The Maritimes could see a few calmer days ahead as the wind eases up and as a coastal storm passing late Thursday into Friday continues to look like it will be far enough offshore to spare the region much inclement weather.
Calmer Wednesday and Thursday
With the powerful winter storm that impacted the region Sunday through Tuesday finally out over the North Atlantic, the wind has significantly diminished in the Maritimes.
A northwesterly wind for Wednesday will be sustained 15-to-30 km/h with gusts of 30-to-50 km/h. There will be a mix of sun and cloud across the Maritime provinces along with some spotty flurries. The risk of snow squalls has ended and any flurries present are expected to be light. High temperature on Wednesday will range -4 C to +1 C for the Maritimes. There will be overnight lows of -7 C to -14 C in New Brunswick, -5 C to -9 C in Nova Scotia, and -7 C to -9 C in Prince Edward Island.
Sky conditions on Thursday will have a fair weather mix of sun and cloud. The chance of a flurry is only 10-to-20 per cent for any given community. A lighter wind from the northwest and high temperatures tick up a few more degrees. Daytime highs on Thursday between -2 C and +2 C.
Coastal storm update
A strong area of high pressure moving into the Midwestern U.S. continues to look like it will deflect a coastal storm far enough east of the Maritime Friday to avoid any winter storm-like impacts.
The storm moves north of the Carolinas late Thursday and passes to the east of Sable Island on Friday. Current expectations are just for some flurries or a lighter snow in Nova Scotia on Friday. It is still worth keeping tabs on the Friday forecast, especially if on the Atlantic coastline of Nova Scotia, as any movement more to the west with the storm would increase snowfall potential there.
Anyone operating in the Atlantic marine areas should of course be checking a more detailed marine forecast. Stronger winds and increased wave action would accompany the passage of the storm out over the Atlantic.
Just a note on the high-pressure system. It is the weather system responsible for driving another round of frigid air down from the north and into the Prairies, triggering extreme cold warnings. That colder air is moderating as it moves eastward and so far it doesn’t look likely that we will see extreme cold warning criteria in the Maritimes through the weekend. Colder nights are expected Friday night, Saturday night, and Sunday night.
