Mix of snow and rain expected for the Maritimes Thursday
A combination of snow, rain and wind warnings have been issued for the Maritimes by Environment Canada.
In New Brunswick, a snowfall warning is in effect for much of the northern half of the province, where rapid snow accumulation is expected to make travel difficult Thursday.
Rainfall warnings extend across southwestern New Brunswick and across mainland Nova Scotia. For those areas, higher rainfall amounts may combine with snow melt to increase the risk of hydroplaning conditions and localized flooding.
A wind warning blankets Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. It’s also in effect for the Acadian Peninsula and coastal Charlotte County in New Brunswick.
A strong southerly wind may peak with widespread gusts of 60 to 80 kilometres per hour, and 80 to 100 kilometres per hour winds on exposed areas of the coast and higher terrain.
Stronger gusts of 130 kilometres are expected Margaree Harbour to Bay St. Lawrence in Cape Breton due to the topography of the Highlands.
The strong wind will drive a rough and pounding surf on the coast and give a risk of scattered power outages.
THURSDAY MORNING
Snow will arrive in western New Brunswick and southwestern Nova Scotia near midnight.
By early Thursday morning, a moderate-to-heavy snow will be falling across New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and northern areas of Nova Scotia.
Snow turning to rain along the Bay of Fundy coastline in New Brunswick and in western Nova Scotia. Central and northern areas of New Brunswick will see snow amounts climb to and in excess of 10 centimetres quickly.
Expect driving conditions to deteriorate just a few hours after the snow begins to fall.
Wind will be southeast, except east in northern areas of New Brunswick. Gusts will increase into a range of 40 to 60 kilometres per hour, except 70 to 90 kilometres per hour for coastal areas of southwestern New Brunswick and southwestern Nova Scotia.
Snow and rain will quickly spread across the Maritimes Thursday morning.
THURSDAY AFTERNOON
Snow will have turned to rain by early Thursday afternoon for all but the northernmost area of New Brunswick.
Communities from Edmundston and Grand Falls, Campbellton-Dalhousie, and Bathurst will still be in a mix of snow, ice pellets and freezing rain. Precipitation rates will be high with visibility reduced and hydroplaning conditions on roads.
The wind will be prevailing from the south for most of the Maritimes. Gusts will have increased into a range of 50 to 80 kilometres per hour, except 80 to 100 kilometres on the coast and at higher terrain.
In the thick of the inclement weather, snow and rain rates will be high and southerly winds increasingly strong.
THURSDAY EVENING AND NIGHT
Rain and snow will ease to patchy areas of flurries, showers, and drizzle by late evening. The light and scattered precipitation will continue into the overnight hours.
Temperatures will fall back below freezing for all three Maritime provinces.
Watch for wet or slushy surfaces to turn icy for Friday morning. Wind direction will be west to southwest. Peak gusts will come down into a range of 40 to 70 kilometres per hour. Wind will diminish further through Friday morning with westerly gusts in a range of 30 to 50 kilometres per hour by near noon.
Precipitation becomes lighter and more scattered in coverage Thursday night. Icy surfaces are expected by Friday morning as temperatures fall back below freezing.
SNOW AND RAIN AMOUNTS
The most snow and ice pellet accumulation is expected in the area of New Brunswick from about Woodstock to Miramichi and north.
Snow amounts could reach 20 to 30 centimetres, even though some mixing in of freezing rain and rain looks likely, which will make for heavier snow removal.
Fredericton and central areas of New Brunswick could pick up an initial 10 to 20 centimetres of snow before the turn to rain.
Progressively lower snow amounts are expected for southern areas of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia as the turn to rain will be quicker.
Rain totals of 30 to 50 millimetres are expected in southwestern New Brunswick and across much of Nova Scotia. Local rain amounts of 50 to 70 millimetres are possible along the Atlantic coastline of Nova Scotia. Frozen and saturated ground will increase the amount of water runoff during the rain.
The most snow is expected in northern areas of New Brunswick, with much of the rest of the region seeing a quicker turn from snow to rain.
TRAVEL
The Confederation Bridge, Bay Ferries, Marine Atlantic and Tancook Ferry have stated closures may be possible Thursday, affecting travel.
Cancellations are expected Thursday across the region given the deteriorating conditions. Travelers are reminded to check ahead before heading out.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump making 'joke' about Canada becoming 51st state is 'reassuring': Ambassador Hillman
Canada’s ambassador to the U.S. insists it’s a good sign U.S. president-elect Donald Trump feels 'comfortable' joking with Canadian officials, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Mexico president says Canada has a 'very serious' fentanyl problem
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly is not escalating a war of words with Mexico, after the Mexican president criticized Canada's culture and its framing of border issues.
Quebec doctors who refuse to stay in public system for 5 years face $200K fine per day
Quebec's health minister has tabled a bill that would force new doctors trained in the province to spend the first five years of their careers working in Quebec's public health network.
Freeland says it was 'right choice' for her not to attend Mar-a-Lago dinner with Trump
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says it was 'the right choice' for her not to attend the surprise dinner with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Mar-a-Lago with U.S. president-elect Donald Trump on Friday night.
Bad blood? Taylor Swift ticket dispute settled by B.C. tribunal
A B.C. woman and her daughter will be attending one of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour shows in Vancouver – but only after a tribunal intervened and settled a dispute among friends over tickets.
NDP won't support Conservative non-confidence motion that quotes Singh
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he won't play Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's games by voting to bring down the government on an upcoming non-confidence motion.
Eminem's mother Debbie Nelson, whose rocky relationship fuelled the rapper's lyrics, dies at age 69
Debbie Nelson, the mother of rapper Eminem whose rocky relationship with her son was known widely through his hit song lyrics, has died. She was 69.
Canadians warned to use caution in South Korea after martial law declared then lifted
Global Affairs Canada is warning Canadians in South Korea to avoid demonstrations and exercise caution after the country's president imposed an hours-long period of martial law.
Calgary man who drove U-Haul over wife sentenced to 15 years
A Calgary man who killed his wife in 2020 when he drove over her in a loaded U-Haul has been sentenced to 15 years behind bars.