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Nor’easter bears down on Atlantic Canada with heavy snow, blizzard conditions

The Maritimes are bracing for heavy snow and blizzard conditions as a powerful nor'easter bears down on them, threatening to dump more than 50 centimetres of snow over the region on Wednesday.

Environment Canada has issued blizzard warnings throughout Nova Scotia, PEI and eastern New Brunswick for tomorrow, as a powerful storm tracking its way up the east coast of the United States is expected to impact on the Atlantic provinces starting overnight tonight. Watches have also been put in place through parts of central New Brunswick and along Quebec's Gaspé Peninsula, in case the storm track varies slightly. Heavy snow is expected to spread across the warning regions starting after midnight and continue throughout the morning. Snowfall amounts will likely reach up to 40 centimetres, but some locations may see up to 50 centimetres or more before the end of the day.

A mix of blizzard, blowing snow and wind warnings have been issued for the island of Newfoundland, as the storm is expected to push over the area starting Wednesday afternoon. Snowfall amounts will likely be less than what the rest of the Maritimes are going to see from the storm, as it's expected to dump most of its moisture over the other provinces, however winds will be significantly stronger, with gusts likely reaching up to 130 kilometres per hour at times.

Anyone venturing out onto the roads and highways throughout the lower Atlantic provinces should expect hazardous driving conditions due to covered road surfaces and gusting winds kicking up the freshly-fallen snow into whiteouts and blizzard conditions. Those flying into or out of the area can expect delays, at the very least, and possible cancellations as this powerful storm system sweeps through. Strong winds are known to cause power outages during these kinds of storms as well.

Along with all the weather warnings, this storm is pushing a fairly strong storm surge ahead of it as it makes its way up the coast. Warnings are in place for this surge, as it may cause local flooding along the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia at high tide late on Wednesday afternoon.

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Nor'easters are particularly notorious for the large amounts of snow they dump over the U.S. Northeast and Atlantic Canada, and although this one seems to be sparing most of the U.S., it certainly seems as though it's going to live up to the reputation across the Maritimes. The name, nor'easter, comes directly from the direction the wind is blowing when the worst of the storm impacts the area. Winds spiral into the storm centre from all directions, but it's the northeasterly winds 'ahead' of the storm centre that typically carry the most moisture and pack the biggest punch.

(Photo courtesy: The Canadian Press)

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