Parts of the East Coast will be kicking off the first weekend of the new year in a stormy fashion.
A powerful low-pressure system, which will meet the criteria for a weather bomb, will take aim at sections of Atlantic Canada this weekend, delivering intense wind gusts, heavy snow and rain, and a chance of coastal flooding.
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Newfoundland looks to bear the brunt of the impacts, with winter storm, wind, coastal flooding and rainfall warnings, along with special weather statements, spanning much of the island.
Residents are advised to take precautions, secure loose outdoor objects, ensure devices are charged and avoid unnecessary travel during the height of the storm. The greatest impacts will be the winds, so power outages are likely.
Saturday night through Sunday:
The storm is expected to spend much of Saturday out at sea, rapidly intensifying as it approaches Newfoundland and Labrador.
Overnight, strong, easterly winds will begin to pick up across the Avalon Peninsula, and heavy snow is forecast to begin falling, engulfing the island through the morning hours on Sunday.
Through the morning snow will transition to rain for the Avalon, keeping any snow accumulation relatively low for the region. Between 20-30 mm of rain is forecast to fall.
Central and western sections of Newfoundland will see the snow continue through the day, with heavy precipitation rates picking up through the afternoon hours. Snow will also fall across P.E.I. and for the northern shores of Nova Scotia.
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Milder temperatures may bring some mixing and rain to central parts of Newfoundland. As the snowfall rates decrease, coastal sections, and lower elevations, will see a transition to a rain and snow mix, keeping overall accumulations lower.
Higher elevations will remain all snow, and this precipitation can linger into Monday.
A widespread 5-20 cm of snow is forecast, with as much as 20-40 cm in the hardest-hit areas. The heavy snow combined with powerful winds could result in dangerous blizzard-like conditions. Drivers are urged to plan ahead and postpone any unnecessary travel plans.
100+ km/h wind gusts threaten coastal flooding, outages
The greatest impacts from this system will be the strong wind gusts.
Gusts between 80-100 km/h will move in Saturday overnight, peaking Sunday morning, and remaining gusty through the day on Sunday before easing Sunday night. Some eastern coastal sections could see gusts up to 115 km/h.
Power outages are likely due to the strong wind gusts.
With the strong wind gusts, high waves and pounding surf are expected on Sunday for the eastern and northern shores of the island.
“These large waves can cause coastal erosion in vulnerable areas, as well as damage to infrastructure along the shoreline, especially at locations that have been prone to impacts during similar events in the past,” warns Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) coastal flooding warning.
Stay tuned to The Weather Network for the latest updates and warnings across Atlantic Canada.