SYDNEY, N.S. — Hang on to your snow shovels, the second major winter storm of the new year is hitting the island today, is going to be a whopper.
“It’s going to be pretty messy,” said Cindy Day, SaltWire Network's resident meteorologist.
“It will come quickly and I’ll say by early evening it’s just tapering off to flurries so you won’t have to deal with it for too long but it’s going to be pretty intense.”
Day said watching the radar this morning, it looked like the weather system crossed the Canso Causeway at about 7:30 a.m. and then the snow flurries started trickling in. By 9:30 a.m. it was pushing into Cheticamp and almost covering the entire island. Day expects there will be a little bit of mixing in Louisbourg around to Sydney probably by early afternoon. However, before that happens, people can expect a pretty rapid rate of snowfall.
"There’s some bands and once you get into it, it starts and the snowfall accumulation is rather rapid, probably 3-5 cm an hour for a few hours.”
Day said the snow will really come down, then let up due to the warmer air feeding into the middle of the system and then more snow will pumps in behind that. About 20 centimetres is expected for the Sydney area and the other side of the island at least 30 cm but possibly more when the wind flips around to the northwest overnight.
Winds will pick up throughout the day, gusting to 50 km/hr at around noon and overall tonight gusting to 60-70 km/hr mostly from the northeast then the northwest.
“It's generally that northerly circulation you’re caught up in,” Day said.
Temperatures are expected to remain near zero. Although there’s going to be poor visibility while it’s snowing, because the snow will be pretty sticky there’s not going to be a lot of blowing snow after the snowfall stops, Day added.
“That’s a little bit of a blessing.”
Along the southeast basin coastlines there will be a little higher than normal water level at high tide, late this afternoon and evening.
Day will have her daily ‘Weather by Day’ video updates on the Cape Breton Post website by 11:15 a.m. and again at 4:15 p.m.
CANCELLATIONS AND NOTICES
In a release on Wednesday, the Cape Breton Regional Police reminded the public that winter parking regulations are in effect throughout the CBRM. Vehicles must be off the street between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m., as well as during a snowfall and within two hours from the time snow stops falling. Police will ticket and tow any vehicles obstructing snow removal efforts, leaving motorists with a fine and any costs associated with towing.
Police also want citizens to not place snow from driveways onto sidewalks or streets that can interfere with snow clearing efforts. Obstructing streets and sidewalks with snow is prohibited under CBRM bylaws and can result in a $100 fine.
Police also want motorists to take the necessary safety precautions during the winter months by checking weather and road conditions before driving; clearing snow and ice from vehicles; adjusting speed to the conditions; allowing extra distance to stop; allowing for extra travel time in unfavorable conditions and if possible, avoid driving during the height of any storm weather and wait until plows have completed snow removal.
Transit Cape Breton cancelled service for the day on Wednesday at 11 a.m. and buses finished the routes they were on. City hall closed as of 11 a.m. and other CBRM facilities were slated to close by noon.
Canada Post reported that mail delivery may be delayed due to the storm.
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