Canadians should expect colder temperatures as they head into Thanksgiving with Hurricane Isaias looming. The Category 2 hurricane formed in the Gulf of Mexico, which CTV Your Morning meteorologist Michelle Jobin said could affect weather patterns throughout Canada. With wind speeds of 130 km/h, Hurricane Isaias will move north from the Gulf on Thursday and could become the first Atlantic hurricane of the season. Jobin said Isaias may make landfall Friday night or Saturday morning at the Florida panhandle. “The big concern is not only the damaging winds, but the amount of rain which, in some cases, could well exceed 177 millimetres of rain, but also storm surges over two metres,” she added. The storm is on track to be one of the biggest recorded storms in more than a century, the Associated Press reported. It was centred about 410 kilometres northwest of Progresso, Mexico, on Wednesday morning with winds of about 80 km/h. As Isaias moves north from the U.S. Gulf Coast, Jobin broke down the weather patterns that could impact Canada over the long weekend. Atlantic Canada Both Newfoundland and Labrador and the Maritime provinces can expect temperatures to dip heading into the holiday weekend, Jobin said. Strong winds are headed towards the Atlantic region with rain on track for New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and western Newfoundland, Jobin said. Labrador and eastern Newfoundland will likely see rain on Friday, she added. “You’ll get some spotty showers as we get into the afternoon (on Friday) and then into Saturday, we get a little more cloud cover, as well,” Jobin said. Fredericton has a 60 per cent chance of rain on Friday and Monday night, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), as does Halifax. St. John’s can expect rain and fog from Friday to Monday with the exception of Sunday, which the federal weather agency said will be dry. Ontario and Quebec Southern Ontario could feel the impact of Isaias to start the Thanksgiving weekend, Jobin said. Rain and cloud cover may reach areas surrounding Lake Ontario and Lake Erie as Isaias pushes north. Otherwise, Ontario and Quebec can expect thunderstorms and temperatures to cool before Friday, Jobin said. “Temperatures for the most part through Ontario and Quebec staying relatively pleasant into the weekend,” she added. Toronto’s has a 30 per cent chance of rain on Sunday night, ECCC predicted. Further north, Thunder Bay has the same odds of rain on Friday with a 60 per cent likelihood on Sunday. Sault Ste. Marie has a 60 per cent probability of rain on Sunday night, ECCC forecasted. Montreal has a 40 per cent chance of rain on Friday with a risk of thunderstorms, while Quebec City has a risk of showers throughout the weekend. Western Canada The Prairie provinces and B.C. can expect a cold start to their Thanksgiving weekend, Jobin said. “Temperatures are dropping as we get into Saturday. They will plummet like a stone Friday night into Saturday and there is the potential of seeing snow into your Thanksgiving weekend,” Jobin said, citing a special weather statement from ECCC. “This is the beginning of the season’s snowfall. This could impact travel on the Thanksgiving weekend,” she said, forecasting snow on the ground on Saturday. ECCC’s special weather statement forecasts rain or snow with winds around 30 km/h on Friday and Saturday near Edmonton, Calgary, Grande Prairie and throughout most of southern Alberta. B.C. can expect temperatures ranging between nine and 15 C on Saturday, Jobin added. ECCC forecasts rain on Friday night around Victoria and on Saturday night for Vancouver with showers that will end Friday morning in Prince George but with a 40 per cent chance of resuming in the night. With files from The Associated Press
