Saturday, 19 March 2022, 20:54 – A sleet of frozen rain Saturday night on Sunday morning could disrupt travel plans, threatening power outages and tree damage for some areas.
The Atlantic provinces start an astronomical spring on Sunday with a winter storm rolling over the region. We will see a bit of everything from this system: heavy rain in the south, freezing rain in the north, and a nasty mix over Newfoundland. With snow and freezing rain in the forecast, overnight travel Saturday to Sunday is not recommended. We could see power outages in the hardest hit areas. More about what to expect this weekend, below.
Visit our Complete Guide to Spring 2022 for a detailed look at the spring forecast, tips for planning it and much more!
SUGGESTION SUNDAY: MESSY MIX WANTS TO TRAVEL FOR WRITING, CAN CUT POWER
A number of warnings are in force up and down the east coast before storms. Precipitation warnings hurt the southern coast of Nova Scotia, while frozen rain warnings stretch across central New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton. Winter storms and snow warnings cover the northern maritime and parts of Newfoundland.
Precipitation begins as snow in the afternoon in northern New Brunswick and then passes through frozen rain overnight on Sunday morning before turning to rain. In the southern part of the region a rain-snow mixture will start, and then in the evening rain, sometimes heavy. The rain is expected to pull up to showers on Sunday morning.
Precipitation will move into the rest of the Maritimes overnight Saturday through Sunday. Flurries or ice pellets will change quickly in the frozen rain in Nova Scotia. The winter mix continues until Sunday morning in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island before turning into rain.
The highest potential for ice accretion falls over Prince Edward Island, northern Nova Scotia, and central New Brunswick. Power outages and damage to tree pieces are possible when ice accretions reach or exceed about 10 mm. Prepare now for potential power outages over the affected areas.
“Surfaces such as motorways, roads, pedestrians and car parks will become icy, slippery and extremely dangerous. Do not consider delaying significant journeys until conditions improve,” the ECCC said in its freezing rain warning.
Cooler temperatures above the atmosphere allow precipitation to fall, as mostly snow over the northern Maritimes and Newfoundland.
In Newfoundland, snow and sleet begin on Sunday morning before passing through ice pellets and frozen rain and sleet in the evening. Snowfall quantities will vary considerably, with the heaviest rates and greatest accumulation expected over higher terrain.
People over northern New Brunswick can expect to see 5-15 cm of snow by Sunday, while 10-20 cm of snow could fall over western and northern Newfoundland, and storm surges of 5-15 cm are possible over southeastern sections of the island.
With strong winds the journey is dangerous due to reduced visibility in some places.
WEEK ONLY: COOLER, SEE ANOTHER SYSTEM
There will be heavy snow for western Newfoundland at the back of the system until Monday.
We will see cooler air spread across Atlantic Canada behind the system. Daytime temperatures around seasonal will feel cool compared to the upper seasonal temperatures we have seen in recent days for much of the region.
Another pressure system will hit the Atlantic provinces late next week, with every type of precipitation possible.
Thumbnail Powered by Christine Filipowich, taken in Sydney, NS
Stay tuned to The Weather Network for the latest forecast across Atlantic Canada.
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