Snow, ice, rain and wind arrive tonight and continue through Thursday
If you've been enjoying the recent stretch of quieter weather, that’s about to change.
A low pressure system tracking northeast from the southwest will move toward Newfoundland tonight, bringing a messy mix of weather to much of the Island. Thursday — and possibly part of Friday — are shaping up to be complicated weather days with several different types of precipitation and some gusty wind mixed in.
In other words, this is one of those setups where conditions can change quickly depending on exactly where you are.
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What to Expect
This system isn’t bringing just one type of weather. Depending on your location, you could see snow, ice pellets, freezing rain, rain, and wind at various points through the event.
Snow will likely be the first precipitation type for many areas tonight, especially across central and western parts of the Island and in higher elevations. How much accumulates will depend heavily on where the rain–snow line ends up setting up.
Ice, either as ice pellets or freezing rain, is a concern in areas where temperatures hover right around the freezing mark. It doesn’t take much freezing rain to create very slippery roads and sidewalks, and even small amounts can cause issues for power lines and trees.
Rain will move into parts of eastern Newfoundland and lower elevations as slightly warmer air works into the system. In some places precipitation may start as snow and then change to rain — while other areas could see the opposite if colder air holds on longer.
Wind will also increase as the low deepens and moves through. That could lead to blowing snow where temperatures stay colder, reduced visibility in heavier precipitation, and generally poor travel conditions at times.
Timing
Conditions will begin deteriorating overnight tonight.
Thursday is expected to be the most impactful day, with precipitation changing types in many areas as temperatures fluctuate. Some lingering effects may continue into Friday before things gradually settle down.
If you're heading out early Thursday morning, there’s a good chance you’ll be traveling in the middle of the worst conditions.
What You Should Do
A few simple things now can make Thursday a lot easier:
Check your vehicle — make sure washer fluid is topped up and your winter gear is still in the car.
Plan ahead for travel if you have flexibility Thursday.
Keep an eye on updated forecasts and alerts as the system approaches.
Environment and Climate Change Canada will likely issue additional alerts as confidence increases in the storm track and precipitation types.
The Bottom Line
This has the potential to be a disruptive late-winter system for parts of Newfoundland, particularly because of the mix of precipitation types.
March may be on the calendar, but winter isn’t finished with us yet.
Stay safe and stay informed.
I’ll have my next update posted tomorrow morning!
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