A tropical system swirling hundreds of kilometres south of the Maritimes could be headed in our direction early next week.
Forecasters at the Canadian Hurricane Centre in Dartmouth are keeping a close eye on tropical storm Henri.
Meteorologist Bob Robichaud said the storm is expected to strengthen into a hurricane on Friday and turn toward the northeast.
“One we get into the latter part of the weekend into early next week, it should approach New England or just remain offshore and then make another turn toward the east,” Robichaud said in an interview Thursday.
It is in that timeframe, Robichaud said, where it will be “critical” as to what exactly the storm does.
He said it is still far too soon to say what impacts, if any, Henri could have on the Maritime provinces.
“There’s a multitude of scenarios that could happen, including a storm that remains offshore and very minimal impacts,” said Robichaud.
One thing seems certain, however: the storm will likely have weakened back into a tropical storm, he said.
Robichaud encouraged Maritimers to keep an eye on the forecast heading into the weekend and early next week.
“As we get closer to early next week, we should have a much better handle on what’s going to happen,” he said.
Henri still expected to enter the @ECCC_CHC response zone as a hurricane on Sunday but multiple scenarios are possible thereafter including one that keeps the storm offshore. Keep monitoring weather forecasts over the coming days as the details become clearer.
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— ECCC Canadian Hurricane Centre (@ECCC_CHC) August 19, 2021
