New Brunswick·WEATHER

Cloudy, cool and damp end to April, but there's hope for May

CBC meteorologist Ryan Snoddon explains why April will finish on a cloudy and cool note, and why there are signs of hope for the month May.

Clouds, rain and even snow to end the month, but there are brighter skies ahead

Ryan Snoddon · CBC News · Posted: Apr 27, 2022 2:02 PM EDT | Last Updated: April 27, 2022

In Atlantic Canada the road from spring to summer weather is a long one, filled with many potholes.

The rest of this week will be a tough and bumpy stretch on our journey, as a blocking high sets up across the northern Atlantic ocean.

That large ridge of high pressure is going to act like a road block and not allow an incoming upper-level low to depart to the northeast, as it typically would.

As a result, the low and its cold pool of air will sit and spin over the region for days.

The weather setup at 500mb, or near 20,000 feet, shows a large ridge of high pressure setting up over the North Atlantic. The result will a low spinning over the Maritimes to end the month of April. (Ryan Snoddon/CBC)

This blocking high, or cutoff low, setup will not only bring dominant clouds and shower chances, but also draw in colder air from the north and bring the opportunity for snow.

The low stalled over the region will draw in colder air and bring snow to New Brunswick Wednesday night, Thursday and into Friday. (Ryan Snoddon/CBC)

Northern New Brunswick will get the first taste late Wednesday and into Thursday, with accumulating snowfall of 5-15+ cm looking likely. Special weather statements are in effect.

Southern New Brunswick will then see some snow mixing later Thursday and into Friday and Saturday.

As the low moves east and draws colder air into the region, eastern areas of the Maritimes will see the potential for snow this weekend. (Ryan Snoddon/CBC)

As the colder air sinks southward, Nova Scotia and P.E.I. also look likely to see snow mixing in on Friday night, Saturday and into Sunday, with the potential for some accumulation.

Hope for May

A blocking pattern like this one isn't uncommon, especially in the spring months, and all we can do is hope that it's short-lived.

And on that note, there are some encouraging signs.

The North Atlantic Oscillation, or NAO, is an index that measures the pressure. When it's below minus 1, it's prime time for a blocking-high setup here in Atlantic Canada.

The North Atlantic Oscillation, or NAO, is an index that measures that pressure anomalies in the northern Atlantic ocean. (WeatherModels.com)

As we move into next week, the NAO index is set to trend back to near normal and possibly even into a positive phase, which should set the stage for a more west-to-east weather pattern beginning next week.

That pattern will help temperatures to rebound back to near seasonal.

European model long range projection for the seven-day period from May 8 to 15. Note the near average to slightly warmer than average temperature anomalies projected for the Maritimes. (WeatherBell )

Beyond seven days is large take-it-with-a-grain-of-salt territory, however long-range guidance indicates temperatures may even flip to slightly above average for the first couple of weeks of May.

By then we'll be a few more kilometres closer to summer, but we'll of course still have to keep an eye out for a few more potholes.

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