Significant storm to impact Atlantic Canada

A weather system will push across the Maritimes this afternoon and will bring snow to New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia.

New Brunswick

Across western and central sections of the province, snowfall amounts of around 15 centimetres are expected combined with wind gusts between 50 and 70 km/h. For eastern and southern New Brunswick, snowfall amounts between 20 and 30 centimetres are expected with wind gusts between 60 and 90 km/h. Widespread blowing snow is expected.

Prince Edward Island

Total snowfall amounts between 20 and 40 centimetres are expected. Additionally, winds will gust to 100 km/h. Widespread blowing snow is expected.

Strong winds and pounding surf combined with high tides tonight will cause higher than normal water levels for the north-facing coastlines of northern Prince Edward Island.

Nova Scotia

15 to 20 centimetres of snow are expected along the South Shore and Halifax County West. For areas under the winter storm warning, 25 to 45 centimetres of snow is expected. Winds will gust between 80 and 90 km/h. Widespread blowing snow is expected.

Some rain is expected today into Saturday morning along Atlantic coastal counties from Halifax County - East of Porters Lake eastward to Sydney Metro and Cape Breton County.

Newfoundland

From there the low will move toward Newfoundland by this evening and Saturday.

Snow will move across the province tonight combined with strong winds. 15 to 20 centimetres of snow is expected for central and western Newfoundland tonight combined with winds gusting to 100 km/h. On Saturday, central and western Newfoundland will see an additional 5 to 10 cm of snow combined with strong winds gusting between 80 to 120 km/h in some areas. Widespread blowing snow is expected.

On the Avalon Peninsula and Burin Peninsula snow will change to ice pellets and then to rain tonight. Snowfall amounts around 5 centimetres are expected. Rainfall amounts of 5 millimetres are expected combined with wind gusts to 100 km/h. On Saturday rain will change to flurries with about 2 centimetres expected. Winds will gust to 110 km/h.

Marine Atlantic has changed the departure time for the Port aux Basques to North Sydney crossing. That crossing will depart at 11:00 am and the North Sydney to Port aux Basques crossing will depart this morning at 10:30 am.

Crossings for tonight are expected to be impacted.