Spring snow expected for Maritimes, heaviest in Nova Scotia

A slow-moving low-pressure area will move out of the northeastern United States passing southeast of Nova Scotia on Monday. Parts of the province are expecting significant amounts of spring snow over a 24-to-36-hour period.

Snow timing

There are two parts to the weather system. The initial round of snow moves in late Sunday afternoon and night. Then a second round, mostly for Nova Scotia, extends through Monday.

Snow will be falling across southwestern New Brunswick and western Nova Scotia by early Sunday evening. The initial round of snow will exit to the east overnight into early Monday morning.

The remainder of Monday will see snow move in, east-to-west, off the Atlantic ocean. The snow will be steadiest in Nova Scotia and lighter for southern areas of New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.

The snow clears to the northeast Monday evening and night. Some areas of light snow and flurries may linger in parts of eastern Nova Scotia into Tuesday morning coming off the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Snow amounts and weather alerts

Nova Scotia will receive the most snow from the system. A good estimate for the entire province is 5-to-15 cm with amounts as high as 15-20 cm for communities near the Atlantic coastline and higher terrain.

The snow will be wet and heavy and covered, slippery roads are likely Sunday night and Monday. Check for possible delays and cancellations for scheduled events. Special Weather Statements are in effect for the Tri-County area and Atlantic coastal counties in Nova Scotia.

Parts of the southwest of New Brunswick could pick up 5-to-10 cm of snow. Most of that will fall Sunday evening and night. Northern parts of New Brunswick are expecting little if any snow from the system.

Prince Edward Island will see 2-to-5 cm of snow. There could be a bit more locally in the southeast of the province. It is possible that the westernmost areas of the province only see lighter flurries.

Wind

The weather system isn’t expected to bring particularly strong winds

Out of the east and southeast, winds will mostly gust 20-to-40 km/h Sunday night. Gusts could reach 40-to-60 km/h on the southwestern coastline of Nova Scotia.

The wind strength increases on Monday with gusts between 30-to-50 km/h expected from the east and northeast. Some peak gusts in exposed coastal areas in southwestern New Brunswick and southwestern Nova Scotia could reach between 50 and 70 km/h.

The wind will blow northeast Monday night into Tuesday morning with gusts of 20-to-50 km/h expected.