Snow winds down in Newfoundland after some see season's first dusting

Digital WritersThe Weather Network
Digital Writers

People on the Avalon woke up to a dusting of snow Saturday morning, perhaps more than they were expecting, but has now departed as western areas will see some sea-effect accumulations through the day before it winds down.

The end to the first week in November was a snowy one for parts of Newfoundland, with an offshore system yielding the season's initial coating for some areas of the island Friday night, lingering into Saturday. The good news is the last of the snowfall has departed for the Avalon, but some sea-effect snow will be sticking around in western areas Saturday. High pressure already in place in the Maritimes will spread to Newfoundland for the weekend, bringing the return of double-digit temperatures and sunshine to finish the weekend. Beyond, forecasters are closely monitoring the potential for a strong low early next week, which brings the threat for strong winds and heavy rain. More on the timing and impacts of these systems, below.


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SATURDAY: SNOW DIMINISHES IN EASTERN NEWFOUNDLAND, SEA-EFFECT LINGERS IN WEST

An offshore system combined with cooler air provided the first snowfall for parts of Newfoundland Friday night and into Saturday morning.

The Avalon saw saw snow move in Friday night, quickly exiting the region by Saturday morning. However, for western parts of the province, sea-effect snow will continue through the afternoon before dissipating in the evening, but minimal amounts are expected.

As of Saturday morning, St. John's airport recorded 18 cm of snowfall, while Mount Pearl saw 15 cm. Some photos of the snow has surfaced on social media.

Nov. 6 is now the earliest St John's has had 18 cm on the ground, surpassing the previous date of Nov. 16, 1955.

The highest accumulations were expected inland and over higher elevations, with lingering showers expected near the northern coast before the precipitation tapers off Saturday overnight.

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Temperature-wise, daytime highs Saturday will be on the cool side, staying a few degrees below seasonal across Newfoundland and the Maritimes, sitting in the single digits.

ATLTEMPSAT

BEYOND: ABOVE SEASONAL TEMPERATURES NEXT WEEK, BUT EYES ON NEXT STORM

However, sunshine and above seasonal temperatures are expected to return to Atlantic Canada for Sunday and the early part of next week, but forecasters are also keeping an eye on a significant storm system.

The ridge situated over Atlantic Canada will continue to redirect systems north of Labrador and off the Atlantic coast.

"A potent system will track across northern parts of the region with windy conditions and some rain for much of the region, but the potential for a snowstorm for southern Labrador and possibly into northern Newfoundland," says Dr. Doug Gillham, a meteorologist at The Weather Network. "Colder weather [will then spread] across the region late week."

Temperatures will become milder for next weekend.

Thumbnail courtesy of JLaC/Twitter, taken in St. John's, N.L.

Be sure to check back for the latest storm systems impacting Atlantic Canada.