Wet, windy weather in store as Hurricane Chris nears Newfoundland

After days of dry, hot weather with fire hazard ratings up and some heat warnings in effect, parts of Newfoundland are still expecting heavy rain and high winds from Hurricane Chris as it downgrades to a post-tropical storm.

Environment Canada updated its forecast for Chris early Thursday morning, with a warning that heavy rain, strong winds, significant waves and storm surges could hit coastal areas of the island on Thursday. 

Rain and windfall warnings in effect

The storm is moving northeast toward Newfoundland, Environment Canada said, and wind and rainfall warnings are in effect for the southeastern portion of the island. Up to 80 millimetres of rain is expected for southeastern Newfoundland, and swells of 6 to 8 metres are possible along the southern Avalon Peninsula.

The north and southwest Avalon Peninsula are forecasted to get between 40 and 70 millimetres of rain, with the heaviest rainfall coming Thursday afternoon and evening. Similar rainfall is forecast for the Bonavista Peninsula, the Burin Peninsula, Connaigre, Terra Nova and Clarenville and area.

Wind warnings are in place for the southeast Avalon and St. John's and vicinity, where gusts could be close to 100 km/h. Gale-force winds are also expected to develop on the offshore in southern Newfoundland.

Chris is expected to be a post-tropical storm by the time it arrives Thursday, slowly weakening as it moves toward the Avalon Peninsula.

Environment Canada said that more details will become available as the storm's track and intensity becomes more certain. 

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