Brief: Strong storms threaten some Canada Day festivities

Wednesday, July 1, 2015, 1:52 PM -

As we get going on celebrating Canada's birth 148 years ago, fireworks, not all the fireworks will be man-made.

For some, plans will go on as scheduled, while others may need to move the party from the deck inside to the den.

Here's your Canada Day brief:

Atlantic Canada

• Maritimes: Canada Day kicks off amid mainly dry conditions across the region. However, showers are expected to move in by the evening hours, putting a damper on celebratory fireworks, especially in western portions of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, though not more than a few millimetres. Most of the rain will fall through the Fundy Shores and western parts.
• Newfoundland: Showers won't move into the province until later in the week, making Wednesday an ideal time to celebrate our glorious nation outside under mainly sunny skies.

Ontario and Quebec

• Ontario: Some showers in southern Ontario, but the highest impact weather is in eastern Ontario, where storms began popping up and heading toward the Ottawa area in the early afternoon. If the storms become stronger, primary dangers are heavy downpours and frequent lightning. Late afternoon and evening should be drier.
• Quebec: Rainfall warnings are in effect for parts of the province, including Quebec City, from torrential rains dropping 50-70 mm throughout Wednesday. Storms are moving through the province as well in the afternoon. Today's thunderstorms are capable of producing strong winds, heavy rains and nickel-sized hail.

Western Canada

• Prairies: Thunderstorm risk pushes into Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Cold front passes through for the weekend, bringing relief from unseasonably high temperatures.
• British Columbia: Though the scorching temperatures have simmered down in B.C., conditions remain hot heading into Canada Day. Skies stay clear along the coast, though a weak surface low could trigger thunderstorms and showers through the Interior.

DON'T MISS: Firework science: How do they work?