More weather warnings for Fredericton area
Severe thunderstorm watch in capital Wednesday evening; heat alert extends into Thursday
As a heat warning for the entire province extended into Thursday, the federal weather service also issued another severe thunderstorm watch for the capital region Wednesday evening.
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s weather service issued a severe thunderstorm watch shortly after 6 p.m. Wednesday for Fredericton and southern York County, Oromocto and Sunbury County, and St. Stephen and northern Charlotte County.
“Conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms that may be capable of producing strong wind gusts and heavy rain,” the alert stated.
“A cluster of thunderstorms approaching from Maine have the potential to become severe.”
Such severe thunderstorm watches are issued when conditions converge in a way that could produce large hail, damaging winds, heavy rainfall and lightning.
Environment and Climate Change Canada advised the system has the potential to bring rain at the rate of 25 millimetres per hour or more, and wind gusts of 70 to 90 kilometres per hour.
The storm watch is in effect until late Wednesday evening, the severe thunderstorm watch said.
Furthermore, the federal weather service, in an updated alert early Wednesday, noted the heat warning that’s been in effect for all of New Brunswick except the Fundy Coast since Friday and was predicted to end Wednesday is now possibly going to continue a day longer than expected.
“A combination of very high temperatures and elevated humidity continue to affect the region,” the heat warning said.
“The warmest conditions are expected to occur [Wednesday] in areas stretching from Woodstock to Sussex, when humidex values could reach 40 C in the afternoon.”
The heat warning will likely remain in effect Thursday, the weather service said in the latest advisory.
“Temperatures will turn cooler over all areas on Friday,” the advisory said.
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