Summer weather is a delicate balance in the Maritimes. When it comes to sunny skies and rainy days, too much or too little of either can start problems.
Several areas in our region saw rain over the weekend, but conditions are still so dry that fire bans are in place, growers are concerned about crops and municipalities are putting the pressure on residents to save water.
A provincewide fire ban has been ordered in New Brunswick, and in Nova Scotia the entire province is either at high risk or extreme risk on the forest fire index.
Already, the fire season is being called the worst in a decade.
“Last year, for example, we had 81 fires burn 80 hectares total for the year,” says Tim Greer of New Brunswick’s forest fire behaviour unit. “This year, we’re talking over 270 fires burning over 300 hectares.”
Municipal water supplies are also taking a hit. Charlottetown residents are being told to curb their water usage. The city of Fredericton is hoping that a campaign aimed at stopping leaking toilets can save them water when it gets dry.
“Residential toilets utilize about 30 per cent of household water and up to 20 per cent of those toilets can leak, so that represents a water loss that can be fairly significant,” says Kathy Edwards of the water and sewer department for the city of Fredericton.
Even roadside stands are feeling the heat. The days of hot, dry weather are taking a toll on the produce, including strawberries.
“A lot of the time we can’t pick too much if it gets this hot, because they get too soft,” says roadside stand employee Alicia Brennan.
While the hot weather has it fans, there are also many who wouldn’t mind seeing a rain cloud come by.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Nick Moore
