FREDERICTON — Environment Canada is forecasting a period of "very hot" and humid weather across most of New Brunswick this week, days ahead of summer's official arrival.
The weather agency has issued heat warnings for the majority of counties, beginning Tuesday and into Thursday, and possibly Friday.
It said temperatures could reach 33 C, but the humidity might make it feel more like 40 C.
Environment Canada meteorologist Jill Maepea said a ridge of stationary high pressure, which is pumping air up from the southeastern United States, is bringing the warm and humid temperatures into the province.
The flow of the air from the south will stay in New Brunswick for most of the week, she said.
The end of the week will see the pattern shift with a cold front cutting across the region and ending the hot, humid temperatures, she said.
While hot days are a staple during this time of year, Maepea said so far it has been "a little bit of abnormal" and mild spring. Summer officially begins on Thursday at 5:51 p.m.
The number of heat waves in New Brunswick varies each year, with most summers yielding three to four, she said.
"We had a really active year with heat waves in 2020 where we saw up to eight events," she said.
"What we're finding kind of odd is this exact event is almost overlapping an event we saw in 2020. So a lot of our all-time record highs were set on June 18 or 19 in 2020, and we're going to see those records possibly be threatened again in the next couple of days." Temperatures on June 18 and 19 in 2020 reached 37.3 C.
Environment Canada warns that seniors, infants and young children, pregnant women and workers are at greater risk of health risks from the heat.
The agency said it issues warnings when "very" high temperatures or humidity are expected to pose an increased risk of illnesses, such as heat stroke or heat exhaustion.
Dangerously hot weather is also forecast this week for large parts of Quebec and Ontario.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 17, 2024.
The Canadian Press
