Blustering winter storm continues for Atlantic Canada, next storm on its way
A powerful winter storm takes hold of Atlantic Canada, with the risk for climbing power outages as heavy snow and strong winds hit. This won't be the last of the intense winter weather this week, either
Another powerful winter storm has been making its way across Eastern Canada through Tuesday and Wednesday. As snow started to pick up and conditions deteriorated, several schools across the Maritimes opted to close their doors ahead of the expected impacts early Wednesday.
With 5-20+ cm of snow forecast, alongside 70-100+ km/h wind gusts, travel will be treacherous in the hardest-hit areas. On the Trans-Canada Highway from the Quebec border to Fredericton, N.B., driving conditions are extremely dangerous with reduced visibility. Drivers are being urged to postpone non-essential travel until conditions improve.
This won't be the last of this week's winter weather either, with forecasters closing watching a massive and powerful storm for the weekend.
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Wednesday: Heavy snow and winds pick up, power outages likely
Very gusty winds, heavy snow and buckets of rainfall are all expected on Wednesday across the Maritimes. That's as a wide and far-reaching winter storm blasts through Eastern Canada.
Thousands of customers across the Maritime provinces have been without power on Wednesday due to the high winds and heavy precipitation.
Rain started early Wednesday across Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, as snow crept into southwestern Newfoundland.
15-30 cm of snowfall is expected along the southwest coast of Newfoundland through Thursday morning, with very gusty winds moving through the overnight, lending to whiteouts and blowing snow conditions.
Gusts are likely to remain 70-100+ km/h through Wednesday overnight in the eastern Maritimes and southwestern Newfoundland.
Power outages will likely climb by Wednesday evening, especially for those with close proximity to the coast. Conditions improve Thursday morning as the front continues to move into Newfoundland, but will remain breezy.
The Confederation Bridge between New Brunswick and P.E.I was closed to all traffic, as winds were gusting over 125 km/h early Wednesday afternoon.
Newfoundland can expect snow to begin Wednesday evening in the southwest where the heaviest snow will be, with much lighter snow expected in the east.
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Another messy system is expected during the weekend with strong winds, snow, ice and rain. Forecasters are closely watching this massive and powerful Colorado low, as it tracks from the Great Lakes to northern Quebec. This weekend storm will potentially fulfill the criteria for a "weather bomb."
During the middle of next week, we also have the potential for a storm to develop near the U.S. East Coast and intensify as it tracks into Atlantic Canada.
Image shows a transport truck that skidded off the road in Shubenacadie, N.S., on Jan. 10, 2024. (John Carlo Bajen/Submitted)
Stay with The Weather Network for the latest on conditions across Atlantic Canada.