Expect more extreme rainfall events, says hurricane centre meteorologist

A meteorologist with theCanadian HurricaneCentre says he thinks Atlantic Canadians will see more extreme rainfall events in the future.

BobRobichaudsays after extreme rainfall events occurring two years in a row, with over 200 millimetres of rain falling in a short period of time, it may be what the Atlantic provinces will experience more.

"We don't have to have the storm come over us to feel the impacts of it."

• Atlantic hurricane season expected to be stormier than normal

Robichaudwas in P.E.I. to update the Island's Emergency Measures Organization about the 2017hurricane season and provide information on what is expected to allow for preparation.

There are 11 to 17 named storms predicted to hit the Atlantic coast during the 2017 hurricane season. "The average is about 12 so we're looking at another fairly active hurricane season this year."

Repeat of last year

Robichaud said it will be a repeat of 2016 which was also a very active season.

"Last year we had 15 named storms and again, the average is 12 it was a little bit above average."

Robichaud said while the prediction is for an above average season, with it being so early in the season, it's hard to know where the storms will go.

"We have an idea of what the activity will be in the entire ocean basin but we can't say one particular area of the coastline will be affected more than the other."

Robichaud said they have to watch the storms as they develop to determine where they will go.

New trends

The hurricane centre is also noting some new trends of storms that areoccurring outside the officialhurricane season which is June 1 to the end of October.

Robichaudsaid there is not enough hard data to link these changes to climate change and to say the season is extending.

"But the data that is showingthere we may not be necessarilybe getting more storms in the future but the storms we do get may end upbeing slightly more intense."

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