With yet another blast of snow coming in time for March Break, Maritimers headed south aren’t looking back — that is, if they make it out in time.
Spring Break is one of the busiest travel times of the year, and it starts Monday in P.E.I. and Nova Scotia.
The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority predicts that about 64,000 passengers will pass through security at Halifax Stanfield International Airport over a 10-day period.
But with a wallop of white stuff forecasted for the region this weekend, air travellers are left to wait and hope that their flights aren’t affected.
“We know we are going somewhere sunny, so we don't really care what happens at home at this point,” one traveller told CTV News Thursday.
Airlines had yet to reschedule any flights out of the Maritimes’ largest airport as of Thursday.
With CTV Atlantic meteorologist Cindy Day calling for 10-15 centimetres of snow for Halifax and the Eastern Shore, starting late Saturday night, many air travellers are crossing their fingers.
Gary Elliott, travelling to Cuba from Halifax on Thursday, had been anxiously watching for weather updates.
“Always, every day. And I saw what was coming this weekend and I'll I can say is God help you.,” Elliott said.
Day is forecasting that two weather systems will come together over the weekend, intensifying into a Nor’easter, bringing strong, gusting winds from the northeast on Sunday.
Heavier amounts are expected elsewhere, with 20 centimetres or more forecast for Saint John, Moncton, the Annapolis Valley, northern Nova Scotia, Cape Breton and most of P.E.I.
Day is calling for 15 centimetres of snowfall for Fredericton, and a dusting of two to five centimetres for northern New Brunswick.
In southwestern Nova Scotia, around Yarmouth and Shelburne, the snow could change to rainfor a time, with forecasted snowfall between five and 10 centimetres, Day said.
Officials at Halifax Stanfield International Airport are reminding travellers to give themselves extra time to make their flights — even if the plane is on time, the roads may be slow and hazardous.
Travel agent Myranda Miller says those travelling on charter flights have extra reason to worry: Those planes won’t leave early, so significant weather could delay take-off for charter flights.
The airlines won't cover for weather delays — they generally only cover for mechanical — so you'll have to wait out the storm,” Miller said.
On Sunday, there are 11 charter flights booked to leave Halifax for the southern sunshine of Mexico, Florida and the Dominican Republic.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Kelland Sundahl
