Severe weather aiming for Eastern Canada

Wednesday, July 17, 2013, 10:40 AM -

With Monday’s tornado outbreak in Saskatchewan, this week has already been an active one.
And unfortunately, this week of severe weather in Canada is only getting started. And now, it’s headed for Eastern Canada.

HOT, HOT, HOT

Before any potential storms can fire up in Eastern Canada, fuel is required to set the stage. And that fuel is already here.

Hot and humid temperatures are in full swing across much of Eastern Canada, with temperatures soaring over the 30-degree mark, and humidex values into the 40s.

Newfoundland was particularly hot on Monday, where temperatures climbed to within a degree of all-time records. St. John’s International Airport hit 31.2C on Monday, the 2nd highest temperature ever recorded in the airport’s recorded history.

Temperatures are even hotter in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes. Many cities are on track to reach official heat wave status – defined as at least three consecutive days of 32C or warmer – and Humidex values are well into the 40s for many regions.

These hot and humid conditions will be ending by the weekend, as a cold front sweeps across the eastern half of the country. But this muggy air mass won’t be easy to get rid of. And it’s going to put up a fight.

SEVERE WEATHER

That fight: Several rounds of severe thunderstorms, and plenty of them each day.

Many areas will see storms as early as Wednesday in Eastern Canada, with some seeing unstable conditions last into the start of the weekend.

MAP: Eastern Canada’s severe weather risk for Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Here’s the breakdown, day-by-day:

• WEDNESDAY: Northeastern Ontario, Ottawa/Montreal, Southern Quebec, New Brunswick
• THURSDAY: Southern Manitoba, Northern & Central Ontario, Eastern Ontario
• FRIDAY: Southern Ontario & Southern Quebec, New Brunswick
• SATURDAY: 401 Corridor & south, Ottawa/Montreal, S. New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

But don’t just take my word for it.

The U.S. Storm Prediction Center is arguably the cream of the crop in forecasting severe weather. The agency has forecast severe weather areas for the southern Great Lakes region and Northeast U.S. for Friday and Saturday respectively, heavily implying a severe weather risk extending into Canada.

MAP: U.S. Storm Prediction Center’s severe weather outlook, issued on Monday. Forecast areas are for Day 4 (Friday) and Day 5 (Saturday) [courtesy: NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center]

If you’re planning on being outdoors later this week, be sure to check the forecast before heading out. Particularly, look out for severe thunderstorm watches issued by Environment Canada. Government issued watches & warnings are the most official heads up available to the Canadian public, when dealing with weather that has the potential to threaten life or property.

Whether you are at risk of severe weather this week or not, don’t let the weather stop you from enjoying the summer. Put on that sunscreen, get outdoors and enjoy. Stay safe everyone.