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No rest for the weary in Atlantic Canada as the latest winter storm threatens widespread disruption across the region in as many days.
Heavy snow, freezing rain and ice pellets are all in the forecast, beginning Friday in the Maritimes and continuing through Saturday across the Gulf of Newfoundland.
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This latest storm is a low in Texas that produced destructive thunderstorms in the southern United States and a sloppy mix of snow and ice in central Canada.
Precipitation will make its way into the Maritimes during the early hours of Friday morning, gradually increasing in intensity and coverage throughout Friday morning.
Cooler air causes most of the precipitation to fall as snow over parts of north and central New Brunswick and the western half of Prince Edward Island.
“Rapidly falling snow could make travel difficult in some locations,” Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) says in the snowfall alert for New Brunswick. “Visibility can be suddenly restricted at times during heavy snowfall.”
We can expect 6 to 10 inches of snow in parts of these provinces — including Fredericton, Moncton and Summerside — by the end of the storm.
Farther south, however, a complex temperature build-up will force much of the initial precipitation to fall over parts of the region as ice pellets and freezing rain.
The main icing threat on Friday will cover much of Nova Scotia and extend north to include the Fundy Shores and the eastern half of Prince Edward Island.
We could see ice in these areas for up to six hours before colder air moves in from behind the storm and precipitation turns to snow by Friday night.
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Both drivers and pedestrians are urged to exercise caution as untreated surfaces become slick in areas of prolonged icing. Isolated power outages are also possible where ice forms on trees and power lines.
Across the Gulf, similar momentum will build in Newfoundland as the storm hits Friday night and continues into Saturday morning.
The Avalon Peninsula is on the border between precipitation types.
St. John’s in particular looks set to experience the winter spectrum over the course of this system – starting first as freezing rain, then switching to ice pellets over the night Friday before switching to snow as a colder air filter on Saturday morning.
Mostly fair and colder temperatures will continue this weekend, although temperatures will quickly rise again in the Maritimes into Sunday. Low pressure is expected Monday night and into Tuesday north of the region with widespread showers and windy conditions but very mild temperatures.
Temperatures will be much colder again mid to late next week with the potential for significant wintry and messy weather. Colder than normal temperatures are expected in the last days of February and into early March.
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Be sure to check back often for the latest updates on the weather in Atlantic Canada.
