Mix of snow, rain Wednesday night and Thursday; nor'easter Friday night into Saturday

Snowy start to weekend CTV Atlantic’s Kalin Mitchell shares the latest update about significant snowfall expected for parts of the Maritimes this weekend.

A fast-moving mix of snow and rain will come across the Maritimes Wednesday night through Thursday afternoon. A stronger coastal storm threatens a heavier snowfall for parts of the region late Friday night through Saturday.

Wednesday night and Thursday snow, rain mix

A Texas Low will skirt the Atlantic coastline of Nova Scotia Wednesday night through Thursday afternoon. The system will bring a mix of snow and rain to the region.

Light snow develops across northern New Brunswick through Wednesday evening. A mix of snow and rain will develop for southern parts of that province overnight. A snow/rain mix is in place for Prince Edward Island and northern areas of Nova Scotia by early Thursday morning, with rain developing for the remainder of Nova Scotia.

The mix of snow and rain clears the Maritimes by early Thursday afternoon, with isolated flurries and showers behind it in the afternoon into evening.

The speed of the weather system will limit snow and rain totals. A few to several centimetres of snow is expected in parts of New Brunswick, Cape Breton Highlands, and western Prince Edward Island. The rest of the Maritimes will see lower snow amounts mixed in with about 5-to-15 mm of rain.

Wind is not expected to be an issue with the system. The wind on Thursday will change quickly from the southeast to the northwest by afternoon. Gusts of 30 to 50 km/h are expected through the afternoon.

Friday night into Saturday nor’easter

An area of low pressure will develop off the coastline of the Carolinas early Friday morning. As the low moves north, it will gain strength from the difference between colder air over the continent and mild, moist air over the Atlantic becoming a nor’easter. The storm is expected to pass by just to the east of the Atlantic coastline of Nova Scotia on Saturday.

That is a prime track for a heavier snowfall for parts of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and possibly southeastern areas of New Brunswick. That track keeps colder air in place while the storm still gets close enough to wrap in heavy moisture. The combination of the cold air and moisture will lead to a more significant snowfall.

While still early, there are increasing indications that a swath of 15 to 30 cm of snow could come across mainland Nova Scotia and into Prince Edward Island. Cape Breton will likely see a more significant mix of snow, ice pellets, freezing rain, and rain. Snowfall amounts will diminish into northern and western areas of New Brunswick. There is still time to see change in both location and amount of the heaviest snow expected. Best to paint this one in broad strokes this far out.

Wind will be out of the northeast Friday night into Saturday morning. Gusts near the Atlantic coastline of Nova Scotia could approach 50 to 80 km/h. Gusts of 30 to 50 km/h are expected for much of the rest of the region.

Environment Canada has posted special weather statements for mainland Nova Scotia as well as Kings and Queens counties in Prince Edward Island. The statement cautions on a significant snowfall being likely Friday night into Saturday. The weather agency recommends to continue monitoring the forecast and any future weather alerts as we approach the end of the week.