Storms possible for part of mainland as 25 mm of rain expected

CITYnews halifax / By Dan Ahlstrand

A large portion of mainland Nova Scotia is under a special weather statement from Environment Canada on July 8.

The national forecaster says a strong plume of moisture associated with the remnants of post-tropical cyclone Chantal will spread across mainland Nova Scotia, bringing rain with some embedded thunderstorms that have the potential to produce locally high rainfall totals Tuesday morning, with rates that could reach 25 mm per hour.

“It’s generally from the Annapolis Valley and the Fundy Coast northeastward to the Eastern Shore where we can expect the heaviest rains to fall,” said 95.7 weather specialist Allister Aalders. “Otherwise amounts are on the lower and lighter side.”

Aalders says HRM will see some rain from this system, but just how much will depend on location.

“Some of us may only see 2 to 10 mm of rain from this system, but if we do see these more persistent embedded downpours set up this morning there is certainly the possibility that we could see 20 to 40 mm of rain,” said Aalders.

Related:

• Halifax bracing for heavy rain as temperatures soar in other areas
• Flooding from Chantal’s remnants forces dozens to flee homes in North Carolina

He says the most active weather is expected in the morning hours, but there is a possibility of some rain or even a thunderstorm later this afternoon and into tonight.

Flooding in the U.S. from Chantal

Parts of the United States are facing severe flooding from the post-tropical storm that swept through several states over the last few days.

Parts of central North Carolina experienced hazardous conditions overnight including 76.2 to 203.2 mm of rain, according to North Carolina Emergency Management. Multiple water rescues were conducted in counties overnight, and several areas have declared local states of emergency, officials said.

About 120 roads were closed Monday across the state, but several major roads had reopened, according to Gov. Josh Stein’s office.

Alesia Ray, 65, stood on a second-floor staircase at her apartment building in Chapel Hill for five hours, clicking a flashlight, until rescuers in a rubber boat got her out. Below her, floodwaters wrecked her home.

“It was really scary,” she said Monday as she and fiance Thomas Hux worked to salvage some of their belongings. “I’ve never experienced anything like that. I don’t want to go through that again.”

Chad Pickens said what happened in South Carolina pales in comparison to the floods in Texas, he said.

“The bottom line is these are just things, and while it hurts to lose things, it’s a lot different to losing people,” Pickens said.