Summary of New Year's Day Blizzard that struck the SE Maritimes and Newfoundland

AWCN14 CWHX 020857
SPECIAL WEATHER SUMMARY MESSAGE FOR NEW BRUNSWICK ISSUED BY
ENVIRONMENT CANADA AT 4:57 AM AST FRIDAY 2 JANUARY 2009.

AS THE YEAR 2008 ENDED THE NEW YEAR 2009 WAS USHERED IN BY BLIZZARD
CONDITIONS ACROSS MUCH OF THE MARITIMES. THE JANUARY 1 ST SNOW
STORM MAKES IT THE FIRST MAJOR WEATHER EVENT OF THE NEW YEAR FOR
THE MARITIME PROVINCES.

A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM APPROACHED THE MARITIMES FROM THE WEST NEW
YEARS EVE AND INTENSIFIED AS IT TRACKED SOUTH OF NOVA SCOTIA
OVERNIGHT AND DURING NEW YEARS DAY TO LIE EAST OF CAPE BRETON BY
EVENING. SNOWFALL BEGAN OVER SOUTHWESTERN AREAS LATE WEDNESDAY AND
SPREAD EASTWARD DURING THE EVENING. STRONG WINDS COMBINED WITH THE
SNOWFALL RESULTED IN BLIZZARD CONDITIONS FOR NOVA SCOTIA..PRINCE
EDWARD ISLAND AND SOUTHEASTERN NEW BRUNSWICK LATE NEW YEARS EVE AND
NEW YEARS DAY.

DUE TO THE BLOWING SNOW IT IS DIFFICULT TO ESTIMATE EXACT SNOWFALL
IN SOME LOCATIONS.
A SUMMARY OF SOME NOTABLE SNOWFALL AMOUNTS AND WIND GUSTS IS AS
FOLLOWS:

NOVA SCOTIA...
LOCATION SNOWFALL PEAK WIND GUST
(CM) (KM/H)
------------- ---------- ----------------
YARMOUTH AIRPORT 40/16 Inches 80/45 mph
BRIAR ISLAND N/A 100/60 mph
CAPE SPLIT * 20/8 Inches N/A
WESTERN HEAD 14/5.5 Inches 70/43 mph
LIVERPOOL 27/10.5 Inches N/A
GREENWOOD 31/12.5 Inches 74/44 mph
HALIFAX AIRPORT 14/5.5 Inches 76/44 mph
UPPER STEWIACKE 15/6 Inches 63/41 mph
NAPPAN 11/4.5 Inches 68/42 mph
DEBERT 10/4 Inches 76/44 mph
CLAYTON PARK * 25/10 Inches N/A
LOWER SACKVILLE * 32/12.5 Inches N/A
WEST BROOKLYN * 35/14 Inches N/A
LAKE MAJOR 35/14 Inches N/A
LYONS BROOK 35/14 Inches N/A
BADDECK 24/9.5 Inches N/A
SYDNEY 27/10.5 Inches 70/43 mph
CHETICAMP 36/14.5 Inches N/A
INGONISH BEACH 32/12.5 Inches 61/40 mph



PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND...
LOCATION SNOWFALL PEAK WIND GUST
(CM) (KM/H)
------------- ---------- ----------------
CHARLOTTETOWN AIRPORT 49/19.5 Inches 74/44 mph
SUMMERSIDE 15 76/44 mph
NORTH POINT N/A 93/53 mph
ALLISTON 21/8.5 Inches N/A


NEW BRUNSWICK...
LOCATION SNOWFALL PEAK WIND GUST
(CM) (KM/H)
------------- ---------- ----------------
MONCTON AIRPORT 14/5.5 Inches 61/40 mph
SAINT JOHN AIRPORT 9/3.5 Inches 76/44 mph
FREDERICTON 1/0.5 Inches 65/41 mph
MIRAMICHI 2/0.75 Inches 78/44 mph
SUSSEX 8/3.25 Inches N/A
FUNDY PARK 9/3.5 Inches N/A


NOTE : * : UNOFFICIAL WEATHER OBSERVATIONS
N/A : NOT AVAILABLE


END/ASPC