Records to watch as temperatures soar in the Maritimes Wednesday

High temperatures for many communities in the Maritimes are forecast to reach near the standing records on Wednesday.

High temperatures for many communities in the Maritimes are forecast to reach near the standing records on Wednesday. There have been some very hot June 19s in the past, so it is unlikely that all sites will reach or set new records. As of 1 p.m. Wednesday, there were already several sites within a few degrees of the record high with the remainder of the afternoon left for temperatures to climb.

The Maritimes is now into the peak of the spell of hot and humid weather. Similar conditions are expected on Thursday. Heat warnings remain in effect for all three Maritime provinces as not only will the days be very hot, but the nights will be very warm, offering little relief.

A cold front moves across the Maritimes late Thursday into early Friday. Less humid air will filter into the Maritimes on Friday. Both temperature and humidity are forecast to fall from the levels of Wednesday and Thursday. Temperature and humidity will both fall a bit more for the start of the weekend.

Heat and humidity can be fuel for thunderstorms. There is a low chance of afternoon and evening thunderstorms in New Brunswick for Wednesday afternoon and evening. Any thunderstorms that do develop will be isolated and so for any given community it is about a 20-30 per cent chance.

There is a higher risk of scattered thunderstorms in the Maritimes Thursday.