Major winter storm for Atlantic Canada on tap for Valentine's Day
Meteorologist
Wednesday, February 12, 2014, 7:56 AM -
Is that love forecast to be in the air this Valentine’s Day?
It looks more like snow at this point... And maybe some recycling bins... If you’re tired of this winter, I don’t think you’re going to love this forecast.
Also, if you’re a last-minute kind of guy or gal, we recommend you get your Valentine’s Day goodies ahead of time.
Aim for, latest, Thursday morning in the Maritimes and Thursday afternoon in Newfoundland.
FOLLOW ACTIVE WEATHER: Visit the Alerts section of the website
A powerful storm system is forecast to wreak havoc over the U.S. southeast and northeast this week with snow, rain, ice and winds. This low will then continue its track northward toward Atlantic Canada. Impacts from this system will begin Thursday afternoon and continue into Friday, Valentine’s Day.
Winter storm watches, warnings and advisories are in place from Texas to New Jersey, and everywhere in between. Significant icing is forecast by the National Weather Service occur in parts of the southern U.S. including Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. Where the most significant icing will occur will, as always, depends on the exact track of this system.
Winter weather advisories issued by the National Weather Service in the U.S. ahead of the winter storm (as of February 10, 2014).
The storm will continue its track up the east coast of the U.S. and make its way into the Maritimes Thursday afternoon. The snow will begin Thursday afternoon for the Maritimes and continue into Friday. Newfoundland will begin to feel the effects of the storm late Thursday.
Due to its origins, the system will be bringing milder air with it meaning there will be a boundary with a mix of rain and snow (possibly some freezing rain) and an area of rain. We have greater confidence that New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island will remain all snow for the duration of the storms. Areas along the shores of the Bay of Fundy could see a changeover to rain but it will be short lived. Forecast model consensus shows that Nova Scotia and the majority of Newfoundland will begin as snow and should get a good helping of snow initially. A changeover to rain is then forecast for Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. A brief period of rain-snow mix or freezing rain is possible before the change to rain.
Canadian forecast model's solution to snowfall totals by Friday afternoon (in inches).
NEXT PAGE: HOW CERTAIN IS THE STORM'S TRACK?
