Snowfall warnings in effect as Nor’easter moves in for Sunday night; here is where the heaviest will fall

A pedestrian crosses the road with a snow brush as high winds and heavy snow blanket Halifax, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. An intense winter storm closed schools and interrupted travel across most of Nova Scotia on Wednesday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese

A strengthening low-pressure system will move north of Cape Cod Sunday afternoon. The storm centre then passes close to Sable Island as it moves past Nova Scotia Sunday night. That keeps the Maritimes on the colder, snowier side. Here is what to expect for each province.

New Brunswick

Furthest away from the passing Nor’easter much of New Brunswick will only receive flurries or light snow.

Northern parts of the province only have a chance of flurries Sunday night and Monday.

Light snow is expected in the south of New Brunswick. Fredericton is likely to see 1 to 4 cm of snow with the Bay of Fundy area (including coastal Charlotte County, Campobello, Grand Manan and Saint John) as well as Moncton and the southeast seeing as much as 5 to 10 cm.

Wind is not expected to be impactful. Remaining out of the northeast with gusts of 20 to 40 km/h Sunday night into Monday morning.

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia will be significantly impacted by the snow and is under a Yellow Warning - Snowfall.

The warning calls for 15 to 25 cm of dense, heavy snow to fall Sunday evening through Monday morning. The dense nature of the snow will make it more strenuous to clear with the weather agency recommending individuals take frequent breaks and to not overexert themselves.

The precipitation may initially begin as rain in western Nova Scotia early Sunday evening but is expected to turn completely to snow by 9 p.m. The most snow falls for the province between 9 p.m. Sunday and 7 a.m. Monday.

Some communities directly on the Atlantic coastline of Nova Scotia could see ice pellets mix with the snow Sunday night. Where that happens overall snow totals might finish a bit less than 15 cm, but it will still be very slick and the snow-ice mix even heavier to shovel.

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Expect Monday commutes, especially the morning, to be significantly impacted. Roads will be snow covered and slippery with ongoing plow operations. The amount of snow is also likely to delay or cancel events such as the school day.

The wind will be out of the northeast Sunday night into Monday morning with peak gusts of 30 to 50 km/h. Typically I wouldn’t expect much impact from those wind speeds but they are enough to get the snow blowing around as it falls further reducing visibility. The wind speeds are expected to increase in the Cabot Strait and I would recommend checking on any Marine Atlantic ferry crossing delays.

Prince Edward Island

The heaviest snow is forecast to fall in Kings and Queens counties, and both are under a Yellow Warning - Snowfall.

Like Nova Scotia the warning calls for 15 to 25 cm of snow to fall Sunday night through Monday morning. The further east in the province you are, the more likely the snow will reach the 20 or 25 cm mark. While ice pellets are unlikely to mix with the snow for P.E.I. it will still be heavy to move by hand.

Expect a light snow to begin between 9 and 11 p.m. Sunday. The snow will then be heaviest 11 p.m. Sunday through 10 a.m. Monday. Plan for slick and snow-covered roads for the morning commute. Check in for any cancellations.

While Prince County is not under the snowfall warning, communities there should still expect 5 to 10 cm of snow.

A northerly wind with gusts of 20 to 40 km/h will accompany the snow and shouldn’t be impactful.