Potent storm will threaten the East Coast with widespread snow
A bout of heavy snow en route to Atlantic Canada could make travel quite troublesome, if not hazardous, as we kick off the first full week in December.
The threat of heavy, wet snow is building across the Maritimes.
One only has to look at the forecast in Ottawa and Montreal to see what's on deck for Atlantic Canada heading into the new week.
Similar storms in the past have caused hazardous driving conditions, school closures or delayed openings, and cancellations of scheduled activities. Travelling will be quite difficult in spots, especially in areas with the heaviest snowfall rates.
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It is expected that snowfall warnings will be issued in parts of the Maritimes at some point on Sunday as the storm inches closer to the region.
Come Tuesday, the storm will roll into Newfoundland with wintry impacts.
What's behind the next round of wintry weather? Well, you can thank a low-pressure system developing near the Great Lakes for the early-week shot of snow along the East Coast.
Plenty of Gulf moisture streaming into the system will run against cold air locked in at the surface, allowing for a widespread blanket of snow across the Maritimes beginning Sunday evening.
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We’ll see precipitation fill in from southwest to northeast through Sunday evening and into Monday morning. Heavy snowfall rates are likely across the Maritimes early on Monday, potentially creeping toward several centimetres of snow per hour.
The extreme southwestern region of Nova Scotia will be too warm, so they will primarily be seeing rainfall for this event.
Scroll down for a localized snowfall outlook for the city of Halifax.
The heaviest snowfall will develop into Monday morning, impacting the commute across the Halifax region. Heavy, wet snow will make travel difficult for commuters coming in from Sackville and Enfield, with snowfall rates up to 2-3 cm per hour.
Other regions of Nova Scotia are looking at heavy swaths of snow, including Cumberland and Colchester counties. The Cobequid Pass is forecast to see close to 20 cm of snowfall through Monday.
Southern sections of New Brunswick will accumulate 15-20 cm of wet snow as well, including the city of Saint John. Fredericton and Moncton will likely accumulate more than 10 cm of snowfall over the next 24 hours.
Wind's won't be as strong, but with 40-60 km/h gusts, that could make for blowing snow and poor visibility on the roads.
Snow eases Monday afternoon across the Halifax region and most of the Maritimes, while the snow begins its push across the Avalon Peninsula, where up to 10 cm of snowfall is possible.
Temperatures hovering close to the freezing mark will make this a wet, weighty snow that will make shovelling difficult and travelling even tougher. The weight of the snow may also lead to an increased risk for power outages.
As this system departs, on the backside of it, will be a northerly flow, which will prompt the threat of some scattered light snow due to some weak sea-effect snow.
A blanket of wet snow measuring more than 15 cm deep will make for treacherous driving, especially on lesser-travelled side roads. The wet snow could also lead to airport delays and possible cancellations as crews will have to work to clear the sticky snow off aircraft for a safe departure.
Plan ahead for potential travel issues on the road both Monday and Tuesday, and stay up-to-date with the potential for delays and cancellations throughout the region.
Stay with The Weather Network for the latest on this wintry forecast across Atlantic Canada.
