Active weather pattern continues ahead of spring’s return

I know a lot of people are looking for more spring-like weather with the new season almost here.

While spring-like showers will be in and out of our forecast, there could still be some late-season snow to deal with.

First, though, low pressure is sliding south of Nova Scotia, delivering light rain for the southwest of that province today. A nuisance but nothing significant.

Otherwise, sunshine will work overtime to break through stubborn clouds and throughout the weekend, but scattered and often isolated showers or flurries will still pop up.

The next system of note will move into Ontario and then Quebec this weekend, with a warm front leading it and a cold front that will trail into the Gulf states.

Precipitation, a mix of rain or snow, arrives first in New Brunswick on Sunday and west to east across Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island later Sunday through Sunday night. It should ease to lingering rain or snow showers west-to-east Monday.

This weather will develop across Newfoundland and Labrador on Monday, easing to lingering rain or snow showers on Tuesday.

At this point, there’s more agreement on the northern solution, meaning more rain than snow, but we will need to watch how the forecast evolves into and throughout the weekend.

Precipitation amounts are not looking significant. If and where rain dominates, I expect five to 15 mm with pockets of 15 to 25 mm. Snowfall should be minimal and, in some cases, none, but I wouldn’t rule out areas of five to 10-plus cm if it’s the dominant precipitation type, especially over the northern halves of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and parts of Newfoundland.

I expect some wind with this low too, but the ultimate direction will depend on its track. Peak gusts look set to range from 40 to 70-plus km/h.

While overall, there are no large or powerful storms on the current horizon, it’s an unsettled mid-march pattern for these final days of the winter.