AMHERST - Anybody doubting that a storm is going to hit Amherst will probably have those doubts dispelled starting Friday night.
"I think we're going to see the snow from this system spread across Nova Scotia Friday night into Saturday, and by Saturday morning it should be snowing everywhere in mainland Nova Scotia," said Bob Robichaud, meteorologist with Environment Canada.
Robichaud said computer models on Thursday showed Amherst receiving snow accumulations in the amount of 20 cm, but said it depends on how far north the system tracks.
"We have two systems right now, one that's going to track over the great lakes, and one up the Eastern Seaboard," said Robichaud. "The two storms are going to combine forces and then intensify into a bigger storm that will then track south of the Maritimes. That's going to be on Saturday."
He said they would be able to better make predictions as to the exact path and intensity of the storm as it gets closer.
"Since we're looking at two weather systems it's going to be critical to find out how they combine and when that actually happens," he added. "That's going to have an impact on where the storm tracks, and if the storm tracks further North, then you guys are probably going to see more snow than that, but right now it looks like in the 20 cm or so range."
He said winds will be about 40 km/h, gusting to 60 km/h.
"As this system goes through you're probably looking at a bit of a warm up," he added. "On Saturday you're probably looking at highs of -5 C, so you'll be looking at blowing snow."
Asked how long the storm will last, Robichaud said, "We're looking at this thing being a slow mover."
"We'll see it all day Saturday and, to a certain extent, into Sunday night as well,' he added. "There might be some lingering flurries and gusty northeast winds Sunday morning as well, but during the day Sunday you should see some improvement."
Robichaud said a storm like this isn't too unusual.
"We have a storm from the Great Lakes and one from the Eastern Seaboard, and we do see that from time to time," he said. "It's just that the resulting storm is in a good spot to intensify.
"Its not so much the two storms joining forces, it's the intensification of the storm that's left from both storms combining," added Robichaud. "It's that part we'll be watching closely."
dmathieson@amherstdaily.com
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