Morning Briefing: Four things to know about Sunday

Sunday, June 29, 2014, 7:47 AM - Searing heat, blistering humidity, torrential downpours and thunderstorms are all on the menu across Canada Sunday.

Here's what your region is in for.

Atlantic Canada

Reaching a high of almost 16C on Saturday, Newfoundland's capital St. John's was very much a temperature outlier in a region where rising heat and humidity was the norm. 

In fact, Canada's national hot spot yesterday was actually in Labrador, and region-wide, a repeat performance is in store for Sunday.

"It's a beautiful sunny and hot day in the Maritimes with temperatures well above seasonal and lots of humidity as well," Weather Network meteorologist Monica Vaswani said Sunday morning. "Similar conditions in Newfoundland except that the southern tip of the avalon is cooler and has the potential to see some brief showers this afternoon and early evening."

Similar conditions are expected in the Maritimes and in Newfoundland, even the Avalon will have warmed up, although there will be a risk of showers in western Newfoundland and through central parts of the province from a passing cold front.

Canada Day is looking hot and humid, with mainly sunny conditions, though with a slight risk of brief showers or thunderstorms in central Newfoundland.

Ontario & Quebec

Central Canada is baking. It's hot and humid throughout both Ontario and Quebec for yet another day.

As of Sunday morning, there were actually heat warnings in effect for areas along the Hudson Bay coast of both provinces.

In eastern Ontario, a special weather statement was warning of heat and humidity, and that part of the south, along with the Windsor area, are at the greatest risk of severe thunderstorms on Sunday.

In fact, the risk of thunderstorms is widespread across the south, but it is in the northwest where the storms could be most severe.

"The threats there are heavy rain as well as large hail and damaging winds," Vaswani warns.

On Monday, the threat of thunderstorms persists in Ontario, with strong storms likely in the Nickel Belt. 

"On Canada Day, the largest risk of severe weather in southern Ontario may occur due to a passing cold front," Vaswani says. "Thunderstorm risk in Quebec starts early Monday and continues through the afternoon."

Prairies

The rain isn't letting up in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, with rainfall warnings still in effect for much of the region.

"Additional amounts could be as high as 100 mm and some regions have already seen amounts surpassing this since Friday," Vaswani says.

The Manitoba government has issued flood watches and warnings for all or parts of the Assiniboine and Winnipeg rivers, as well as high water advisories along all points of the Red and Saskatchewan rivers.

Flood watches are in place for Lake Manitoba, and states of local emergencies are in effect in several communities.

In Alberta, scattered showers and thunderstorms could persist on Sunday.

"Conditions improve in Alberta Monday, however rain continues in Saskatchewan and Manitoba through Tuesday morning," Vaswani says.

As for Canada Day, the Prairies should mostly have cleared out, but it will be cool in Manitoba.

British Columbia

In Canada's Pacific province, showers and thunderstorms are expected in the interior Sunday, with isolated showers on the coast.

For Monday, conditions will be dryer and temperatures will be warmer.

Canada Day is also looking dry, with slightly humid air in place.

With files from Monica Vaswani.

LIGHTNING FROM SPACE! Astronaut Reid Wiseman shot a thunderstorm from the International Space Station! See it below.