Severe thunderstorm watch issued in New Brunswick
CTV Atlantic meteorologist Kalin Mitchell shares the timing and hazards for possible thunderstorms in the Maritimes on Thursday.
CTV Atlantic meteorologist Kalin Mitchell shares the timing and hazards for possible thunderstorms in the Maritimes on Thursday.
A cold front moving over the St. Lawrence River Valley will be colliding with the heat and humidity that has developed over the past few days in New Brunswick. The combination will trigger the development of showers and thunderstorms Thursday afternoon and evening.
Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for much of western and northern New Brunswick. The watch calls for 'conditions that are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms that may be capable of producing strong winds gusts, large hail, and heavy rain.'
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A band of cloud cover and developing thunderstorms ahead of a cold front is moving eastward towards New Brunswick on Thursday.
The criteria for those hazards to be severe includes wind gusts of 90 km/h or greater, hail 2.5 cm in diameter or larger, and a rainfall of 25 mm or more within an hour. As above, a severe thunderstorm watch is issued when there exists the potential for storms with those hazards developing. A severe thunderstorm warning is issued when a storm including those hazards is imminent or occurring.
When a thunderstorm is in the vicinity you should seek shelter inside to wait it out. Lightning is dangerous at any time, annual fatalities as a result of lightning strikes are two to three Canadians a year with injuries to another 80. You should wait 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder before heading back out after a thunderstorm. That is because lightning can strike out from any direction from a thunderstorm including behind it.
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A severe thunderstorm watch was issued for a large areas of New Brunswick shortly after noon on Thursday.
The risk of thunderstorms developing in New Brunswick will be highest Thursday afternoon in northern areas of the province. The risk of further thunderstorms Thursday evening will be in central areas of New Brunswick including around the Fredericton area.
The situation with severe thunderstorms can change quickly. The latest watches and warnings can always be found online.
For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
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