Rain exceeds 100 mm in Cape Breton as risk of downpours and flooding continues

CTV meteorologist Kalin Mitchell has a rainy weather forecast for the Maritime region, over 100 mm of rainfall created some localized flooding in Cape Breton.

Maritimers are contending with a thick, tropical-feeling air that is fueling downpours to start this week.

Watches and warnings continue

A rainfall warning continues for Guysborough, Richmond and Cape Breton counties. The area remains at risk of further downpours, bringing additional rain amounts of 10 to 40 mm. This could include some communities, like Eskasoni, that have already received more than 100 mm of rain over the past 24 hours.

The most rain for the tropical-like weather has come down in an area of Cape Breton stretching from Richmond County, across Bras d’Or Lake, and into Sydney Mines. Throughout that area, multiple personal weather stations have reported totals of 80 to near 130 mm of rain. Instances of localized flooding have been reported as a result.

Other parts of Nova Scotia aren’t clear of a risk of further downpours or thunderstorms either. A severe thunderstorm watch was posted by Environment Canada for Kings, Lunenburg, Halifax, Hants, Colchester and Pictou counties Monday afternoon. There is also a risk of some thunderstorms in northern and western areas of New Brunswick Monday afternoon through evening.

Change for Monday night and Tuesday

The stifling humidity and heavy rain developed Sunday into Monday as a slow-moving weather front connected the region to the sub-tropical Atlantic. The front is moving up the heavy moisture-laden air into the Maritimes like a conveyor belt. The front is forecast to cross the Maritimes, west-to-east, Monday night into Tuesday morning.

What to expect Monday night:

• Thick fog & drizzle: Widespread reduced visibility is expected in the region Monday night. Commuters should exercise caution on the roads.
• Lingering showers: Patchy downpours will remain a risk, particularly over eastern Nova Scotia. An evening risk of thunderstorms in northern New Brunswick.

What to expect Tuesday:

• Afternoon clearing: The morning fog will dissipate or retreat to the coastline by Tuesday afternoon. That’s followed by a mix of sun and cloud along with very warm temperatures.
• Pop-up storm risks: Daytime heating combined with incoming cool, dry air aloft will create the right conditions for pop-up showers and isolated thunderstorms from mid-afternoon through early evening.

Two areas being monitored for tropical development

While on the topic of tropical air, the National Hurricane Centre is monitoring two areas of the Atlantic for possible storm development.

The first is a broad area of low pressure sitting to the southeast of Bermuda. While unlikely to impact the Maritimes, it may contribute moisture to the front and expected rainfall for eastern Newfoundland on Tuesday. The system is being given a 50 per cent chance of developing into a tropical/sub-tropical depression or storm.

The second area is a group of thunderstorms that has moved off the coastline of western Africa over very warm ocean waters. This region is given a 60 per cent chance of developing into a tropical depression or storm over the next seven days.

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