Autumn across Canada seemed to be late this year, raising concerns about the coming winter. But, as we enter the final days of November, winter weather is already beginning to affect Canadians across the country.
Last week, three low-lying systems headed for the country, bringing a damaging tropical storm to British Columbia, a snowstorm to the Prairies, and a nasty winter mix to Atlantic Canada.
Now, a similar scenario is about to play out this weekend, with three more low-pressure systems bringing blasts of snow to Canadians from coast-to-coast.
If you’ve been waiting for the sign of snow to install your snow tires, this might be it.
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Parts of Atlantic Canada get their first draft of winter weather
A Colorado low tracking along the New England coastline will make its way to the Bay of Fundy and the Gulf of St. Lawrence on Friday.
Atlantic Canada snow Thursday through Friday
Further lows will bring 10-20 cm of wet snow across New Brunswick and 5-10+ cm to Newfoundland through Friday, accompanied by strong sea breezes.
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has issued a severe snowfall warning for New Brunswick on Thursday morning. Les Suêtes wind warnings were also issued for the northwest coast of Cape Breton.
Ice warnings over deep water around the Great Lakes
A blast of cold polar air will burn significant snow at sea across Ontario’s Great Lakes. Wind driven winds will also produce snow drifts that continue to flow along the snow belts and around Sault Ste. Marie.
Ontario winter snow collection V2 – November 28, 2024
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Snow squall warnings and watches have been issued for these regions, with the ECCC warning drivers to expect possible road closures, especially in areas affected by multiple bands of snow.
Climate change may also bring less snow to the Greater Toronto Area, which is the first flakes of the season for the region; however, it remains highly uncertain whether that will play out.
SEE: Snow is back in Ontario, tips for driving in hazardous weather
Click here to watch the video
Western Canada experiences a mild winter climate
After several damaging storms battered BC’s coast this month, the province will see another snowfall to finish the month.
Temperatures will dip and a steady stream of snow will drift across BC’s northern coast and northern Rockies this week. The Alpines could see more than 50 cm of snow, with 10-20 cm affecting the Yellowhead highway, including Prince George.
We could see temperatures in the north dipping into the minus 30s.
BC’s central coast will be getting heavy rain instead of snow as temperatures gradually shift further south into the season.
Snowfall will escape into Alberta as well, affecting Grande Prairie and Edmonton throughout the weekend.
Since the temperatures are already very cold on the Prairies due to the Arctic cold snap, the snow will be fluffy but blow more easily and accumulate more than the snow in Eastern Canada.
The area of high pressure south of the border will protect the southern regions of Western Canada from this winter, but the holiday may not last long as we look ahead to the parade of clippers that will make it to the Prairies for the first half of December.
WATCH: Arctic air sweeps across the Prairies into November
Click here to watch the video