Stormy skies, soaking rains blanket Atlantic Canada into Saturday
The week will end on a familiar note in Atlantic Canada as a moisture-laden system pushes heavy rain across the region
The same system that brought flooding rains to eastern Ontario and southern Quebec on Thursday will set its sights on Atlantic Canada to end the week. Heavy thunderstorms are likely to sweep over the Maritimes on Friday before swinging into Newfoundland through Saturday.
Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall that may lead to localized flooding. This is unwelcome news for much of the region. After weeks of heavy and often historic rains, the Maritimes are more in need of a long spell of sunshine than just about anywhere in this hemisphere.
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Friday
Areas: The Maritimes
Timing: Through the day Friday
Weather: Get ready for a soggy day across much of the Maritimes as several rounds of rain and thunderstorms are expected throughout the region.
We’ll see widespread rain arrive in the Maritimes early Friday and continue through the afternoon for much of the region. This incoming round of soaking rains will fall on already saturated ground, raising the risk of ponding and localized flooding.
Once this initial batch of rain clears in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, we’ll see a developing potential for isolated thunderstorms. Any stronger storms run the risk of producing heavy rainfall, strong wind gusts, and small hail.
Forecasters expect rainfall totals of 20-50 mm across the Maritimes, with heavier totals possible where thunderstorms develop.
Friday’s rain could lead to ponding and localized flooding in some areas, especially where the ground remains saturated from recent rains. We’ve seen multiple rounds of downright tropical rain in the region this summer. Halifax has seen nearly 480 mm of rain since June 1—a stunning total that’s about 178 per cent of normal for an entire summer.
Friday night into Saturday
Areas: Newfoundland
Timing: Overnight Friday into Saturday morning
Weather: The system bringing heavy rain to the Maritimes will march across the Gulf through the overnight hours Friday into early Saturday morning.
Heavy rain will wash into Newfoundland from south to north overnight, with rumbles of thunder potentially lulling night owls to sleep while jostling early risers awake a bit earlier than normal This precipitation will eventually reach the Avalon by early Saturday morning.
Some of the storms up north around Gander, Badger, and Grand Falls-Windsor could approach severe limits. These storms could produce strong wind gusts, small hail, and heavy rainfall. Stay alert for warnings in the region on Saturday.
Folks across much of Newfoundland are likely to pick up about 20-30 mm of rain through Saturday, with higher totals along the southern coast and beneath thunderstorms. The Avalon is on track to see about 10-20 mm in the gauges by the time the system winds down Saturday.
Header image courtesy of Getty Images.
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