Maritimes weather breaks several heat records as provinces bake
It's certainly a cooker for many parts of the Maritimes today.
As of 2 p.m., the hottest spots in the region were Collegeville, N.S., at 29.7, Stanhope, P.E.I., at 27.2, and Kouchibouguac, N.B., at 32.2 degrees — which was also the hottest spot in Canada.
Temperatures will continue to climb this afternoon and high temperature records will fall as they do so. Locations that have already broken records include:
- Sydney, N.S., with 29 degrees breaking 27.2 set back in 1944
- Tracadie, N.S., with 28 degrees breaking 25.9 set back in 2011
- Maple Plains, P.E.I., with 26 degrees breaking 17.4 set back in 2006
- Summerside, P.E.I., with 24 degrees breaking 23.7 set back in 2001
- Kouchibouguac, N.B., with 32 degrees breaking 28.7 set back in 2001
- Miramichi, N.B., with 27 degrees breaking 24.0 set back in 2000
Cooler areas in the region include the Bay of Fundy coastline in New Brunswick and on the Atlantic coastline of Nova Scotia where onshore winds are keeping temperatures in the mid to high teens.
Risk of thunderstorms
The increased heat and humidity can be fuel for thunderstorms under the right conditions.
A line of thunderstorms currently developing in southern Quebec is expected to track through Maine and arrive in northern parts of New Brunswick this evening.
While the storms will lose energy as the sun begins to set, they could feature frequent lightning, heavy downpours, and strong wind gusts.
Those who experience a thunderstorm in their vicinity this evening should take shelter inside.
A trough of low pressure will bring further scattered showers and a risk of thunderstorms to New Brunswick again on Thursday.
Showers
The trough of low pressure for New Brunswick on Thursday will also trigger some showers in P.E.I. and Nova Scotia late in the day. In fact, for both of those provinces, spotty or scattered showers look to hold off until the evening.
While the greatest risk of lightning will be in New Brunswick tomorrow, an isolated thundershower for Nova Scotia and P.E.I. can't be ruled out.
Aside from the showers, Thursday will feature high temperatures in the mid to high 20s for most of the Maritimes with cooler conditions on the coast in onshore southwest winds.
