Haze of wildfire smoke hangs over Maritimes; sunnier and hotter weather ahead this week

Chief meteorologist Kalin Mitchell shares the Maritime weather forecast for June 2.

A haze of smoke from the wildfires in Saskatchewan and Manitoba is currently hanging above the Maritimes. A high-pressure area develops by mid-week and gives the Maritimes some sunnier and warmer days for early June.

Wildfire smoke

It’s too faint and high in the atmosphere to impact air quality but smoke from the Prairie wildfires arrived on Sunday, trailing behind the weekend low pressure system that gave the Maritimes a rainy Saturday.

This current plume of smoke is expected to clear east of the Maritimes tonight. Further wildfire smoke is likely to arrive from the west Tuesday night and Wednesday of this week.

Parts of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Northern Ontario will likely remain under Air Quality Statements and Air Quality Warnings this week. There is little rain in the forecast for the areas where the larger fires are burning.

Extreme fire danger ratings continue for parts of northeastern B.C., the Northwest Territories, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and northern Ontario.

High pressure and sunshine for the Maritimes

High pressure is forecast to build along the U.S. eastern seaboard and over the Maritimes Tuesday into Wednesday.

The high pressure will produce sunnier days and temperatures will rise for the Maritimes. Wednesday through Friday will be the hottest stretch of the week with widespread high temperatures in the mid-to-high 20’s and some near 30.

High pressure is forecast to build along the U.S. eastern seaboard and over the Maritimes Tuesday into Wednesday.

The high pressure will produce sunnier days and temperatures will rise for the Maritimes. Wednesday through Friday will be the hottest stretch of the week with widespread high temperatures in the mid-to-high 20’s and some near 30.

A weak weather front from the west will bring scattered showers with a risk of thunderstorms to New Brunswick on Thursday. Scattered showers for both Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island are expected Thursday night into Friday morning.

Be sure to monitor provincial and municipal fire restrictions this week. Sunnier, drier days can quickly elevate the fire danger rating.

Another soggy Saturday looks likely

While we certainly want some rain in June it would be nice if it fell on another day of the week instead of Saturday or Sunday for a change.

Alas, long range guidance projects a slow-moving area of low pressure moving out of the northeastern US and into the Maritimes on Saturday.

The low pressure will bring cloudy conditions accompanied by periods of rain and showers on Saturday. As a result, temperatures will cool on Saturday after the Wednesday through Friday stretch.

The wet weather is good for rivers, streams, agriculture and reduces fire risk.