Maritime provinces at risk for severe thunderstorms Tuesday

A combination of heat, humidity, and wind has conditions primed for severe thunderstorms in parts of the Maritimes Tuesday.

A cold front approaching the west will lift energy built up in the form of warm, humid air near the surface. As that air rises it will tower into clouds and thunderstorms. A jet of stronger winds crossing the thunderstorms could then give them some rotation. A rotating thunderstorm is more likely to be severe and is more likely to produce a tornado. It is important to note that not all rotating thunderstorms will produce a tornado.

Just like with any severe thunderstorms, the Maritimes could experience other impactful hazards such as downpours, hail one-to-two centimetres in diameter, and wind gusts near 90 km/h.

The highest chance of severe thunderstorms Tuesday is in New Brunswick in the afternoon and evening. A moderate risk for Prince Edward Island Tuesday evening and a low risk for Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia Tuesday night. The highest chance of thunderstorms Wednesday shifts east into Nova Scotia with the front.

While a blanket risk of thunderstorms can be forecast days in advance, the hit-and-miss nature of the storms makes them a day-of matter for knowing the exact areas or communities that could be threatened. To that end, it is important to have a way to monitor for any watches or warnings issued. You can do that directly at weather.gc.ca or on various weather apps. An app that will give you a push notification is especially useful as the situation with thunderstorms can change very quickly.