2026-Mar-31
Weatherradio Canada Shutdown: What Boaters on Georgian Bay Need to Know
The way Canadians receive weather information is changing. As of March 16, 2026, a long‑standing analog service has gone silent. If you boat, camp, or live around Georgian Bay, here’s exactly what has changed—and how to stay informed.
What Has Been Shut Down?
The federal government has officially decommissioned Weatheradio Canada, the network of roughly 230 VHF transmitters operated by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC).
Key Details
- Shutdown Date: March 16, 2026
- Frequencies Affected: 162.400–162.550 MHz, commonly labeled WX1 through WX7 on weather and marine radios
- Reason: High maintenance costs for aging analog infrastructure and the availability of modern digital alternatives such as the WeatherCAN app and Alert Ready
Weatheradio’s familiar 24/7 looping broadcasts are no longer available anywhere in Canada.
Is the Canadian Coast Guard Ending VHF Marine Broadcasts?
No. Marine VHF services remain fully operational.
The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) continues to operate its VHF network, including:
- Channel 16 — the primary emergency and distress channel
- Continuous Marine Broadcast (CMB) — ongoing weather forecasts and navigational warnings
These services are essential for marine safety and are not affected by the Weatheradio shutdown.
Where Do I Get Weather Information on the Water Now?
Although the “WX” channels are gone, the Coast Guard’s Marine Communications and Traffic Services (MCTS) continues to broadcast marine weather on its own VHF channels.
CMB Channels for Georgian Bay
The exact channel you receive depends on your location and the transmitter serving your area.
Common CMB channels used across the Great Lakes region include:
- 21B
- 23B
- 25B
- 26B
- 83B
To ensure accuracy for your specific area, consult the latest MCTS Great Lakes broadcast schedule or your local Coast Guard region.
Summary
If you have a fixed‑mount or handheld marine VHF radio, you’re still well equipped.
The key change is simply this:
- The WX channels are gone
Marine weather is still available—just tune to your local Coast Guard CMB channel instead.
Boaters who previously relied on the one‑button WX feature will now need to manually select the appropriate VHF channel for their region.