Still Winter Out There
If you were hoping March would bring a definitive end to winter, Canada has other plans. Snow is continuing to fall across parts of Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec this weekend, while a mix of heavy rain and freezing rain is expected to make conditions treacherous in some Maritime and Ontario communities.
The persistent winter weather is a reminder that in Canada, meteorological spring on the calendar means very little when a stubborn cold pattern has settled across the country.
What Is Happening Across the Country
In British Columbia, mountain snowfall is adding to already significant snowpacks, with highway travel advisories in effect for several routes through the Interior and North. Lower Mainland residents are seeing more rain than snow, but temperatures remain cool and unsettled.
Ontario is the province where the most complex conditions are unfolding. Parts of the province are dealing with straightforward snowfall, but a swath of the south and east is in the cross-hairs of a freezing rain event, one of the most hazardous winter weather phenomena for both driving and infrastructure. Ice accumulation can bring down power lines, snap tree branches, and make walking outside genuinely dangerous.
Quebec is also seeing continued snowfall, particularly in regions east of Montreal, where totals are adding up for a season that has already been notable for its accumulations.
In Atlantic Canada, the Maritimes are bracing for heavy rain mixed with freezing rain as a system moves through. Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island could all see difficult conditions before the system clears.
Travel Impacts
Airports, highways, and rail lines across the affected regions are operating under varying degrees of disruption. Travellers are advised to check conditions before heading out and to allow extra time. In areas under freezing rain warnings, staying off the roads entirely is the safest option where possible.
When Does It End?
Forecasters are pointing to a gradual improvement through the week, but caution that another system is possible later in the month. Spring, in Canada, has always been a negotiation, and winter is not done negotiating yet.
Source: Global News
