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Spring snowstorm set to wallop Atlantic Canada

The calendar may say spring, but tell that to Mother Nature.

A large spring snowstorm is set to descend on Atlantic Canada overnight Tuesday into Wednesday, bringing strong winds and heavy snow and rain.

Environment Canada has already issued blizzard warnings and winter storm watches for parts of eastern New Brunswick. Blizzard warnings have also been issued for Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland.

READ MORE: LIVE BLOG – Snowy, windy storm system approaches Atlantic Canada

The intense low pressure system is expected to track just south of Nova Scotia on Wednesday before it moves into Newfoundland on Thursday.

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The snow will start in the early morning hours Wednesday in southern Nova Scotia and spread across the province throughout the day, changing to rain by late afternoon over the eastern half of Cape Breton. About 30 to 40 cm of snow is expected before the transition, with higher amounts in southwestern parts of the province.

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There may be plenty more snow around for those in Atlantic Canada after a spring snowstorm makes its way into the region Wednesday.
There may be plenty more snow around for those in Atlantic Canada after a spring snowstorm makes its way into the region Wednesday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

Along with the precipitation, strong winds will pose another challenge.

Winds of up to 110 km/h are forecast to develop ahead of the storm. Combined with the snow, the high winds will likely cause dangerous whiteout conditions along roadways. Strong Les Suetes — winds coming down the Cape Breton mountains — close to 160 km/h are also expected.

Flooding along the Atlantic coast of mainland Nova Scotia is another concern with this system. Environment Canada forecasts that the rising water levels will, fortunately, not coincide with high tide in the Northumberland Strait.

For more info on your weather, visit our Skytracker page.

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