Warning and watches issued across Cape Breton
Winter storm watch in effect for:
Inverness County
Victoria County
Significant snowfall with blowing snow and strong winds is expected. Total snowfall: 20 to 30 cm or more. Maximum wind gusts: 80 km/h or more. Locations: central and northern mainland Nova Scotia including the Annapolis Valley, and the northwestern half of Cape Breton Island. Time span: Friday afternoon until near noon Saturday. Remarks: The first winter storm of 2022 will begin affecting the province on Friday. Snow is expected to begin near midday, and become heavy at times later in the afternoon and persist Friday night before gradually easing from west to east Saturday morning. Strong northeasterly winds will develop later Friday afternoon, then shift to northerly and strengthen further Friday night with gusts to 80 km/h and likely higher in some areas. These winds in conjunction with the fresh snowfall will result in poor visibility in blowing snow. Conditions are expected to improve on Saturday.
Visibility may be suddenly reduced at times in heavy snow. Travel is expected to be hazardous due to reduced visibility in some locations. Poor weather conditions may contribute to transportation delays. Public Safety Canada encourages everyone to make an emergency plan and get an emergency kit with drinking water, food, medicine, a first-aid kit and a flashlight. For information on emergency plans and kits go to http://www.getprepared.gc.ca. Winter storm watches are issued when multiple types of severe winter weather are expected to occur together.
Les Suêtes wind warning in effect for:
Inverness County - Mabou and north
Strong winds that may cause damage are expected or occurring. Maximum Les Suetes gusts: 100 km/h. Time span: continuing until late this morning.
Be prepared to adjust your driving with changing road conditions due to high winds. Les Suêtes wind warnings are issued when there is a significant risk of damaging winds.
Special weather statement in effect for:
Richmond County
CBRM
Significant snow, wind, and some rain expected Friday into Saturday morning. Locations: Counties along the Atlantic coast of mainland Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Island. Time span: Friday into Saturday morning. Remarks: The first major winter storm of 2022 is expected on Friday and into Saturday. Precipitation will begin as snow during the day Friday but there are some indications that a mix or changeover to rain could occur over eastern regions of the province, as well as much of the Atlantic coast, whereas inland regions could remain entirely snow. If this scenario materializes there could be drastically varying snowfall accumulations between inland regions - which could reach or exceed 15 cm - and coastal regions which could receive much less snow. Even a slight deviation in the track of the storm could impact snowfall amounts in these areas. Regardless, strong north to northeast winds will accompany this system and could gust to warning criteria of 90 km/h or higher Friday night.