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When severe weather strikes, who can you call? No one in Saskatchewan.


Warning Preparedness Meteorologists are the people who alert the media and the public about severe weather, where it's moving and what to watch out for. During the severe summer storm season it's a job that's incredibly important, especially here in Saskatchewan with some of the sudden and unstable systems we encounter.


Right now, Saskatchewan doesn't have a Warning Preparedness Meteorologist. Bob Cormier retired this past spring and Environment Canada claims its committed to filling the position as soon as possible. While that may be the case, we've learned it could be the fall before a new person is hired so we could go the entire storm season without a WPM in Saskatchewan.


In the meantime we'll have to rely on out-of-province WPM's for severe storm information relating to Saskatchewan, Something Environment Canada's Pat McCarthy says shouldn't be a problem because their staff is well trained and capable of tracking storms in other provinces.


While Environment Canada doesn't think there's a problem with someone from out of province issuing storm warnings and watches, the provincial NDP says it can cause some problems because of how spread out Saskatchewan is.


Public Safety Critic Kim Trew says even people from Saskatchewan need to turn to a map from time to time.


"If we have a Warning Preparedness Officer from out of Saskatchewan, are they even going to have a clue where Floral or Belle Plaine or Tux ford are never mind McKim, Callaly or King George. They wont know where they're talking about."


Trew says the NDP are asking the Saskatchewan Party's Public Safety Minister to look into the situation. It is a federal issue but Trew says they can still put some pressure on federal representatives.


We did contact Public Safety Critic Yogi Huyghebaert to get his thoughts on the situation but he wasn't to concerned.


"To me its very much a non-issues. Sure, I would like to have a meteorologist in every place and every airport but the practical aspects are not there. A forecast is a forecast."


We turned to Ottawa to get some answers. Palliser Member of Parliament Ray Boughen agreed the situation was one that raised some concerns. He was quick to say his office will look into the situation and push for the position to be filled as soon as possible.


"For any kind of weather forecasting you need those people in place. I don't believe that Winnipeg or Calgary are in a position to forecast weather for Saskatchewan, especially in terms of things that happen quickly such as thunderstorms and other stressfully situations."


Environment Canada re-assures us, their staff is well trained to handle the situation and they are working hard on getting a new Warning Preparedness Meteorologist for Saskatchewan.