Peter Coade Death and Obituary – Peter Coade, a beloved and long-serving meteorologist who became a trusted voice for Maritimers for over five decades, passed away on Saturday at the age of 82. Known for his warm voice and steadfast dedication to keeping people informed about the weather, Coade was a fixture in homes across Nova Scotia and beyond. His son confirmed that Coade had been suffering from dementia and was hospitalized at Hants Community Hospital since November.
Coade’s remarkable career in meteorology spanned more than 50 years. At the time of his retirement from CBC in 2016, he held the Guinness World Record for the longest career as a weather forecaster. His passion for weather was more than professional—it was personal. “It’s one of the most important elements we live by,” Coade said at the time of his retirement. “It dictates our food supply, it dictates how we live, how we work.”
Known for his calm demeanor, Coade played a vital role in helping communities navigate some of the most significant weather events in recent memory. He was especially remembered for his coverage of Hurricane Juan in 2003, which brought devastating winds of over 145 km/h to Nova Scotia, leaving widespread destruction and two fatalities in its wake. Coade noted that many Maritimers were caught off guard because they relied on U.S. forecasts, which didn’t predict the storm’s unusual path.
Only months later, Coade was again on the frontlines, guiding viewers through the record-breaking snowstorm dubbed “White Juan.” Despite accurately forecasting the storm, Coade humorously recalled forgetting to pack extra clothes, leaving him stranded in the city unprepared for the days he’d spend snowed in.
Peter Coade’s path into meteorology was almost accidental. As a Grade 11 student at St. Patrick’s High School in Halifax, he volunteered to job-shadow a meteorologist at CBC—not out of interest in the field, but as a way to get a day off school. That fateful decision led him to a lifelong career in broadcasting. In his early days, he worked in Happy Valley-Goose Bay during the 1960s, broadcasting to U.S. military families, before moving on to Toronto’s CFRB and becoming the meteorologist for the Canadian International Air Show.
Coade’s career saw him return to Atlantic Canada in 1990 to work with ATV and ASN, and later back to CBC in 2007. He remained a trusted source of information until his retirement. Even in his later years, he was fondly remembered as a man who combined scientific precision with a human touch.
Peter Coade leaves behind a loving family, including his son, daughter, four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. As CBC anchor Tom Murphy said, “His name is synonymous with weather.” Coade’s legacy is one of dedication, trust, and warmth—qualities that endeared him to generations of Maritimers.
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