Slim pickings for rain in the Maritimes as water restrictions begin to mount

CTV Meteorologist Kalin Mitchell is tracking a weather front that will lower temperatures in the Maritimes but also brings a risk of thunderstorms.

July is set to close as a very dry month across the majority of the Maritimes. The lack of rain and extended stretches of hot weather have triggered some water restrictions. What precipitation is in the forecast over the next several days will mostly come in the form of scattered showers and thunderstorms which will be very hit and miss with needed rain.

Dry July update

Unfortunately, the month of July is set to close with some fairly significant rainfall deficits in the region.

While downpours associated with localized thunderstorms did boost some site-specific rainfall totals, as an example, Fredericton, that type of rain was far from widespread. In fact, the month was characterized by a lack of any longer duration soaking rainfall. Much of the precipitation received came in the form of quickly passing showers and thunderstorms.

Parts of southern New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, central and eastern Nova Scotia are set to finish the month as particularly dry. Water conservation measures have come into effect for some areas and communities.

Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada had parts of the Maritimes listed as abnormally dry or in moderate drought at the end of June. The situation is likely to have worsened for some areas through July.

Heat breaks

Heat warnings remain posted for much of Nova Scotia on Wednesday. The warnings call for humidex values making it feel 34 to 36 in the peak heat of the day.

A cold front moving into the region from the St. Lawrence River Valley will lower temperature and humidity levels for the end of the week and weekend.

Scattered showers developing ahead of the front are moving across New Brunswick Wednesday afternoon. A risk of thunderstorms will accompany the showers mid-afternoon through Wednesday evening. During that time, the showers and risk of thunderstorms will move further south in New Brunswick, towards Prince Edward Island, and northern Nova Scotia. There is a chance of further isolated showers Wednesday night into early Thursday morning for the remainder of Nova Scotia.

Unless a thunderstorm happens to move directly over your communities, spotty rainfall amounts of only a few to several millimetres can be expected from the showers.

Further rain chances

The next chance of wet weather comes Thursday night into Friday morning when a passing offshore low-pressure system could brush parts of Atlantic coastal Nova Scotia with showers.

A low chance of showers follows for Sunday as a trough of low pressure moves in from the west. Following that, guidance from long range computer weather models suggests a chance of showers for Wednesday of next week.

None of those system looks particularly promising at this time for a widespread soaking rain. They look more likely to produce the type of sporadic showers and thunderstorms we’ve had as of late.

The seasonal forecast issued by Environment Canada that covers the period of July through September has the Maritimes with above average temperatures and below average precipitation expected.