Kalin's call: Nor'easter expected to bring heavy snow to Maritimes this weekend
An area of low pressure originating off the coastline of Florida will merge with a cold front on Friday. The resulting storm will rapidly strengthen into a nor’easter, which will move north to impact the Maritimes Saturday into Sunday.
Much of the Maritimes will have to contend with a period of heavy snow with some areas turning through ice pellets to rain. High and gusty winds will create blowing snow and give a risk of power outages for some areas.
Special weather statements cautioning on the inclement weather have been issued by Environment Canada for all three Maritime provinces.
Heavy snow is expected to arrive in Nova Scotia Saturday morning, and will arrive Saturday afternoon for New Brunswick and P.E.I.
Heavy snow will develop Saturday morning for Nova Scotia, and will arrive Saturday afternoon for New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.
By Saturday evening, much of Nova Scotia will have turned through a period of ice pellets to rain. P.E.I. can expect ice pellets and rain to mix in Saturday night. Snow will continue in New Brunswick into Sunday morning.
The mix of precipitation will clear the Maritimes through the day on Sunday. Temperatures will fall back below freezing for Nova Scotia and P.E.I. quickly on Sunday, with wet or slushy surfaces turning icy.
By Saturday evening, Nova Scotia will be in a mix of snow, ice pellets, and rain. Mixed precipitation is also likely for P.E.I. Saturday night.
In the above scenario, the most snow and ice pellet accumulation would be in western/northern Nova Scotia, southern/eastern New Brunswick, and P.E.I. Snowfall totals would diminish towards the Atlantic coastline and eastern areas of Nova Scotia with a quicker turn to rain.
Snowfall totals would diminish into northwestern New Brunswick being on the fringe of the storm. Areas experiencing the turn to rain would have a risk of localized flooding as the rain could total 10 to 40 mm and combine with snow melt.
Drainage systems may be blocked with snow and ice.
There is time for change, but as it stands western/northern Nova Scotia, southern/eastern New Brunswick, and P.E.I. are likely to see the highest snow totals.
A period of northeast and east winds peaking with gusts 60 to 90 km/h is likely Saturday afternoon into night. Where snow is falling heavily, visibility may be reduced to white-out conditions. Wind will turn westerly for Sunday and diminish through the day.
We are still sitting nearly three days out from the start of the storm. There is time to see significant change in the forecast. A pass of the system further east of the Atlantic coastline of Nova Scotia would result in an increase in the snow forecast for that province and lower totals for New Brunswick and P.E.I.
It is strongly recommended that you check frequently in on the weekend forecast through the end of this week.
CTV Chief Meteorologist Kalin Mitchell will have daily updates on the storm on CTV Atlantic news programs, as well as online.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.
Watch fighter jet pilots pummel fake enemy ship off coast of Philippines
The United States and Philippines held annual joint-training drills just off the Southeast Asian nation’s western coast on Wednesday. Military forces sunk a 'mock' enemy warship – the BRP Lake Caliraya, which was a decommissioned tanker made in China.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his head more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.