Peter Coade Death and Obituary – Peter Coade, a beloved Nova Scotia meteorologist known for his warm presence on television and radio for over five decades, passed away at the age of 82 on the morning of Saturday, May 3, 2025. Coade had been battling dementia for some time and had been hospitalized at the Hants Community Hospital since November, according to his son. Despite his declining health, his legacy as a trusted weather forecaster and a calming, down-to-earth figure remains etched in the hearts of Maritimers.
Coade’s career began in the late 1960s, and it was an unexpected path that would define his life. As a Grade 11 student at St. Patrick’s High School in Halifax, Coade stumbled into meteorology when he decided to job-shadow a CBC meteorologist simply to avoid school. What began as a day off soon transformed into a lifelong passion for weather forecasting. Coade’s natural ability to connect with people through his voice and informative demeanor led him to a celebrated career in broadcasting, where he would become a household name for millions of Canadians.
In the early years of his career, Coade worked in radio in various locations, including Happy Valley-Goose Bay in Labrador, where he served as a weather presenter for an audience of U.S. Air Force personnel. His early forays into broadcasting would eventually lead him to work for CBC, CFRB in Toronto, and the Canadian International Air Show. His career reached new heights when he joined ATV and ASN in 1990 before returning to CBC in 2007.
It was during his time with CBC that Coade became synonymous with weather in the Maritimes. His calm, approachable voice brought comfort and guidance to viewers, particularly during volatile weather events. Coade’s expertise and knowledge were invaluable when it came to predicting severe weather conditions that affected the region. His retirement in 2016 marked the end of an era, with Coade holding the Guinness World Record for the longest career as a weather forecaster at the time.
Among the most memorable weather events Coade covered was Hurricane Juan in 2003. With winds exceeding 145 km/h and widespread power outages affecting over 300,000 homes, the storm left a lasting impact on the region. Coade’s warning about the storm’s trajectory proved to be crucial, as the hurricane took an unusual path, coming directly south of Halifax. U.S. forecasters had failed to predict the storm’s course, but Coade’s local expertise and timely predictions helped save lives and minimize damage.
Just months later, Coade was again called upon to predict one of the largest snowstorms in Nova Scotia’s history, known as White Juan. The storm dumped nearly a meter of snow on the region, but Coade, ever the professional, humorously admitted a small oversight: he had neglected to bring a change of underwear, knowing he would be stuck in the city for a few days.
Coade’s dedication to his craft and his community were clear to those who worked with him. CBC anchor Tom Murphy paid tribute to Coade, stating, “He was that calming, informative voice to help us cope on the eve of a hurricane or pick a sunny day at the beach. The audience repaid him with their respect. Above all, he was a tremendous colleague we all miss.”
In his later years, Coade found joy in spending time with his family—his son, daughter, four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Though he officially retired in 2016, his impact as a meteorologist and as a trusted figure in the Maritimes endures.
Peter Coade’s legacy is not only one of professional achievement but also one of personal warmth. His passing marks the end of an era in maritime broadcasting, and his influence on generations of viewers will never be forgotten.
