What to expect out of the weather for the August long weekend in the Maritimes

CTV Atlantic meteorologist Kalin Mitchell says an area of high pressure gets the long weekend off to a sunny start across the Maritimes.

A quick note before my outlook into the August long weekend weather: many parts of the Maritimes could use more rain. It would help with ground water levels and fire danger ratings. There isn’t much rain in the long weekend forecast.

High pressure arrives for Saturday

A large ridge of high pressure centred over Ontario extends over the Maritimes Saturday.

Mainly sunny weather is expected across the Maritime region and a light wind that will be variable in direction. Dew point temperatures (a measure of moisture in the air) is expected to be in the high single digits and low-teens, which indicates a less humid brand of summer air in place. Afternoon high temperatures will be in the low-to-mid 20s.

Conditions will be very comfortable for most. If you were planning on doing some outside yard/house work this weekend, Saturday is prime day for it.

Temperature rises Sunday

As the high-pressure ridge moves slightly east of the Maritimes on Sunday, a warming southwesterly wind returns to the region.

Sky conditions will vary from mainly sunny to a fair-weather mix of sun and cloud. The southwest wind will be breezy with occasional gusts between 30 and 50 km/h. High temperatures will climb into the high 20s, except low-to-mid 20s on parts of the Atlantic coastline of Nova Scotia and the Bay of Fundy coastline of New Brunswick.

A spotty shower or thunderstorm is possible in the northernmost areas of New Brunswick Sunday afternoon through mid-Sunday evening.

Conditions hold for Monday

Weather conditions for the holiday Monday are forecast to be very similar to Sunday.

There will be a mix of sun and cloud across the Maritimes. Some scattered showers and thunderstorms may develop in New Brunswick Monday afternoon into evening. Hit and miss by nature, it will only be about a 20-to-40 per cent chance for any given community in New Brunswick to catch a shower or thunderstorm.

High temperatures will reach into the high-20s for most communities again. Exceptions will be low-to-mid 20s directly on the Bay of Fundy coastline in New Brunswick and parts of the Atlantic coastline of Nova Scotia.