Heavy snow, drenching rain to lead to quick freeze in Atlantic Canada

Digital WritersThe Weather Network
Digital Writers

Heavy snow, rain and winds are blasting through Atlantic Canada, with a drop in temperatures posing a dangerous icy threat for Friday

Widespread weather warnings cover all of Atlantic Canada as a fierce and dynamic storm system takes aim at the region to end this week. Heavy snow is blanketing the northern Maritimes, while a dreary, wind-driven rain will soak the rest of Atlantic Canada for Thursday and Friday.

The quickly deteriorating conditions prompted all schools across New Brunswick to close their doors first thing Thursday. By the early morning hours, 10 cm of snow had already been reported in Fredericton.

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Between 20-30+ cm of snow is expected in northern New Brunswick by the time the system departs Friday morning.

If the precipitation isn’t bad enough, the system will make its strength known through gusty winds of 60-90+ km/h on Thursday. Visibility may be suddenly reduced at times in heavy snow and rapidly accumulating snow will continue to make travel difficult.

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Though most areas saw snow to start early Thursday, warmer air quickly arriving from the south will force much of that snow to transition over to rain, relegating the wintry precipitation to the northern half of New Brunswick and the Gaspe Peninsula.

Between 20-40+ mm of rain is in the forecast for Nova Scotia, where a rainfall warning is in effect.

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"Heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads," says Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) in the rainfall warning. "Localized flooding in low-lying areas is possible."

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Behind the storm system will be a drastic drop in temperatures across the Maritimes Thursday night.

With many places still dealing with snow on the ground from previous storm systems plus Thursday's additional heavy rain and snow, conditions will likely be quite icy to kick off the day on Friday. Residents are being urged to remove as much of the snow from surfaces, gutters and drains before conditions cool and everything ices up Friday.

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More back-to-back storms to follow

A few days of quieter weather are forecast over the weekend, with near to slightly above seasonal temperatures. Forecasters expect the next system to track across the region on Monday, with rain for the south and snow for the central and northern sections the likely outcome once again.

Colder temperatures are likely for a couple days during the middle of next week, but the active pattern will continue with more storms expected late week and weekend.

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Be sure to check back for the latest weather updates across Atlantic Canada.