When rain and showers are expected this weekend in the Maritimes

CTV meteorologist Kalin Mitchell goes over the risk of thunderstorms on Friday and what to expect for weekend weather.

Periods of wet weather are expected in the Maritimes this weekend as a weather front moves in from the west while a low-pressure system approaches from the south.

Friday showers

The cold front that triggered severe thunderstorms in New Brunswick on Thursday – including some strong enough to cause wind damage around the Woodstock area – continues to move east of the Atlantic coastline of Nova Scotia Friday evening.

As the front continues to move through, some further isolated showers are expected in western areas of Nova Scotia. A risk of thunderstorms will continue to accompany any showers that are moving through. The risk of thunderstorms is greatest up until around midnight.

Another round of showers with a low risk of thunderstorms will arrive in southwestern New Brunswick late evening. Those showers will turn to periods of rain for that province for Saturday.

Other parts of the Maritimes Friday night can expect increasing cloudiness, patchy fog and drizzle, and mild temperatures.

Saturday rain and showers

There will be lulls, or breaks in the wet weather in New Brunswick, but also a risk of brief downpours. The final round of rain is expected to move through Saturday evening. Rain totals for New Brunswick are generally 10-to-20 mm with pockets as high as 20-to-40 mm. Northern communities in the province could finish with rain amounts less than 10 mm as the weather looks to be more showery there on Saturday.

Nova Scotia will be mostly cloudy with isolated showers during the day on Saturday. The highest chance of showers during the day will be for the Annapolis Valley, Cumberland/Colchester counties, the North Shore, and Cape Breton.

A low-pressure system moving up along the eastern U.S. seaboard will develop rain for that province Saturday evening and night. The rain will be accompanied by a risk of downpours. The rain is expected to clear mainland Nova Scotia by near sunrise on Sunday and clear Cape Breton through Sunday morning. Rain totals of 10-to-30 mm for Nova Scotia with pockets of 30-to-50 mm possible where downpours occur.

Prince Edward Island can expect a few rounds of showers to pass through during the day on Saturday. There is a risk of brief downpours with the showers. A chance of showers Saturday evening turns to rain by midnight. The rain expected to clear early Sunday morning. Prince Edward Island can expect rain amounts of 10-to-30 mm with pockets of 30-to-40 mm in the event of a downpour.

Sunday afternoon blustery but fair

Looking for the fairest stretch of weather this weekend? It will likely be Sunday for the Maritimes.

There will be some rain to clear Prince Edward Island and eastern areas of Nova Scotia early in the morning. It will clear to become mostly sunny or at least a fair weather mix of sun and cloud for the afternoon. Wind will be blustery, out of the north with gusts of 30-to-50 km/h except gusts 50-to-70 km/h for Cape Breton.

Afternoon temperatures will be pleasant. Daytime highs will be in the low-to-mid 20s except mid-to-high teens for parts of Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton.