[4] He was then hired by the Meteorological Branch of Transport Canada to conduct research on the Great Lakes in Toronto.

[5] The work involved using climatological data to answer questions about climatic records: farmers asking for frost-free seasons or temperature trends, urban planners assessing the location for an airport or about the climatology of the wind for tall-buildings and more general public queries.

[8] As of 2015, Phillips continues to make frequent appearances on national radio and television as a commentator on weather and climate matters.

[4] Phillips has authored several books, The Climates Of Canada and two bestsellers The Day Niagara Falls Ran Dry and Blame It On The Weather.

Among his work is the Climatic Severity Index, a ranking of 150 locations in Canada for their most extreme weather.