A late fall nor'easter system impacted the Halifax Regional Municipality, bringing heavy rainfall from Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. As a result of this weather event, a special weather statement was issued, which remained in effect on Wednesday morning. The metropolitan areas of Halifax were predicted to receive an additional 30 to 40 millimeters of rain throughout the day, tapering off by the afternoon.
Despite the primarily rainy conditions in Halifax, the weather led to a messy morning characterized by wet roads and increasing north to northwesterly winds. Weather specialist Allistar Aalders from 95.7 NewsRadio noted that although it was mainly rain, areas further inland experienced a mix of rain and wet snow. It was expected that precipitation would conclude by late morning or early afternoon.
Coastal regions, particularly from Herring Cove to Cape Sable Island, were under a coastal flooding warning. This warning was issued due to weather conditions that could produce large waves and a powerful surge coinciding with an “exceedingly high” high tide on Wednesday morning. The national forecaster also noted the potential for minor shore and beach erosion in these coastal areas.
Moreover, a snowfall warning was in effect for several counties, including Digby, Annapolis, Kings, Hants, Colchester, Pictou, Antigonish, and Cumberland. Environment Canada predicted that these areas, especially those located inland and in higher elevations, could receive up to 10 centimeters of wet and heavy snow. Travel across these regions could be significantly impacted, particularly during the morning rush hour.
Northern Cape Breton was particularly affected by the storm, with Environment Canada issuing an orange-level alert—indicating the second most severe level in its color-coded warning system. This alert was issued for parts of the Cape Breton region, where snowfall accumulations could reach between 30 and 50 centimeters, indicating that the area was positioned in the eye of the storm.
The combination of heavy rain, potential snowfall, and coastal flooding warnings presents a challenging situation for residents and travelers in the affected areas. Authorities are advising individuals to exercise caution while traveling and to stay updated on the latest weather developments as conditions evolve throughout the day.
