Computer models are generally in good agreement and confidence is high with the track and intensity in regards to Sunday's blizzard across the Maritimes.

The worst of the storm in terms of snowfall still looks to be from downeast Maine through the southern half of New Brunswick, all of PEI and the northern/western two thirds of Nova Scotia.

While this storm may not bring as much snow as the previous big one, this particular storm will produce stronger winds, resulting in a long duration period of whiteouts and significant drifting with the potential for power outages. Winds may gust past 100 kmh at times Sunday along the southeast coast of Nova Scotia and also over PEI and extreme southeast New Brunswick.

The worst of the storm from southwestern Nova Scotia to the Halifax area will be Sunday morning/early afternoon with the strong winds and heavy snow. By the late afternoon and evening drier air aloft will mix in and the snow will become more intermittent. The winds will also decrease across Nova Scotia late in the day as the center of the stacked low moves nearby. Snow will also change to sleet and freezing rain across eastern Nova Scotia later Sunday as a layer of above freezing air aloft rotates northward above the region.

On the other hand, the wind will remain strong through the day from New Brunswick to PEI with steady, heavy snow/blowing snow as this region stays along the favored northern quadrant of the mid-level low.

Dangerous snow squall Saturday

There is the potential for a significant snow squall early Saturday across southern Ontario along the Arctic cold front. This will likely be a brief, but intense line of heavy snow, strong winds and near whiteout conditions as it tracks steadily to the southeast during the day. This is the type of thing that causes the large highway pileups that we see in the news. The map below shows the estimated time of arrival (give or take +/- hour) of the squall (assuming it does form, which I think it does). If you are about to drive into a squall it is best to exit off the highway as soon as possible before it hits and just wait it out for a short time until it passes.

Behind the Arctic front will be some real nasty cold. The combination of the cold and stronger winds will create dangerous AccuWeather RealFeel temperatures starting in western areas on Saturday then farther east Saturday night into Sunday. Winds will start to ease up Sunday afternoon in Ontario.

Actual projected temperatures in Celsius early Monday morning (7 am) via the NAM model.

AccuWeather RealFeel temperatures (similar to wind chill factor)

You can also follow me for storm updates via my twitter at @BrettAWX

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Weekly long range forecast model interpretation.....

Much of the East will remain in the deep freeze through the end of the month with the potential for more coastal snowstorms. The model continues to show cold in eastern Canada and the Northeast U.S. during the first two weeks of March, but I think it is holding on to the cold too long based on the expected upper-pattern, which should mean that the coldest air relative to normal should shift back into the Prairies and perhaps into the Canadian Rockies as the East goes back to near-normal.

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