Maritime weather: Rainy, windy weather moves through region

More rain and wind are ahead for the Maritimes Wednesday through Thursday, with weather warnings in effect for parts of the region.

New Brunswick

After an icy start to the day, the risk of freezing rain is diminishing in New Brunswick Wednesday afternoon as temperatures rise above zero. In most cases, temperatures will continue to go up in a south wind well into the evening. A lull in the rain is expected for all except the northwest of the province Wednesday evening. Patchy drizzle and fog will still be present. A final round of rain moves west-to-east across New Brunswick Thursday morning.

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Rain totals in western areas of the province are expected to reach 20 to 40 mm and rainfall warnings are in effect. I would expect higher rain amounts of 40 to 60 mm from Woodstock, north to Edmundston. Snow melt and the frozen ground will increase water runoff. The remainder of New Brunswick can expect rain of 10 to 25 mm.

The south wind increases Wednesday night and much of New Brunswick will peak with gusts of 60 to 80 km/h from midnight through late Thursday morning. A few areas could reach gusts of 80 to 100 km/h, including on the Bay of Fundy coastline and the Acadian Peninsula. Wind warnings are in effect for those areas.

The wind will become westerly with gusts diminishing into a range of 40 to 60 km/h Thursday afternoon.

A rain total outlook for the Maritimes Wednesday morning through Thursday afternoon.

Nova Scotia

Rain, drizzle, and fog will be present for Nova Scotia through Wednesday afternoon. The rain will lull in the evening before a final round moves west-to-east across the province Thursday morning into early afternoon. Rain amounts of 10 to 25 mm are expected.

Widespread southerly winds with gusts of 60 to 80 km/h will develop by 4 a.m. Thursday for Nova Scotia. Peak gusts of near and over 90 km/h are possible at both higher terrain and exposed areas of the Atlantic coastline.

Wind warnings have been issued for Digby, Yarmouth, and Shelburne counties, as well as northern Inverness County in Cape Breton. Peak gusts of over 110 km/h are expected for parts of northern Inverness County, Cape Breton Thursday morning due to the topography of the Highlands.

A general timing of the strongest wind across Nova Scotia would be:

• Yarmouth at 2 a.m. Thursday
• Halifax at 7 a.m. Thursday
• Sydney at 11 a.m. Thursday

The wind will become westerly Thursday afternoon with gusts falling into a range of 30 to 60 km/h.

Stronger southerly winds arrive in western areas of the Maritimes Wednesday night and in the early morning hours of Thursday.

Prince Edward Island and the Magdalen Islands

Periods of rain will continue for Prince Edward Island through Wednesday afternoon. The rain will lull in the evening, but fog and drizzle will be present. A final round of rain crosses P.E.I. between 6 a.m. and noon on Thursday. Rain totals of 10 to 20 mm are expected for P.E.I. and closer to 10 mm for the Magdalen Islands.

Strong southerly winds will develop for P.E.I. by early Thursday morning. Peak gusts near 80 km/h for much of the province but could reach 90 km/h on exposed areas of the coast. The Magdalen Islands, which are under a wind warning, can expect peak gusts near 90 km/h.

Both P.E.I. and the Magdalen Islands can expect the wind to become westerly with gusts of 40 to 60 km/h Thursday afternoon.

The strong southerly winds cross the Maritimes west-to-east Thursday morning before becoming westerly Thursday afternoon.