Extreme rainfall floods parts of Nova Scotia

Thunderstorms brought rainfall in excess of 30, 40 and 50 millimetres per hour, flooding parts of Nova Scotia Friday.

The slow-moving severe weather hammered many communities from near Port Mouton to Fall River with several rounds of torrential rain. Flooding and flash flooding occurred in some areas as people in some communities reported rain totals of more than 100 millimetres. Official rainfall totals are not yet available.

Personal weather stations around Bedford and Sackville reported totals exceeding 200 millimetres of rain in just several hours.

Along with communities on the south shore, some suburbs in the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) were hit particularly hard by the storm. Personal weather stations in the vicinity of Bedford, Timberlea and Sackville reported rainfall totals exceeding 200 millimetres in seven hours. The extreme downpour flooded basements, yards, roads and highways. An emergency alert was issued for the HRM Friday evening advising residents to stay off roads unless it was an emergency.

The most intense rain came in a band that extended up the south shore of Nova Scotia into the HRM.

Rainfall warnings continue for the Atlantic coastal counties of mainland Nova Scotia, extending into Cape Breton with the exception of Inverness County, as of Friday night.

While areas of western Nova Scotia could still see additional rain on Saturday, the greatest risk of thunderstorms is expected to shift eastward on the weekend.

Saturday morning will see Halifax and eastern Nova Scotia with the greatest risk of additional severe weather. By Saturday afternoon, Guysborough County and the area to the east will have the greatest storm risk. Saturday night into Sunday morning will see the risk of thunderstorms linger for Cape Breton. Weather warnings for the eastern areas of Nova Scotia are calling for 40 to 80 millimetres of rain, however, locally, higher amounts are possible.