Flash freezing risk in Nova Scotia during Tuesday commute

Today and tonight, a coastal low pressure system will move from Cape Cod and into the southwest of Nova Scotia before moving into the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

The passage of the low will be preceded by snow for many in the Maritimes and a significant mix of ice pellets, freezing rain and rain is expected overnight in Nova Scotia.

There will also be a sharp drop in temperatures early Tuesday morning and that has resulted in flash freeze warnings for much of Nova Scotia.

Monday

4 p.m.: Snow, heavy at times, from New Glasgow to Sheet Harbour and west across the province. Some restrictions to visibility. Northeast wind gusts across the mainland between 40 km/h to 70 km/h. North wind gusts in Cape Breton between 20 km/h to 40 km/h.

6 p.m.: Snow, heavy at times, from the Bras d'Or Lakes and west across the province. Snow mixing in with ice pellets for Shelburne and Yarmouth counties. Widespread restrictions to visibility. Northeast wind gusts across the mainland gusting to 50 km/h to 80 km/h. Northeast wind gusts across Cape Breton, between 30 km/h to 50 km/h.

8 p.m.: Snow, heavy at times, for most of Nova Scotia. Snow mixing with ice pellets in Lunenburg, Queens and Digby counties. A mix of ice pellets and freezing rain in Shelburne and Yarmouth counties. Widespread restrictions to visibility. Wind gusts will be northeast between 50 km/h and 80 km/h, except to 90 km/h for exposed areas of the coast.

10 p.m.: Snow, heavy at times, in Cape Breton, Antigonish, Pictou, Cumberland and Colchester counties. Snow mixed with ice pellets and freezing rain for the remainder of Nova Scotia, except rain and freezing rain in Digby, Yarmouth and Shelburne counties. Northeast wind gusts between 50 km/h and 80 km/h, with the exception of exposed areas of the coast which could see gusts of 90 km/h.

Tuesday

12 a.m.: Snow mixed with ice pellets and freezing rain for Cape Breton, the Annapolis Valley, and Hants, Cumberland, Colchester, Pictou and Antigonish counties. Rain and freezing rain along the Atlantic coast from Yarmouth to Canso. North and northeast wind gusts between 50 km/h and 80 km/h, except 90 km/h along exposed areas of the coast and over 110 km/h in Inverness County, north of Mabou.

2 a.m.: Periods of snow mixed with ice pellets and freezing rain from Yarmouth through Digby, the Annapolis Valley, the Cape Breton Highlands as well as Hants, Cumberland, Colchester, Pictou and Antigonish counties. There will be rain and freezing rain for Shelburne up the Atlantic coastline to Sydney. North wind gusts between 50 km/h and 80 km/h across the mainland. In Cape Breton, winds will be east between 50 km/h and 80 km/h, except over 110 km/h in Inverness County, north of Mabou.

4 a.m.: Periods of snow mixed with ice pellets and freezing rain across Nova Scotia, except rain in Halifax County east of Porters Lake, Guysborough County and Cape Breton. Temperatures will fall sharply in Halifax and west, making flash freezing possible. Wind strengths remain similar to previous strengths.

6 a.m.: Light mix of snow, ice pellets and freezing rain across mainland Nova Scotia. Rain beginning to clear in Cape Breton. Temperatures falling sharply across mainland Nova Scotia, making flash freezing possible. Northwest wind gusts between 50 km/h and 80 km/h across the mainland, with southeast wind gusts of a similar strength in Cape Breton.

8 a.m.: Light mix of snow, ice pellets and freezing rain in Pictou, Antigonish, Guysborough counties and across Cape Breton. Flash freezing risk with temperatures falling sharply across Nova Scotia. Northwest wind gusts between 50 km/h and 80 km/h across Nova Scotia.

10 a.m.: Precipitation clear of mainland Nova Scotia. Flurries in Cape Breton. Temperatures across the province in the range of –12 C to –6 C. Northwest wind gusts of 50 km/h to 80 km/h across Nova Scotia.