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
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
'A huge difference': These adults born in the '90s partnered with their parents to buy homes in Ontario
An Ontario woman said it would have been impossible to buy a house without her mother – an anecdote that animates the fact that over 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners born in the ‘90s own their property with their parents, according to a new report.
OPINION No reunion between Prince Harry and the King signifies a setback for royal unity
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.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
How Drake and Kendrick Lamar's rap beef escalated within weeks
A long-simmering feud between hip-hop superstars Drake and Kendrick Lamar reached a boiling point in recent days as the pair traded increasingly personal insults on a succession of diss tracks. Here’s a quick overview of what’s behind the ongoing beef.
NEW For their protection, immigrants critical of China and India call for speedy passage of Canada's foreign interference legislation
Canadian immigrants threatened by hostile regimes are urging parliamentarians to quickly pass the 'Countering Foreign Interference Act' so they can feel safe living in their adopted home.
Ontario man devastated to learn $150,000 line of credit isn't insured after wife dies
An Ontario man found out that a line of credit he thought was insured actually isn't after his wife of 50 years died.
Spanish prosecutors recommend 2nd investigation into Shakira's taxes be thrown out
Spanish state prosecutors recommended Wednesday that an investigating judge shelve a probe into another alleged case of tax fraud by pop star Shakira.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.