Smoke, heat and risk of thunderstorms in the Maritimes

CTV Atlantic meteorologist Kalin Mitchell has details on Thursday's heat and a risk of thunderstorms for parts of New Brunswick.

As sunny and hotter June weather extends through the middle of the week, a risk of thunderstorms develops for parts of New Brunswick Thursday.

Haze in the sky

There is a very thin haze of wildfire smoke present high aloft of the Maritimes on Wednesday.

It is high enough to not impact air quality. There is a chance that during the night some of the smoke may start to mix down closer to the surface, especially in northern New Brunswick. I would still rate the risk of any impact to air quality as low. The presence of the smoke can produce sunsets with more orange and red hues.

The thin haze of smoke may continue to be present over parts of the region on Thursday.

Heating up

Temperatures stepped up across the Maritimes on Wednesday as a high-pressure ridge moved more directly into place.

High temperatures on Wednesday are expected to reach the mid-to-high 20s across much of the region with some communities in northern New Brunswick approaching the low 30s. Temperatures are more moderate on the Bay of Fundy coastline of New Brunswick and direct Atlantic coastal areas of Nova Scotia. Those locations are more exposed to the southwest wind coming in off cooler ocean waters.

It will be a warmer-to-milder Wednesday night with most low temperatures not expected to fall below the high-single digits and low-teens.

Similar hot weather is expected on Thursday. Spotty showers on Friday may cool parts of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. A more widespread cooling of temperatures is expected on the weekend for the Maritimes.

Risk of Thursday thunderstorms

The building heat and humidity will increase the energy available for thunderstorms to develop across western and northern areas of New Brunswick tomorrow.

A weak cold front moving in from the west will act as a trigger for the thunderstorms. The period of greatest risk extends from early afternoon through mid-evening, the hours of about 2 p.m. through 9 p.m. Any ongoing thunderstorms should be in the process of weaking 9 p.m. to midnight.

Aside from lightning, which is dangerous anytime, hazards with the thunderstorms could include locally strong wind gusts, brief downpours, and small hail. When thunder roars head indoors, wait 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder to head back outside. Environment Canada host a resource to keep track of lightning danger here.

The presence of wildfire smoke can sometimes inhibit the development of thunderstorms as, if it is thick enough, it can reduce daytime heating from the sun. Any remaining smoke above the Maritimes on Thursday is expected to be faint enough to not factor into the risk of thunderstorms.