Mix of rain, snow, wind develops this weekend
The active March weather pattern will continue with more rain, snow, and wind on the horizon.
A fast-moving disturbance plus low-pressure developing in the southeast U.S. will come together but branch into two pieces — one northern low tracking northeast through southern New Brunswick to southeast Labrador this weekend, with a separate low southeast of Cape Hatteras feeding moisture into the northern low.
I expect an initial period of snow from late Saturday morning to afternoon for New Brunswick and western Nova Scotia, then eastern Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island from late afternoon to evening. For Nova Scotia, southern New Brunswick, and, if not all, most of Prince Edward Island will see this snow change to rain at times heavy with west-to-east clearing later Sunday and Sunday night.
Newfoundland could also see some initial snow Saturday night into Sunday, but periods of rain will push west to east through Sunday and Sunday night. Snow is expected in southeast Labrador.
Rainfall for Nova Scotia, southern New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and southwest Newfoundland will range from 20 to 40 mm, with local amounts of 40 to 60 mm. Amounts otherwise range from five to 15 mm.
Snowfall on the northern side of the low could be as much as 20 to 40-plus cm for parts of central and northern New Brunswick and southeast Labrador. Depending on the position of the rain-snow line, some accumulations can’t be ruled out in parts of P.E.I. and northwestern Newfoundland.
Snowfall otherwise isn’t forecast be much of a factor.
There will also be strong winds — from the south on the southern and eastern sides of the low, and the north on the northern and western sides of it. Peak gusts between 50 and 70 km/h are forecast, and some gusts could approach or exceed 80 km/h.
A ridge of high pressure should settle our weather for at least the start of the week, but unsettled weather looks set to return mid-to-late next week.
It might be spring, but we know that doesn’t mean we’re finished with storms.