Was the groundhog right? Another winter storm brews in Eastern Canada

Monday, February 2, 2015, 9:04 AM - Widespread weather warnings blanket the Atlantic provinces as another winter storm moves in.

Chances are most Maritimers had a shovel out Saturday and Sunday morning.

A massive storm slammed the region over the weekend, leaving behind a real mess, with some areas recording almost 40 cm.

Even though it was moving out on Sunday, strong winds are still a nightmare for drivers, whipping the snow around enough to drive down visibility.

Unfortunately, it may be best to keep the shovel handy, as Atlantic Canada is in line for yet another winter storm.

"The system impacting southern Ontario Sunday will move into the Maritimes on Monday," Weather Network meteorologist Kelly Sonnenburg said early Sunday.

Winter storm watches are widespread across the region, with parts of Atlantic Canada in for more than 40 cm of snow.

Maritimes storm timing and progression

• Snow will move into the southern portions of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia for Monday mid-morning and continue to move north reaching P.E.I. by Monday afternoon
• Snow will change to a mix or rain for Atlantic coast sections of Nova Scotia and Cape Breton
• Winds will pick up in intensity throughout the day as the low pressure system strengthens leading to blizzard or blizzard-like conditions for Nova Scotia, P.E.I., and eastern New Brunswick Monday night into Tuesday morning (blizzard-like because we may not meet official “blizzard” criteria but winds and falling snow will create dangerous driving conditions with very low visibilities).

Winds and snow will ease into Tuesday afternoon and evening.

While New Brunswick bore the biggest brunt of the last storm, Nova Scotia escaped with mostly rain or a rain snow mix. That won't be the case this time, as Halifax is in for an all-snow blast of up to 35 cm.

Hard-hit southern New Brunswick was slammed last time, and Saint John and Moncton are again in for a major snowfall, which will affect the province's major southern highways.

Maritimes Snowfall Forecast

• Western Nova Scotia: 15-30 cm
• Eastern Nova Scotia: Highlight variable due to mixed precipitation
• Eastern New Brunswick: 20-40+ cm
• Western PEI: 20-40+ cm
• Eastern PEI: 15-30 cm

Wind Forecast: 

• Mainland Nova Scotia: Gusts 50-70 km/h 
• Cape Breton: Gusts 80-100 km/h 
• P.E.I.: Gusts 80-100 km/h, possible 110+ km/h gusts eastern P.E.I. 
• New Brunswick: Gusts 50-70 km/h

Newfoundland storm timing and progression 

• Precipitation moves in to the southern parts of the province Monday night and Labrador early Tuesday morning
• Precipitation will remain snow through the night Monday changing over to a mix then over to rain
• Blizzard or blizzard-like conditions will develop Tuesday morning and continue through the day Tuesday for eastern Labrador 

Newfoundland and Labrador snowfall forecast 

• Western Newfoundland: 15-30 cm 
• Eastern Newfoundland: 5-10 cm 
• Avalon Peninsula: Less than 5 cm snow, 20-50 mm of rain 
• Labrador: 20-40 cm

Wind Forecast: 

• Avalon, Burin & Bonavista Peninsulas: 100-120 km/h 
• Burgeo to Gander: 80-100 km/h 
• Wreckhouse area: Gusts 120+ km/h 
• Eastern Labrador and western Newfoundland: Gusts 80-100 km/h

Closures and Cancellations

Some schools and businesses are closing early in anticipation of the storm's arrival Monday afternoon.

The approaching storm and winter weather elsewhere have prompted flight delays and cancellations in Fredericton and Halifax.

An overnight parking ban is in effect for Halifax beginning Tuesday from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m.