Convective Outlook Valid for Today and Tomorrow

Regional Impacts

Scattered thunderstorms over central northern and western New Brunswick could produce brief heavy showers and strong wind gusts.

 

Convective Discussion

An approaching cold front and trough currently over southern Quebec will trigger a few thunderstorms this afternoon. Ahead of the front, strong southwesterly flow at all levels will maintain very moist conditions. Low level destabilization during the afternoon will likely lead to some of the storms approaching severe limits – mainly west of our area of responsibility -  however mid-level lapse rates will not be the best over NB.

 

 

Thunderstorm Outlook for Day 1

 

 

Thunderstorm Outlook for Day 2

Convective Outlook Valid for Today and Tomorrow

Regional Impacts

 

NS/NB/PEI/NFLD: None

Labrador:  A risk for western regions with a chance of gusty winds and hail.

 

Convective Discussion

 

A low pressure system will approach western Labrador today. Ahead of the low, daytime heating will allow temperatures to approach 28 degrees. Modifying the upstream sounding at La Grande yields precipital water near 30 mm, cape of 600 J/kg and unidirectional shear of 40 kts. Additionally the freezing level is fairly low at 10,000 feet.  An upper level jet will approach later this afternoon but western Labrador does not look to be in a favourable area of enhanced lift. The low freezing levels and decent cape above -10 C will support hail growth. The dry mid levels will support possible wind gusts.

 

Thunderstorm Outlook for Day 1

 

 

Thunderstorm Outlook for Day 2

 

Convective Outlook Valid for Today and Tomorrow

Thunderstorm Outlook for Day 1

 

Regional Impacts

Newfoundland: scattered non-severe thunderstoms, with a chance for severe southeast towards the Avalon Peninsula. Local heavy downpours, followed by gusty winds and a chance for small hail on the southeast.

Nova Scotia and New Brunswick: non-severe isolated to scattered thunderstorms

 

Convective Discussion

A vertically stacked low over western Newfoundland and the eastern Gulf dominates the convective situation today.  The low is moderately unstable, with some extra support for southeastern Newfoundland with PVA and a left exit from the 500 mb jet a little south of the Avalon. Moisture is okay, with PWAT near 30 mm and surface dewpoints near 17, but there’s not a lot ov water above 850 mb. Weak shear over central and west increased to near 40 kts at YYT at 12Z. Mean layer CAPEs in excess of 500 J/kg are possible in the northeast and central, with a possibility for exceeding 800 J/kg in the southeast. The main threats are for rainfall possibly exceeding 25 mm/h over the Avalon, and possibly over 25 mm over a couple of hours elsewhere, followed by gusty winds, and the possibility of small hail for central and northeast, but less likely over the Avalon, where freezing levels were about 12,700 at YYT, and 10,800 ft at YJT.

 

For the Maritimes, non-severe thndertorms are possible. With near 30 kts of shear, PWAT near 30, weak dunamic forcing and some surface convergence for easter Nova Scotia and southern Cape Breton Island.

 

 

Thunderstorm Outlook for Day 2

 

A cold front approaching from the northwest will trigger some cells along the front, which may support a weak squall line. The prog tephi profiles along the front suggest gusty winds ,possibly associated with dry microbursts.

 

 

Convective Outlook Valid for Today and Tomorrow

Regional Impacts

For the Maritimes: Scattered TCU/CBs will develop after lunch in association with an trough of low pressure. Non-severe but some gusty winds are possible over NS and small hail in NB.

For Newfoundland: scattered CBs are occurring now in the southwest and these pulses of precipitation will continue to track northeastward, with likely a weakening trend in the lightning. Heavy downpours can be expected.

 

Convective Discussion

The same upper low that was responsible for the severe weather in the Maritimes yesterday is still kicking around, and is located near the Gaspe Peninsula. The morning activity is a result of PVA/vort max noted in SAT imagery. There were some good winds with the cells over portions of the MRTMS but there is a weakening trend in that. Locally heavy downpours for Newfoundland today with 20+ mm possible in one hour or less. I don’t think there will be much of a wind gust based on the 12Z YJT tephi…maybe some gusts to 60 km/h.

 

As skies are clearing over the MRTMS expect scattered TCU/CBs to begin forming, though severe weather is not anticipated. If the timing was 3 hours different we could be looking at isolated severe storms across Nova Scotia. Both the YQI and YAW tephi has around 50 knots of shear, good lapse rates, and CAPE between 750 and 1000. However, the upper trough is sliding southward, so the shear is diminishing which should negate the severity of the CBs. KCAR tephi has only 15 knots of shear, so that will give one an indication of the weakening of winds aloft. All in all we expect SCT TCU/CBs across the MRTMS giving locally heavy downpours (PWAT roughly 30 mm) and small hail in the stronger cells. We could have gusts to 70 km/h across NS in the stronger cells.

 

For Saturday: a slight risk of a thundershower across northern and eastern NS, as well as Cape Breton. Newfoudland looks to have potential for numerous, small TCU/CBs (short-lived given the very weak flow). Heavy downpours and small hail are likely…for south/central regions, as well as the Avalon Peninsula.

 

Thunderstorm Outlook for Day 1

 

Thunderstorm Outlook for Day 2

 

Jeremy

Convective Outlook Valid for Today and Tomorrow

Regional Impacts

New Brunswick, PEI, valley and northern Nova Scotia: There is a risk of severe thunderstorms today giving heavy rainfall, strong winds and small hail. Currently some storms producing heavy rain across northern NB. A few thunderstorms should form early this afternoon across the south. Scattered thunderstorms should develop later this afternoon across NS that could advect into PEI .

Southwestern Labrador: slight risk of a thundershower this afternoon and evening.

East of the Avalon: isolated elevated thundershowers.

 

Convective Discussion

There is a fairly decent chance in seeing some severe thunderstorms today across New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and PEI today giving heavy rain, strong winds and hail. There is a strong 250 jet placing the favourable areas in the left exit region, as well as some divergence. Divergence is also evident at 500 mb as the upper trough slowly approaches from the west, so heights will be falling a little as well. There is not as much low-level moisture as yesterday but still enough to add to the buoyant atmosphere. The 12Z KCAR tephi has a decent unstable profile, PWAT of 36 mm, a relatively low FZLVL (around 10,ooo feet) and about 35 knots of shear. The current storms affecting the northern half of NB is giving locally heavy rainfall. Modifying the sounding gives a mixed layer CAPE of around 1000. Mind you the shear will be decreasing through the day across northern NB, it will remain across southern NB, so strong storms giving wind gusts of around 80 km/h, heavy rain and hail of up to 2 cm are possible. For Nova Scotia, the issue right now in the favourable zone (valley and northern areas) is the mid level cloud cover. The 12Z YQI tephi has decent low-to-mid level lapse rates and shear of up to 35 knots. PWAT is the same as KCAR. Modifying it for a temperature of 31 degrees gives close to 1000 CAPE. So, much like NB there is a decent chance in seeing severe storms. The issue, as mentioned above is the current cloud cover. There is a back edge moving into the Gulf of Maine so I would expect cells to develop later this afternoon. Again heavy rain, strong winds and small hail are possible in the stronger storms. Some of these cells across southern NB and NS should progress into PEI later today.

 

A slight risk of a thundershower this afternoon and evening near Wabush/Labrador City  in the vicinity of the upper low.

 

Thunderstorm Outlook for Day 1

 

Thunderstorm Outlook for Day 2

 

Jeremy