N.L. avoids most of Maritimes late-season wintry mix
While it’s said that April showers bring May flowers, Mother Nature has decided to add some snow to that process.
Like it or not, some lateseason snow is in the forecast for much of the region. It’s developing over the southwestern halves of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick this morning and will spread eastward across the provinces and into Prince Edward Island this morning through the afternoon.
However, temperatures will be near and above freezing, allowing snow to mix with rain through Friday. There will be further periods of snow and rain on Saturday before precipitation eases to rain showers and flurries into and throughout Sunday.
Those in Newfoundland and Labrador are still forecast to avoid this weather, with just a chance of rain or snow showers along the south coasts of Newfoundland this weekend. As the low kicks off to the northeast early next week, we might need to watch it more closely as it could clip parts of Newfoundland with some rain or snow.
Back in the Maritimes, initial snowfall amounts through Thursday and Friday morning will range from two to 10 cm, with up to 15-plus cm possible, especially over higher elevations. I also expect 15 to 30 cm over higher terrain in northern New Brunswick and the Cape Breton Highlands.
Additional snowfall accumulations are expected Friday night through Saturday in a similar two to 10-plus cm range, with eastern New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, northern and eastern Nova Scotia at greater risk of more moderate accumulations. Newfoundland and Labrador won’t see much accumulation from non-related flurries.
Keep in mind that a lot of this will melt on contact or as temperatures rise, so expect high variability in amounts and accumulations to diminish from what first falls or models predict.
Wind will also be a factor, with peak east winds between 40 and 70 km/h, with coastal gusts up to 80 km/h and as high as 100 km/h in southwestern Nova Scotia. Newfoundland will also tap into some breezy north and northeast winds of 40 to 60 km/h through the week’s end into the weekend.
The good news? It’s spring, and whatever falls will melt in no time.