Kalin's Call: Special weather statements remain in effect for all three Maritime provinces
A low-pressure system east of Florida will merge with a cold front to develop into a powerful winter storm that will move northward, just off the eastern U.S. seaboard, before crossing Nova Scotia into the Gulf of St. Lawrence by Sunday.
The central pressure of the storm, a measure of its strength, will fall rapidly Friday into Saturday - classic nor’easter development. You may hear this system referred to as a “weather bomb” which is a reference to the speed at which it develops, including a drop of central pressure by more than 24 millibars in 24 hours.
Weather conditions deteriorate in the Maritimes Saturday morning through afternoon.
Heavier snow arrives for Nova Scotia Saturday morning. Heavier snow reaches New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island Saturday afternoon. Much of Nova Scotia turns through ice pellets and freezing rain, to rain Saturday afternoon. Ice pellets, freezing rain, and rain mixing in for P.E.I. Saturday evening. Snow continues for New Brunswick into Sunday morning. The mix of precipitation in the Maritimes clears west-to-east Sunday morning and afternoon. A quick fall in temperatures, back below zero, on Sunday for Nova Scotia and P.E.I. will turn wet and slushy surfaces to ice.
The centre of the storm passes near the South Shore of Nova Scotia before crossing northern areas of that province and P.E.I. on the way into the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
The track of the storm looks like it will hug the South Shore of Nova Scotia before crossing the north of the mainland and P.E.I. on the way into the Gulf of St. Lawrence. That passage is favourable for higher snowfall totals in western/northern Nova Scotia, southern/eastern New Brunswick, as well as P.E.I. Snow accumulation tapers lower towards the Atlantic coastline of Nova Scotia and the east of the province, including Cape Breton, as a quicker turn to rain will occur. Snowfall will taper lower into the northwest of New Brunswick being on the fringe of the storm.
Localized flooding is a risk where the system turns to heavy rain for Nova Scotia. The ground is frozen and drainage systems may be blocked by snow and ice.
The most snow accumulation still looks likely in western/northern Nova Scotia, southern/eastern New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.
Living up to the name, there will be a period of stronger winds from the north and northeast during the passage of the nor’easter. Expect those winds to ramp up Saturday afternoon into night. Widespread gusts of 50 to 80 km/h can be expected with exposed areas of the coast peaking 80 to 100 km/h. Northern Inverness County in Cape Breton will hit gusts above 100 km/h Saturday evening and night due to the topography of the Highlands. Visibility will be reduced in blowing snow and rain. You may want to plan to avoid or limit unnecessary travel Saturday afternoon and night if you are in an area expecting the heavier snow or heavier mix of precipitation.
Winds will turn northwest and west on Sunday diminishing through the day.
A period of strong northeast winds is expected late Saturday afternoon, evening, and night.
Special Weather Statements remain in effect for all three Maritime provinces. In the statements, Environment Canada advised the public to monitor the forecast and any weather alerts issued in the coming days. I’ll have daily updates on CTV Atlantic news programming and online.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.