Soaring temperatures and rising humidity continue to affect the Maritimes. New records have been set for some communities, with more possible through Friday. A change is expected on the weekend with temperatures beginning to drop but with showers and a risk of thunderstorms also in the forecast. Record high temperatures While many locations in the Maritimes came within a degree or two of the standing records on Wednesday only a few sites managed to match or break them. St. Stephen, N.B., reached 33.2 breaking the previous record of 32.2 set in 2022 by a full degree. Records at that weather station site date back to 1951. Rogersville, N.B., as well as weather station sites in the eastern Nova Scotia, also reached new record highs. Many record highs in the region for Aug. 6 and 7 are in the low-to-mid 30s. With highs for both days mostly in the low-30s, a few more records may be set. Heat warnings continue in all three Maritime provinces. The alerts caution on daytime highs that could reach 31 to 34 degrees with higher humidex values. Very warm and muggy nights with low temperatures, mostly 17 to 20 degrees. Heat and humidity After a brief reprieve from the muggy air on Tuesday, humidity levels have been steadily climbing. Dew point temperatures, which is a measure of moisture in the air, reached the high teens and low 20s for parts of the region Thursday. When combined with the heat, this level of moisture produces a stifling feeling to the air. Humidex values , or what it feels like when considering both temperature and humidity, reached into the high 30s and even low 40s for some communities. While temperatures are forecast to fall on the weekend, the higher level of humidity will remain. Humidity will ease on Monday and then fall further on Wednesday of next week. Weekend change, risk of thunderstorms The ridge of heat that the Maritimes is under begins to break down on the weekend. At the same time, a trough of low pressure and associated weather front arrives from the west. The combination will produce scattered showers with a risk of thunderstorms on both Saturday and Sunday. The greatest risk of thunderstorms coming in the afternoon and evening for both days. Due to the high level of humidity in the air, if a thunderstorm develops it will have abundant moisture available to fuel rain. As a result, the most likely hazards will be lighting and downpours. Additionally, communities along the Bay of Fundy coastline in New Brunswick and the Atlantic coastline of Nova Scotia should expect more frequent and thicker coastal fog over the weekend, which will be most widespread during the overnight and early morning hours.
