Wednesday Evening Weather Update – August 13, 2025
It’s been another hot and challenging day across Newfoundland and Labrador, and the heat has been making things tough for wildfire suppression efforts.
Quick Wildfire Update
This morning Premier Hogan warned that weather conditions could make firefighting more difficult, and that turned out to be true for parts of the province.
Kingston Fire – Now closing in on 7,000 hectares. The fire has burned into Smooth Cove and parts of Ochre Pit Cove. Winds from the south tomorrow could push it further north toward Northern Bay.
Paddy’s Pond Fire – A much better scene today than yesterday, with less smoke and visible fire. Still under close watch.
Martin Lake Fire – Grown on its northeast side toward the Beothuk Trail Highway, producing heavy smoke. Some highway closures in the Bishops Falls area.
Evacuation alerts remain in place for parts of St. John’s (Southlands and Galway), Paradise, and Conception Bay South, with a mandatory evacuation for the Three Island Pond area of Paradise.
Current Conditions
Today was another scorcher. St. John’s hit 29°C this afternoon with a humidex of 36. Gander reached 31°C, Badger 32°C, and parts of Labrador saw extreme heat — Cartwright hit 36°C with a humidex of 44, which may be a provincial record. This is the fifth day this year St. John’s has topped 30°C — more than double the previous annual record of two such days.
Humidity has crept up across the island, with St. John’s at 55% this afternoon. While it makes things feel muggy, higher humidity helps slow wildfire spread by keeping fuels from becoming too dry.
Short-Term Forecast
Tomorrow will still be warm, with highs in the mid-to-upper 20s across much of the island, but it shouldn’t be quite as hot as today. The big weather player tomorrow is a cold front pushing into Labrador and then Newfoundland.
Thursday – Showers and thunderstorms will develop in Labrador, reaching the southeast coast by late day.
Late Thursday Night into Friday Morning – Significant rainfall is possible over western and southwestern Newfoundland.
Friday Night into Saturday Morning – Some models are hinting at a heavy rain setup over parts of the Avalon, possibly 30+ mm in St. John’s. If it happens, this would be very beneficial for the fire situation. However, the setup looks localized, so confidence is still low.
Looking Ahead
Friday – Cooler air moves into western Newfoundland first, then easterly areas later in the day.
Saturday – North winds bring a fall-like feel to eastern and northeastern Newfoundland, with highs in the mid-teens.
Sunday & Early Next Week – Temperatures rebound to the low-to-mid 20s, but without the extreme heat we’ve seen lately.
Hurricane Erin – Still too early to say if it will directly or indirectly affect our weather next week. I’ll be watching it closely.
We’re finally seeing a pattern shift that should bring some relief from the heat and potentially some much-needed rainfall. If the rain materializes where we need it, it could make a real difference for crews on the front lines of the wildfires.
Stay safe, stay cool, and I’ll have updates for you tomorrow both here and on my social channels.
