Nova Scotia

Storm forecast to bring significant snowfall to most of Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia will ring in the first weekend of 2021 with fresh snow. Snowfall warnings were issued on Friday for most of the province.

Environment Canada says many areas of province could see up to 30 centimetres

A woman uses a shovel to clear snow in Halifax on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018. A weekend storm could bring up to 30 centimetres of snow to many areas of the province. (Darren Calabrese/Canadian Press)

It looks like Nova Scotia will ring in the first weekend of 2021 with fresh snow.

By Friday afternoon, most of the province was under a snowfall warning, except Digby County in the southwest and Victoria County and parts of Inverness County in Cape Breton where special weather statements have been issued.

Yarmouth, Shelburne and Queens counties are currently the only areas of the province without a snowfall warning or special weather statement in place.

According to Environment Canada, the snow will begin in southwestern Nova Scotia early Saturday morning. It should then spread eastward across the province, reaching eastern areas by late afternoon. 

Rain is also expected along parts of the Atlantic coast, especially in the southwest. These regions will have much lower snowfall amounts than inland areas. 

Northern and eastern areas of the province could see 20 centimetres of snow with higher local amounts approaching 30 centimetres by the time the storm ends overnight Saturday night. 

Digby County and parts of northern Cape Breton could see 15 centimetres.

Strong east to northeast winds gusting to 60 to 80 km/h may also significantly reduce visibility in blowing snow.

Environment Canada warned that quickly accumulating snow will make travel difficult and said road closures are possible.