Province under severe thunderstorm watch
New Brunswick under advisory Sunday, warns Environment & Climate Change Canada
The federal weather service issued severe thunderstorm watches for most regions of New Brunswick on Sunday afternoon, but the situation is expected to clear up ahead of Canada Day celebrations.
“Conditions are favourable for the development of dangerous thunderstorms that may be capable of producing damaging wind gusts and large hail,” Environment and Climate Change Canada’s weather service said in an advisory issued at about 4 p.m. Sunday.
“Severe thunderstorm watches are issued when atmospheric conditions are favourable for the development of thunderstorms that could produce one or more of the following: large hail, damaging winds, torrential rainfall.”
It said winds could reach up to 90 kilometres per hour or more during thunderstorms, with potential rainfall amounts of 25 millimetres per hour or more.
The weather service also advised that storms could give rise to hail as big as one to two centimetres in diameter.
“Very strong wind gusts can damage buildings, down trees and blow large vehicles off the road. Intense lightning is likely with any thunderstorm that develops,” the thunderstorm watch said.
The watch is expected to be in effect from Sunday afternoon and into the evening, the advisory said.
Environment and Climate Change Canada meteorologists predict the stormy weather will end Sunday night, giving way to sunny skies Monday, just in time for Canada Day holiday celebrations.
The daytime high in Fredericton is expected to be 25 C, with a humidex of 30 C.
The Fredericton Independent can be reached at ftonindependent@gmail.com.