Today, as our brutal winter departs, is quite spring-like. The sun, being as high in the sky as it is in late September, will make it feel warmer than the actual temperatures, which remain below normal.
Spring Equinox arrives at 7:45 this evening; and the length of daylight has accelerated.
Late on Saturday, and Saturday night, a rather complex weather pattern will result in some messy conditions. A system moving in from the St. Lawrence Valley will spread light snow across northern New Brunswick in the evening. Meanwhile, a low pressure are passing to the south of Nova Scotia will be accompanied by mixed precipitation; once again later in the day.
As these systems combine near Cape Breton Island Saturday night, the precipitation will increase in intensity over eastern Nova Scotia, and rain will ultimately change back to snow over parts of eastern Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island as winds increase out of the north . By Sunday morning winds will shift to strong westerly, and cold air will cover the Maritimes. Some snow squalls may persist on Sunday in the Cape Breton Highlands.
Note: if the winds shift to north earlier Saturday night, the area of expected rain will change to mixed precipitation or snow.
IMPACTS: mostly Saturday night and Sunday morning
While snowfalls are not expected to be high, any additional snowfall is just adding to the transportation and clean-up misery. A chance of freezing rain will also make surfaces slippery; as will rain falling on snow packed or ice covered roads or walkways. Furthermore, 20-40mm of rain plus some snowmelt will cause significant pooling of water, which would turn into local flooding where storm drains and culverts are plugged by snow and ice.
The additional weight of rain or snow will contribute to snow loads, which remain a significant threat, especially to any aged infrastructure. Ice damming continues to be a concern on many roofs.
The drop in temperature Saturday night, will result in some icy conditions on Sunday where slush and pools of water freeze.
stay safe
