Outlook: A Roller Coaster Ride Into Christmas

With many of us busy on the roads and sidewalks, thought it was worth posting a note to provide an outlook of conditions between now and Christmas.

Today (Wednesday) some mixed precipitation will develop, and temperatures will rise above zero then drop again below zero tonight.

 

 

On Thursday, a vigorous trough of low pressure and Arctic Front will be accompanied by a band of snow (mixed with rain along the Atlantic coast).  As this system passes,  VERY COLD air and strong winds will develop.  Visibilities will drop in the snow, and everything will freeze solid as temperatures drop rapidly to minus 15 to minus 25 overnight Thursday with wind chills at least minus 25 to minus 35.

 

The very cold and gusty northwest winds will induce snow squalls off the Bay of Fundy, Gulf of St. Lawrence and Northumberland Strait affecting PEI, the Annapolis Valley, and the Strait region as well as Cape Breton in Nova Scotia.  Some squalls may also affect eastern New Brunswick, especially the Acadian Peninsula.  Snow and blowing snow will reduce visibilities quickly to near zero, and again, parts of Cape Breton may get high accumulations.  Some of these squalls may cross Cape Breton and the Mainland to affect Halifax or Sydney.

 

While Saturday morning will remain cold with some squalls, believe it or not, snow will again move into the Maritimes later in the day Saturday then change through a wintry mix to rain and drizzle over all three provinces by Sunday afternoon.

The cold air returns Monday, with more flurries or snow squalls.

If we are lucky, the weather, although chilly, will be quiet for the middle of next week, before another system moves in late week.

Suffice to say that with the roller coaster ride, the White Christmas question is 50-50 for Halifax; better chances further north.

Impact summary:

• Driving may be slick tonight as temperatures drop
• Surfaces will freeze quickly Thursday afternoon/evening and snow may be briefly heavy making driving hazardous
• Wind Chills Thursday night, Friday and early Saturday will be high: warnings may be issued and you need to dress accordingly and pack emergency gear for road travel.
• Snow squalls may be very bad on Friday: prepare for possibility of blizzard conditions (especially Cape Breton and Eastern PEI/Strait??)
• Potentially messy driving Saturday night
• Perhaps some fog Sunday in mild air
• Cold again Monday with a freeze and snow squalls developing

Check the radar, latest Environment Canada Forecasts and Warnings, and Road Conditions and web cameras before heading out.  Bundle up yourself and the kids for what might be the coldest day of the year Friday! Cold again early next week.

You’ll likely need lots of salt for driveways and walkways over the next week.

Stay Safe over the Holidays and Merry Christmas

Jim

#weather