Weather warnings issued in Cape Breton, P.E.I as storm set to charge past Atlantic coastline

CTV meteorologist Kalin Mitchell is tracking two weather systems that will merge to bring a round of rainy, windy weather to the Maritimes.

A low-pressure system moving up the eastern seaboard of the U.S. will combine with a weather front moving out of Quebec to produce a powerful coastal storm on Tuesday.

Eastern parts of the Maritimes will catch the most inclement weather conditions with a larger impact expected in Newfoundland.

Maritime weather alerts

Rain and wind warnings were issued for parts of eastern Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island on Monday afternoon by Environment Canada.

The rainfall warning is for Cape Breton and Richmond Counties and calls for 50 to 80 millimetres of rain on Tuesday.

Periods of heavy rain will reduce visibility and produce a risk of hydroplaning conditions on roads. The higher rain totals give a risk of localized flooding, particularly if drainage systems are blocked by fall debris.

A wind warning is in effect for Kings County, P.E.I., and Inverness County, N.S. Strengthening northwest will peak with gusts of 70 to 90 km/h for those areas Tuesday night.

Special weather statements remain in place for the entirety of Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton, as well as Pictou, Antigonish and Guysborough Counties in mainland Nova Scotia. The statements call for potential rain amounts of 30 to 50 millimetres and gusts that could reach 70 to 90 km/h on Tuesday.

As the rain initially develops Monday night and Tuesday morning for the Maritimes the wind isn’t particularly strong. As the storm passes by the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia it is forecast to rapidly strengthen. As it does so the northwest wind for the Maritimes will strengthen quickly by early Tuesday afternoon. The entire region should expect northwest gusts of 40 to 70 km/h on Tuesday afternoon into the night. Stronger gusts for those areas under the wind warning as noted above.

Impact on Newfoundland

After the storm rapidly strengthens off the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia it barrels into the southern coastline of Newfoundland on Tuesday evening.

Eastern areas of Newfoundland including the Burin, Bonavista and Avalon Peninsulas are expected to be impacted by southerly gusts reaching 80 to 100 km/h on Tuesday afternoon and evening.

The wind then becoming northwest Tuesday night with further gusts of 80 km/h, expect up to 100 km/h on exposed areas of the coast. The southern Avalon Peninsula is under a coastal flooding statement as wave heights could reach 6 to 9 metres before breaking upon approach to shore. The risk of coastal flooding increases Tuesday afternoon until Wednesday morning.

Rain is forecast to be particularly heavy on the southern coastline with the area from Channel-Port aux Basques to the Burin Peninsula under a rainfall warning that calls for totals of 50 or more millimetres.

A special weather statement for central and western Newfoundland cautions on rain totals of 30 to 40 millimetres, up to 5 centimetres of snow at higher terrain, and northerly gusts reaching 80 km/h.

Stormy conditions will develop on the Labrador coastline Tuesday night and extend through mid-week. The area under a special weather statement that advises on rain that could reach up to 50 millimetres, a possible 15 centimetres of inland snow, gusts that could reach up to 100 km/h, and a risk of coastal flooding.

Marine Atlantic has advised on multiple sailing cancellations and delays due to the passage of the storm.

A wetter weather pattern

After months of persistent high-pressure systems directing rain around the Maritimes, the long range pattern seems to have finally flipped to favour successive rounds of wet weather.

Following the rain and wind on Tuesday will be the arrival of a quick moving low-pressure system from the Great Lakes Wednesday night and Thursday. That weather system is forecast to bring rainy and gusty conditions to both Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. New Brunswick may end up on the northern edge of that system catching a mix of showers and flurries.

On the weekend, an Alberta clipper will strengthen and make a pass through northern Quebec. The system will push a weather front across the Maritimes Saturday with further rain and showers expected with it. After that long range computer guidance indicates that a Colorado low may move into the Maritimes on Monday bringing rainy and windy weather.

The rapid succession of rainy weather systems will allow for some needed recovery from the months long drought conditions in the region.