Thunderstorm alerts in effect for province
Extreme weather warnings, watches issued for most areas of New Brunswick at 6 p.m. Friday
Just about all areas of New Brunswick are under thunderstorm watch and warning alerts for Friday evening, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada’s weather service.
The federal weather service issued the warnings and watch alerts at about 6 p.m. Friday, affecting just about every region of the province.
“At 5:59 p.m. ADT, Environment Canada meteorologists are tracking a severe thunderstorm capable of producing strong wind gusts and heavy rain,” they said.
The Fredericton region is under a severe thunderstorm warning, which is issued when an imminent or existing thunderstorm is likely to give rise to large hail, damaging winds and/or torrential rainfall.
The warning is calling for 25 to 35 millimetres of rain every hour, with wind gusting up to 80 kilometres per hour for the capital region, the warning stated.
“Locations in the path [of the storm] include McAdam, Lawrence Station, Thomaston Corner, Brockway,” the Fredericton warning said.
The weather system is expected to affect the area until later Friday evening, it said.
“A line of severe thunderstorms located 10 km west of McAdam is moving east-northeast at 50 km/hour,” the warning said. “Torrential downpours, and strong wind gusts are expected to accompany these thunderstorms.”
The warning advised that heavy rains could cause flash flooding and water pooling on roads and streets.
“Strong wind gusts can toss loose objects, damage weak buildings, break branches off trees and overturn large vehicles,” it said.
It also warned about the dangers of lightning strikes and advised people to remain inside during the storm.
Northern, central and western areas of New Brunswick are under a severe thunderstorm watch, which means atmospheric conditions are favourable to the development of thunderstorms.
“A cold front moving across the province is bringing the threat of severe thunderstorms into this evening,” the watch alert said.
“Severe thunderstorms have developed in western New Brunswick and are forecast to move east into central and eastern New Brunswick as the evening progresses. The main threats with these storms will be locally heavy downpours, very strong wind gusts and pea-sized hail.”
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