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Record-setting snowfall in parts of Nova Scotia thanks to this week's blizzard

This week's blizzard set a number of daily snowfall records for a Feb. 13, with new highs set for Greenwood, the Halifax Stanfield International Airport and the Sydney airport.

Greenwood got more than 60 cm on Feb. 13; some parts of province still getting snow

Kalin Mitchell · CBC News ·
The storm covered all of Nova Scotia at its peak. (Courtesy NASA)

This week's blizzard set a number of daily snowfall records for a Feb. 13, with new highs set for Greenwood, Halifax Stanfield International Airport and the Sydney airport. 

As hard hit as Nova Scotia was, the peak snowfall in New Brunswick, were CFB Gagetown totalled an astounding 79 centimetres, with 44 centimetres coming down in the six-hour period between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Blowing snow buries most of a deck and half a house as the storm blew through Nova Scotia.
Blowing snow buries most of a deck and half a house as the storm blew through Nova Scotia. (Courtesy Mark Pineo)

Nova Scotia's big totals fell short of the heaviest day of White Juan in 2004. Tracey Talbot of Environment Canada says during the snowiest 24-hour period of that storm (measured from 2 a.m. to 2 a.m.), 66 centimetres fell at the Halifax airport.

For this week's blizzard, the Halifax airport recorded 50 centimetres between 2 a.m. Monday and 2 a.m. Tuesday.

Here's how the snow fell during the entire storm across the province, according to Environment Canada's summary report:

  • Greenwood 61 cm
  • Kejimkujik 59 cm
  • Tidnish: 56 cm
  • New Ross: 55 cm
  • Wolfville: 54 cm
  • Fall River: 53 cm
  • Sackville: 53 cm
  • Sydney Airport: 51 cm
  • Western Head: 49 cm
  • Scots Bay: 47 cm
  • Cape George: 45 cm
  • Pockwock Lake: 44 cm
  • Halifax City: 44 cm
  • Parrsboro: 42 cm
  • Kentville: 39 cm
  • Fenwick: 34 cm

The peak winds are some of the strongest I can remember with a winter storm in recent history.

Strong winds hit most of the area, with some of the strongest occurring up and down the Atlantic coastline of Nova Scotia. They came from an east and northeast direction, putting them onshore for many areas.

That enhanced the storm surge, with coastal flooding noted in a number of areas including Shelburne, Liverpool, and Cape Sable Island.

A four-unit townhouse under construction in a new subdivision on Carrie Best Court, near Rockingham, was blown down in high winds on Monday. The project manager says no one was at the site when the structure fell down. (Brian MacKay/CBC)

Here are the peak wind speeds:

  • Halifax Kootenay: 146 km/h
  • Grand Etang: 145 km/h
  • Beaver Island: 120 km/h
  • Osborne Head: 119 km/h
  • Greenwood: 111 km/h
  • Lunenburg: 109 km/h
  • North Mountain: 93 km/h
  • Yarmouth: 91 km/h
  • Western Head: 91 km/h
  • Shearwater: 91 km/h
  • McNabs Island: 91 km/h
  • Hart Island: 91 km/h
  • Halifax Dockyard: 89 km/h
  • Port Hawkesbury: 89 km/h

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kalin Mitchell

Meteorologist

Kalin Mitchell is a former meteorologist on CBC News Nova Scotia, CBC News New Brunswick and CBC News Atlantic Tonight.

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