Widespread freezing rain warnings for prolonged icy period in Atlantic Canada
A significant period of freezing rain is expected across parts of Atlantic Canada through Thursday, as a sprawling Colorado low impacts millions this week
Freezing rain warnings are widespread across Atlantic Canada, as a sprawling Colorado low moves across much of central and eastern Canada through Thursday. Ice pellets and a significant period of freezing rain will be the main threats with this storm system for the East Coast.
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Snow will first move into New Brunswick and Nova Scotia through Wednesday afternoon and evening, dropping about 5-15 cm across west central New Brunswick to eastern Nova Scotia.
The swath of snow will fall ahead of a warm front that makes its way through by Thursday morning. The slight bump in temperatures will bring in the risk of ice pellets and freezing rain during the pre-dawn hours on Thursday, continuing through the early afternoon, as well.
The regions with the greatest threat for the most significant freezing rain will be Saint John and Fredericton, N.B., and over to Halifax, N.S. Some areas could see 10-12 hours of ice accretion.
"Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become icy and slippery," says Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) in the freezing rain warning. "Be prepared to adjust your driving with changing road conditions."
The freezing rain will gradually change to rain across the region later Thursday, but then blustery and colder-than-seasonal temperatures will persist through the Easter long weekend.
The Colorado low will move into Newfoundland Thursday evening, with the dominant precipitation type being freezing rain as well. It will quickly spread into the Avalon Peninsula through the overnight and then move out by late Friday morning. This will still create slippery conditions on the roads for Friday morning.
Snow, on the other hand, will be the dominant precipitation type for the Northern Peninsula.
Fair and milder conditions are expected early next week, though with eyes on the next significant storm system possible Tuesday and Wednesday.
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Thumbnail courtesy of Mike MacDonald. Stay tuned to The Weather Network for the latest forecast updates across Atlantic Canada.
