Severe thunderstorm warnings, tornado watches in effect for N.B.

Environment Canada has issued tornado watches for several areas in New Brunswick.

A tornado watch is in effect for Woodstock and Carleton County, Stanley, Doaktown, Blackville and Fredericton and southern York County.

"Conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms which may produce tornadoes," said Environment Canada.

"This is a dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation."

While tornado watches remain in effect, Debbie White, a metrologist for Environment Canada, said that as of 4:30p.m.,the risks havediminished as the storms move eastward.

Severe thunderstorm warnings are also in place for an area as far west as Stanley and east to the Northumberland Strait.

Riskcontinues

White says the situation with Sunday's thunderstorms is similar to what the province sawSaturday.

A line of thunderstorms rolling through the province should clear up in a few hours, but morewill move inthis evening.

"There's going to be a little bit of a break and thenkind of pick up again later," said White.

Also like Saturday, the main risk from the storms will be heavy downpours with rainfall totals of 40 mm possible insome areas.

White said the risk of severe thundershowers should end by 2 a.m. Monday morning.