A Major Winter Storm Will Be Bringing 20–30cm of Snow Before a Change Over to Ice and Rain!

Issued: February 1st, 2021 @ 2 AM

Updated: February 1st, 2021 @ 2 AM

Forecaster: James Follette

The Major winter storm that we have been watching for a week now is approaching New England, NY, and surrounding areas as we speak and will intensify this evening as it begins to pull away from Boston.

Massachusetts could see up to 14” of snow which is 40cm, and depending on the track it takes, the province may also see a similar snowfall.

Areas in Orange which in include: Yarmouth, Digby, Greenwood, Kentville & Sydney, we’re looking at 12 to 20cm with potential for some local spots to get up to 25cm, This also depends on the intensity of the snow bands and the timing of the changeover.

Areas in Purple, which is a big chunk of the province, 20 to 30cm with local amounts up to 35cm is likely. These areas will be in the snow the longest but also will see very heavy snow and potential for thundersnow!

Areas in Red, which is a small section just Cheticamp and North Mountain and surrounding areas. 30 to 40cm with locally up to 40+cm is likely.

The Storm Threat risk has continued to risen yesterday from high to extreme, at 11. This means that 1. The Major storm is imminent or very likely to impact the province. 2. There is a very high risk of a severe weather impact, 3. There is a very high risk of power outages, disruptive travel, and other severe weather impacts.

Snow will start in the south very late in the evening or overnight hours around 11 pm and will continue through 2 am.

Between the hours of 2am and 8am, we would see the heavy snow advance much further north into Truro, still snowing heavy all the way down to Yarmouth. Light snow approaches Amherst, New Glasgow & Antigonish.

As we enter the morning hours and early afternoon. We’ll see snow change over to rain and quickly spread north. so by 9-10am then further north by 2pm in Halifax. Rain mixed with light snow before change over to fully rain. Rain in Halifax, Liverpool, Yarmouth, Bridgewater & Digby. Meanwhile we are seeing snow continue in Greenwood and Kentville and continue north as heavy snow will dominate that area, all of Cape Breton seeing heavy snow action in the morning and early afternoon. Mixing and Freezing rain! Kentville, Truro and Amherst!

As we now enter into the afternoon and evening hours, The warm air would now extend all the way towards east Cape Breton, Almost all of the province has changed to rain by this time with the exception of Sydney and Western Cape Breton where some Snow, Ice pellets and heavy Frz Rain is still taking place.

Getting into the evening and overnight hours now, we still have rain continuing across the province, Sydney and much of Cape Breton has finally switched over to rain, except for North Mountain and Cheticamp where the mixing of everything is now a mix of rain and snow.

As we move into Day 2 of the storm for some, Rain has ended in the Tri-Counties, South Shores, Annapolis Valley, Kings, Hants, Cumberland and Colchester, and soon Pictou.

Mixing over Cheticamp and North Mountain where they finally change over to rain! rain at times heavy and showers will persist over Halifax to Antigonish and Cape Breton.

Wednesday morning into the afternoon hours, we will see rain continue to push out of the province only leaving New Glasgow, Antigonish and Cape Breton left with showers and rain at time s heavy through lunch.

By 2-4pm, the system pulls out and we will see much clearing behind the low.

For another update on snowfall, timing, wind gusts, power outages and more, you can come back at 4pm as we will begin storm coverage and we’ll have short small updates through out the day today if any changes.