It’s shaping up to be a wet and windy Halloween across the Maritimes, with Environment Canada warning of heavy rain and strong gusts Friday.
Special weather statements are in effect across Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island, with up to 50 millimetres of rain expected — or more if moisture from Hurricane Melissa mixes in with a low-pressure system moving up from New England.
Environment Canada meteorologist Ian Hubbard says the hurricane itself will stay well offshore, but could still make the weather messier. “We are tracking Hurricane Melissa and expect it to stay well offshore as it passes through Friday,” he said. “However, a low-pressure system from New England could grab some of Melissa’s tropical moisture, and that tends to bring in some really heavy rain at times.”
Most of Nova Scotia is expected to see 30 to 50 millimetres of rain, with the heaviest amounts along the Atlantic coast and in Cape Breton. The valley and western parts of the province will likely see a bit less. Winds could gust as high as 80 kilometres per hour, and up to 110 along parts of northern Cape Breton.
Hubbard says rain should taper off by late afternoon in much of central Nova Scotia, meaning trick-or-treaters might still catch a break. “It doesn’t look like it’ll persist into the evening for most areas,” he said. “We should see improvements later in the day, and temperatures will stay mild — around 11 to 15 degrees.”
Environment Canada is reminding residents to secure Halloween decorations and outdoor items ahead of the storm.
