escape from record-breaking Hurricanes Matthew and Irma.
A vivid personal narrative with accessible scientific explanations and meteorological analysis, Weather Permitting tells the story of how the weather has shaped the character and psyche of our nation, and is an homage to the strength and resilience of Canadian communities from coast to coast.
For more than twenty-five years, Chris St. Clair was on the frontline of Canada’s biggest weather events as a popular presenter on The Weather Network . For the first time, he shares his never-before-told stories covering the country’s most astounding weather events.
From the flooding of the Red River in Winnipeg to the ice storm in Montreal, the hurricanes in Newfoundland, the devastating wildfires in Fort McMurray, the hailstorm in Calgary, and the heat dome and horrifying floods in British Columbia, St. Clair recalls these extreme weather events and relays their impact on communities across the country. He also follows Canadian snowbirds south to Florida and recounts their dramatic escape from record-breaking Hurricanes Matthew and Irma.
A vivid personal narrative with accessible scientific explanations and meteorological analysis, Weather Permitting tells the story of how the weather has shaped the character and psyche of our nation, and is an homage to the strength and resilience of Canadian communities from coast to coast.
256 pages, Paperback
Published November 8, 2022
5 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 10, 2023
I picked up this book as a joke for my weather-obsessed husband, but I read it first and completely enjoyed it. I learned more about what causes weather phenomena than I expected to, and it was really informative. I remember most of the singular storms the author wrote about, but it really hit home when he described the Fort McMurray fire of 2016 and the disasters that hit British Columbia from 2017 to the present day. To climate-change deniers, I say this: take a look around you and wake up!
November 28, 2022
This isn't my usual kind of read; Chris St. Clair was a Weather Network reporter here in Canada for 25 years. I assumed this book would be about his career, and though there were bits of that sprinkled in, it was mostly about the major weather events that occurred in Canada/North America over those years. It was interesting, a lot of information about the hows and whys of these events. It was a lot of facts and statistics, but mostly written in an engaging, easy to understand way.
But really, the reason why I read this book is because my cousin is mentioned by name in one chapter, and it was SO COOL to see him there. I totally fangirled when I read it. To heck with the weather, I want to read about Shawn!
But really, the reason why I read this book is because my cousin is mentioned by name in one chapter, and it was SO COOL to see him there. I totally fangirled when I read it. To heck with the weather, I want to read about Shawn!
November 18, 2022
See my full review here.
This book covers all the big stories of St. Clair’s remarkable career with Canada's beloved Weather Network, from the 1998 ice storm that paralyzed Quebec and collapsed the electricity grid to the devastating 2014 wildfire in Fort McMurray called The Beast. There are 12 stories in all, including a couple of hurricanes in Florida (the winter home of so many eastern Canadians) and St. Clair offers a front-row analysis of each one, always delivered in his trademark relaxing and accessible “down-home” style. He explains the science behind each crisis and then presents the human face, talking about the people directly affected. I particularly enjoyed the behind-the-scenes information about broadcasting. The final chapter, called Fire and Flood, addresses the June 2021 heat dome that killed hundreds in British Columbia, followed by the devastating floods just a few months later that swamped farmlands and destroyed major highways, killing four and isolating dozens of communities. The epilogue draws all the stories together as he discusses the impact of human-caused climate change and presents a powerful call to action. The advance copy I read had no index, unfortunately, and it doesn’t appear the print version has any photos or graphics. That’s a shame, as it would be so helpful in explaining the science, and in conveying the devastation of these weather disasters. All in all, this is a fascinating and accessible book – a science-based memoir of a planet’s desperate plea for humans to change their behaviour, told through the eyes of a professional witness with a heart. It’s just been released, so add this to your Christmas gift list as well as picking up a copy for your own shelf. My thanks to Simon & Shuster Canada for the digital reading copy provided in exchange for my honest review.
This book covers all the big stories of St. Clair’s remarkable career with Canada's beloved Weather Network, from the 1998 ice storm that paralyzed Quebec and collapsed the electricity grid to the devastating 2014 wildfire in Fort McMurray called The Beast. There are 12 stories in all, including a couple of hurricanes in Florida (the winter home of so many eastern Canadians) and St. Clair offers a front-row analysis of each one, always delivered in his trademark relaxing and accessible “down-home” style. He explains the science behind each crisis and then presents the human face, talking about the people directly affected. I particularly enjoyed the behind-the-scenes information about broadcasting. The final chapter, called Fire and Flood, addresses the June 2021 heat dome that killed hundreds in British Columbia, followed by the devastating floods just a few months later that swamped farmlands and destroyed major highways, killing four and isolating dozens of communities. The epilogue draws all the stories together as he discusses the impact of human-caused climate change and presents a powerful call to action. The advance copy I read had no index, unfortunately, and it doesn’t appear the print version has any photos or graphics. That’s a shame, as it would be so helpful in explaining the science, and in conveying the devastation of these weather disasters. All in all, this is a fascinating and accessible book – a science-based memoir of a planet’s desperate plea for humans to change their behaviour, told through the eyes of a professional witness with a heart. It’s just been released, so add this to your Christmas gift list as well as picking up a copy for your own shelf. My thanks to Simon & Shuster Canada for the digital reading copy provided in exchange for my honest review.
April 29, 2023
Most every Canadian over the age of 20 will be familiar with most of the storms/events/disasters he discusses in this book.
This would make a great primer for someone who is less than familiar with the ‘science’ of these same events - easy to digest and bringing home some fundamental points.
And, even for someone like me who has a background in such matters, I found it an easy and enjoyable read.
Having said that I do have some complaints that have stuck in my craw.
Graphics: Be they photos, maps, charts, graphs or whatever
It needs visuals throughout the text… for relief, explanation and/or emphasis. My notes are full of “!!!!” where I wanted to see some kind of graphic representation.
Yes… I did find the pages of photos all crammed in together at the end of the book - and that bugs me to no end.
Granted I read an e-book version… so my question is: Where are they located in the print edition??? If in fact peppered throughout, then I take back my complaint about the location, but not about the quality or the lack of other visual elements.
Cost Benefit Analysis: While he does a good job of making connections between the social, political, economic and human costs of these events
I wish that he had taken some time to do a tally of the sum total of the costs - get the numbers out there about how much it has cost us having denied climate change for so long… and how much it will cost in the future if we continue to fail to act with the necessary urgency.
The politics of climate change: He had a perfect moment - in the scene in the trailer park after Hurricane Irma - to really address the fact of privilege… Whether it be:
At the level of international politics… the have and have not nations of the world and the differential impact on those who have not caused the problem; or,
At the level of national politics… thinking especially of the US here, and how the failure of governments to address climate change - before and after the fact - has added fuel to the fire of populist politics such that we see the likes of Donald Trump in the office of the President.
I wish that each chapter had ended will a more fulsome discussion of exactly this type - as opposed to the kind of motherhood paragraph of two they did wrap up with.
Hello editor!! There are many moments of repetition… whether about weather bombs, Canada’s first climate refugees, or Tropical Depression Ten… just to name a few.
There is also the matter of Mark Critch’s brother… The first time he’s mentioned he’s referred to as Mark Critch Campbell. The next time he’s referred to as Mark Campbell Critch. Which is it? How did nobody catch this?
There is no excuse for these types of copy editing errors in this - or any other - book.
Nonetheless... a recommended read.
This would make a great primer for someone who is less than familiar with the ‘science’ of these same events - easy to digest and bringing home some fundamental points.
And, even for someone like me who has a background in such matters, I found it an easy and enjoyable read.
Having said that I do have some complaints that have stuck in my craw.
Graphics: Be they photos, maps, charts, graphs or whatever
It needs visuals throughout the text… for relief, explanation and/or emphasis. My notes are full of “!!!!” where I wanted to see some kind of graphic representation.
Yes… I did find the pages of photos all crammed in together at the end of the book - and that bugs me to no end.
Granted I read an e-book version… so my question is: Where are they located in the print edition??? If in fact peppered throughout, then I take back my complaint about the location, but not about the quality or the lack of other visual elements.
Cost Benefit Analysis: While he does a good job of making connections between the social, political, economic and human costs of these events
I wish that he had taken some time to do a tally of the sum total of the costs - get the numbers out there about how much it has cost us having denied climate change for so long… and how much it will cost in the future if we continue to fail to act with the necessary urgency.
The politics of climate change: He had a perfect moment - in the scene in the trailer park after Hurricane Irma - to really address the fact of privilege… Whether it be:
At the level of international politics… the have and have not nations of the world and the differential impact on those who have not caused the problem; or,
At the level of national politics… thinking especially of the US here, and how the failure of governments to address climate change - before and after the fact - has added fuel to the fire of populist politics such that we see the likes of Donald Trump in the office of the President.
I wish that each chapter had ended will a more fulsome discussion of exactly this type - as opposed to the kind of motherhood paragraph of two they did wrap up with.
Hello editor!! There are many moments of repetition… whether about weather bombs, Canada’s first climate refugees, or Tropical Depression Ten… just to name a few.
There is also the matter of Mark Critch’s brother… The first time he’s mentioned he’s referred to as Mark Critch Campbell. The next time he’s referred to as Mark Campbell Critch. Which is it? How did nobody catch this?
There is no excuse for these types of copy editing errors in this - or any other - book.
Nonetheless... a recommended read.
September 11, 2022
I loved this book! I was flooded with memories. I was snowed-under by tales of natural disasters whose history revealed their man-made roots from earlier decisions. Well, enough of the weather puns...
Chris St. Clair's 27 yr career with the Weather Network has provided the background presented in 'Weather Permitting'. Twelve weather-related disasters are featured, most are Canadian. Told using meters not feet, Celsius not Fahrenheit, this focuses on Canadian measurements making this a Canadian book. I hope other releases will switch to feet and Fahrenheit to open the message of climate change to an international audience.
Definitely on my list of gift giving books!
I volunteered to read an ARC from Simon & Schuster Canada through Net Galley,
Release date Nov 1, 2022.
Chris St. Clair's 27 yr career with the Weather Network has provided the background presented in 'Weather Permitting'. Twelve weather-related disasters are featured, most are Canadian. Told using meters not feet, Celsius not Fahrenheit, this focuses on Canadian measurements making this a Canadian book. I hope other releases will switch to feet and Fahrenheit to open the message of climate change to an international audience.
Definitely on my list of gift giving books!
I volunteered to read an ARC from Simon & Schuster Canada through Net Galley,
Release date Nov 1, 2022.
May 13, 2023
This is very informative reading, and it is also balanced and enjoyable reading. We sweep back in geologic time to learn why there is flooding today, we learn about the air currents and heating patterns and moisture that create a storm system, and we learn what it is like to track a weather event and to live a weather event. It is augmented by a well-chosen photo display capturing moments in notable events. I would definitely have this book in my resources if I were teaching environmental science again; Chris St. Clair’s science makes sense, his stories reach us in many ways, and the direction he indicates for the future is clear.
April 22, 2024
An easy, interesting read from my favourite Weather Network person. Focusing on several natural disasters, Chris describes his role in reporting on them, giving us some behind the scenes info, and describing, as always in his easy-to - understand manner, the science behind the weather and the impacts of climate change.
April 26, 2023
I was very surprised with this book of how much I enjoyed it! I thought I wouldn't be able to finish it but I did. It was easy to read and you don't need to be a scientist or weather expert to enjoy it.
February 11, 2023
Great read. I remember some of these weather events a fascinating read.
April 8, 2023
Well written and readable
June 15, 2023
Really interesting anecdotes, and I forgot that Chris grew up in NS!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews