Browse "Disasters/Extreme Weather"

This article was originally published in Maclean’s magazine on April 28, 2003. Partner content is not updated.

An avalanche is a rapid, downslope movement of snow, with varying proportions of ice, water, rock, soil and vegetation.

This article was originally published in Maclean’s magazine on January 11, 1999. Partner content is not updated. It was just past 1:30 a.m. on New Year's Day, and most of the residents of the isolated northern Quebec community of Kangiqsualujjuaq were celebrating in a school gym. People exchanged hugs and warm wishes as they listened to the draw for a $1,000 door prize. Then disaster struck.

Catastrophic accidents or natural disasters may be spectacular or tragic, but they seldom have great historical significance.

Drought is the condition of critically low water supply caused by persistently below-normal precipitation.

The following article is an editorial written by The Canadian Encyclopedia staff. Editorials are not usually updated.

​An earthquake is a vibratory motion generated from the movement of rock along a fault line beneath the Earth’s surface.

The following article is an editorial written by The Canadian Encyclopedia staff. Editorials are not usually updated.

Disastrous fires may result from arson, accident or uncontrolled forest fire. Their impact may include lives lost, people evacuated and property damaged. Numerous fires, especially forest fires, occur in Canada every year; this article details the worst that have occurred throughout the country’s history.

Floods are primarily caused by naturally occurring changes in the height of rivers, lakes and oceans. According to Public Safety Canada, floods are the most common natural hazard in the country and among the costliest. Historic floods have occurred across Canada, with many of the worst happening on major river systems that pass through populated areas. Scientists predict that flooding linked to the impacts of climate change will increase as the 21st century progresses, particularly in coastal areas of the country.

A forest fire is a moving combustion reaction, spreading outwards in a band from its ignition point, leaving burned-out forest behind it. On average, about 6,000 forest fires occur annually in Canada.

At 4:10 AM on 29 April 1903, 74 million tonnes of rock crashed down the east slope of Turtle Mountain in the Crowsnest Pass region of Alberta

The following article is an editorial written by The Canadian Encyclopedia staff. Editorials are not usually updated.

Then, Margaret's son, Allan, urged her to stay with him in Ottawa - but all trains in and out of the two cities were cancelled, and roads closed. Meanwhile, Allan, his wife, Lori, and their three young sons hosted nine neighborhood boys whose own homes were without power.This article was originally published in Maclean's Magazine on January 19, 1998

Historic Rockslides in Canada Site Date Volume m³ Damage Rubble Creek, BC 1855? 25...