2026 kicks off with snow, ice pellets and rain for the Maritimes

Details on the timing and expected impacts of a storm packing heavy snow, ice pellets, and rain for the Maritimes to start 2026.

A rapidly developing low-pressure system moving north of Cape Cod will swing up through the Bay of Fundy and cross New Brunswick and parts of Nova Scotia late Thursday into Friday, bringing a mix of heavy snow, ice pellets, and rain to the Maritimes.

Environment Canada updated weather statements and warnings for the region at 3:48 p.m. Thursday. Parts of Digby, Annapolis and Kings counties in Nova Scotia are now under a Yellow Warning - Snowfall that could bring close to 15 cm of snow to those areas. Environment Canada issued a Yellow Warning for strong wind at 3:43 p.m. for locations in Cape Breton near Margaree Harbour and Bay St. Lawrence.

Other parts of Nova Scotia remain under a Special Weather Statement that says 10 to 15 cm are possible in other parts of the province.

At 4 p.m. Wednesday, Environment Canada updated a Yellow Warning – Snowfall for parts of New Brunswick. The warning extends from the Bay of Fundy coastline through Fredericton and into the north and northeast of the province. The warning says approximately 15 cm of snow is expected Thursday afternoon into the night.

A Special Weather Statement is in effect for locations in Western, N.B., that say 10-to-15 cm of snow is expected.

A Special Weather Statement was updated to include all of Prince Edward Island, calling for 10-to-15 cm of snow Thursday evening that is expected to change to rain in some areas. Environment Canada said ice pellets and rain mixing may affect overall accumulations for the province.

Snow and rain amounts

If travelling on New Year’s Day, the morning through early afternoon would be best. Weather conditions in the Maritimes will deteriorate quickly late afternoon through evening and night.

New Brunswick will be on the snowiest side of the storm. A large portion of the province can expect snow amounts of 10-to-20 cm. Higher totals of 15-to-30 cm are possible starting just north of Fredericton and continuing towards Campbellton.

Snow totals for communities along the border of New Brunswick and Maine from Woodstock to Edmundston may receive less than 10 cm of snow. Areas directly on the Bay of Fundy coastline may also finish with less than 10 cm if ice pellets and rain mix with the snow.

Nova Scotia can expect a mix of snow, ice pellets and rain. The snow and ice pellet mixture will total five-to-15 cm for the Annapolis Valley, Cumberland/Colchester, and Pictou counties.

The rest of the province will have less than five centimetres of snow and ice pellets before a turn to rain. Rain totals of 10-to-20 mm can be expected.

Much like Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island can expect a mix of snow, ice pellets and rain. The snow and ice pellets could accumulate five-to-15 cm in Prince and Queens counties depending on the nature of the mix. Kings County looks likely to see less than five centimetres of snow and ice pellets before a turn to five-to-10 mm of rain.

Cold wind, flurries

The centre of the storm is expected to move into the Gulf of St. Lawrence Friday morning. A strong pressure gradient in the wake of the system will drive a high and gusty westerly wind across the region on Friday. The wind will return colder air off the continent.

Scattered flurries can be expected along with the cold and gusty weather Friday. Where the wind blows in off ocean water there will be a risk of snow squalls. Areas at most risk of snow squalls on Friday will include the Tri-county region of Nova Scotia, Annapolis Valley, and areas around the Minas Basin.

The wind and risk of snow squalls ease Friday evening and night.

With polar-sourced air moving in from Quebec, the first weekend of January will be cold for the Maritimes. Daytime high temperatures will be a few to several degrees below zero. Nighttime temperatures falling into the minus-teens and for northern New Brunswick the minus-20’s.

Marine Atlantic cancelled its departure scheduled from North Sydney, N.S., at 11:15 p.m., crossing to Port Aux Basques, N.L., following wind warnings off the coast of all three Maritime provinces Thursday. They also cancelled their New Year’s Day crossing at 11:30 p.m., leaving from Port aux Basques travelling to North Sydney. Daytime crossings for Thursday are on schedule.