Blizzard conditions possible as major weekend storm approaches
A disruptive winter storm will brush the East Coast this weekend with high winds and heavy snowfall rates
We’re on the lookout for a powerful weekend storm that could bring Newfoundland its largest snowfall totals of the season.
This potential nor’easter will buffet eastern sections of the island with powerful wind gusts and heavy snows, which could lead to blizzard conditions at times. Some communities may see more than 30 cm of snow by Monday morning.
A winter storm watch is in effect for St. John’s ahead of this system’s arrival.
Be sure to keep up-to-date on your local weather alerts and highway conditions before heading out this weekend.
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We’ll start the weekend with some bands of sea-effect snow blowing across the Atlantic provinces through the day Saturday. Heavy snowfall rates and wind gusts over 50 km/h will lead to locally difficult travel conditions, especially in western Newfoundland, on the Burin and Avalon Peninsulas, and Cape Breton.
The main event arrives during the day Sunday.
A low-pressure system expected to develop off the eastern seaboard will bring some disruptive conditions to parts of Atlantic Canada through this weekend.
Snow will begin across the Maritimes on Sunday morning and ease through the evening hours. The heaviest snow should remain offshore, bringing general totals of 5-10 cm to portions of Nova Scotia by the end of the day.
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Our storm will begin to ramp up in a hurry as it passes the Maritimes and makes its way toward southeastern Newfoundland. The storm’s rapid intensification will likely meet weather bomb criteria as it tracks south of the Avalon Peninsula.
The system’s swift strengthening will allow wind gusts to reach 80-100 km/h across southeastern Newfoundland.
Snow will pick up across eastern sections of Newfoundland through Sunday afternoon, peaking into Sunday night before tapering to flurries by Monday morning. Snowfall rates could reach 3-5 cm per hour at the peak of the storm.
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The combination of heavy snow and high winds could lead to blizzard conditions Sunday evening into Monday morning for St. John’s and the surrounding regions.
“If you must travel, keep others informed of your schedule and destination and carry an emergency kit and mobile phone,” Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) said in its winter storm watch for St. John’s.
Overall, the Avalon Peninsula can expect 20-35 cm of snow from this system, with blowing and drifting likely as a result of the strong winds. Folks on the Burin Peninsula are likely in line for 15-30 cm of snow by the end of the storm Monday morning.
Stay with The Weather Network for your latest forecasts across Atlantic Canada.