Mid-February Maritimes Winter Storm

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CARIBOU ME
408 AM EST SAT FEB 16 2013

MEZ002-005-006-011-015>017-029>032-161800-
/O.CON.KCAR.BZ.A.0001.130217T1100Z-130218T0800Z/
NORTHEAST AROOSTOOK-NORTHERN PENOBSCOT-SOUTHEAST AROOSTOOK-
CENTRAL PENOBSCOT-SOUTHERN PENOBSCOT-INTERIOR HANCOCK-
CENTRAL WASHINGTON-COASTAL HANCOCK-COASTAL WASHINGTON-
SOUTHERN PISCATAQUIS-NORTHERN WASHINGTON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...PRESQUE ISLE...CARIBOU...VAN BUREN...
MARS HILL...MILLINOCKET...EAST MILLINOCKET...PATTEN...MEDWAY...
HOULTON...HODGDON...SHERMAN...SMYRNA MILLS...LINCOLN...HOWLAND...
SPRINGFIELD...BANGOR...BREWER...ORONO...OLD TOWN...AMHERST...
AURORA...DEDHAM...EASTBROOK...GREAT POND...ORLAND...DEBLOIS...
GRAND LAKE STREAM...MEDDYBEMPS...PEMBROKE...PERRY...PRINCETON...
ELLSWORTH...BAR HARBOR...BLUE HILL...EASTPORT...MACHIAS...
CHERRYFIELD...DOVER-FOXCROFT...MILO...GUILFORD...DANFORTH...
VANCEBORO...TOPSFIELD
408 AM EST SAT FEB 16 2013

...BLIZZARD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH
LATE SUNDAY NIGHT...

A BLIZZARD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH
LATE SUNDAY NIGHT.

* LOCATIONS...NORTHEAST...EAST CENTRAL AND DOWNEAST MAINE.

* PRECIPITATION TYPE...SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW.

* ACCUMULATIONS...4 TO 10 INCHES OF SNOW.

* TIMING...SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH MOST OF SUNDAY NIGHT.

* WINDS...NORTHWEST 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH.

* VISIBILITIES...ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS AT TIMES.

* IMPACTS...SNOW COMBINED WITH THE STRONG WINDS WILL LEAD TO
  BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW WHICH COULD CREATE VERY HAZARDOUS
  TRAVELING CONDITIONS. FREQUENT WHITEOUT CONDITIONS ARE
  POSSIBLE WITH VISIBILITY NEAR ZERO.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BLIZZARD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FALLING AND/OR
BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND EXTREMELY POOR VISIBILITIES.
THIS CAN LEAD TO WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AND MAKE TRAVEL VERY
DANGEROUS. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR FAVORITE
SOURCE OF WEATHER INFORMATION FOR THE LATEST UPDATES. ADDITIONAL
DETAILS CAN ALSO BE FOUND AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/CAR.

&&

$$

NORCROSS

Fredericton and Southern York County
10:53 AM AST Saturday 16 February 2013
Snowfall warning for
Fredericton and Southern York County continued

Snowfall amounts of up to 20 centimetres expected through Sunday.

This is a warning that significant snowfall is expected in these regions. Monitor weather conditions..listen for updated statements.

A low pressure system will develop off the East Coast of Cape Hatteras later today and is forecast to intensify rapidly as it tracks northeastward tonight and Sunday to lie over Eastern Mainland Nova Scotia Sunday evening as a very intense winter storm.

A weak trough of low pressure stalled over New Brunswick today will give light snow to the western half of the province with rain showers or flurries to the eastern half. Precipitation will change to snow over the entire province later tonight and begin to intensify into Sunday ahead of the low approaching from the south. Snow..Possibly heavy at times..Will affect almost the entire province on Sunday. Over Extreme Southeastern New Brunswick and along the Fundy coast snow will mix with or change to rain for a time Sunday morning or early afternoon before changing back to snow. Snow may also be mixed with ice pellets or freezing rain over these areas for a time on Sunday.

At this time the highest snowfall amounts are expected over Eastern New Brunswick where up to 35 centimetres are possible by Monday morning. Central areas of the province could receive up to 20 centimetres with lesser amounts likely to the west where only 5 to 10 centimetres are expected. Note that with these very intense systems even a slight change in the storm's track can significantly affect rain/snow boundaries as well as the amount of precipitation received.

Very strong north to northeast winds will develop during the day Sunday and may approach warning criteria in some areas on Monday behind the storm. These winds will give reduced visibilities in blowing snow, especially over eastern parts of the province.

Moncton and Southeast New Brunswick
10:53 AM AST Saturday 16 February 2013
Winter storm warning for
Moncton and Southeast New Brunswick continued

Snowfall amounts in excess of 25 centimetres combined with strong winds giving near-zero visibilities in blowing snow on Sunday.

This is a warning that dangerous winter weather conditions are expected in these regions. Monitor weather conditions..listen for updated statements.

A low pressure system will develop off the East Coast of Cape Hatteras later today and is forecast to intensify rapidly as it tracks northeastward tonight and Sunday to lie over Eastern Mainland Nova Scotia Sunday evening as a very intense winter storm.

A weak trough of low pressure stalled over New Brunswick today will give light snow to the western half of the province with rain showers or flurries to the eastern half. Precipitation will change to snow over the entire province later tonight and begin to intensify into Sunday ahead of the low approaching from the south. Snow..Possibly heavy at times..Will affect almost the entire province on Sunday. Over Extreme Southeastern New Brunswick and along the Fundy coast snow will mix with or change to rain for a time Sunday morning or early afternoon before changing back to snow. Snow may also be mixed with ice pellets or freezing rain over these areas for a time on Sunday.

At this time the highest snowfall amounts are expected over Eastern New Brunswick where up to 35 centimetres are possible by Monday morning. Central areas of the province could receive up to 20 centimetres with lesser amounts likely to the west where only 5 to 10 centimetres are expected. Note that with these very intense systems even a slight change in the storm's track can significantly affect rain/snow boundaries as well as the amount of precipitation received.

Very strong north to northeast winds will develop during the day Sunday and may approach warning criteria in some areas on Monday behind the storm. These winds will give reduced visibilities in blowing snow, especially over eastern parts of the province.

Halifax Metro and Halifax County West
10:56 AM AST Saturday 16 February 2013
Rainfall warning for
Halifax Metro and Halifax County West continued

Rainfall amounts of 30 to 55 millimetres expected through Sunday.

This is a warning that significant rainfall is expected in these regions. Monitor weather conditions..listen for updated statements.

A low pressure system will develop off the East Coast of Cape Hatteras later today and is forecast to intensify rapidly as it tracks northeastward tonight and Sunday to lie over Eastern Mainland Nova Scotia Sunday evening.

Precipitation will begin as a mix of rain and snow for most of Nova Scotia this evening before changing over to rain overnight. Brief periods of freezing rain may occur overnight and into Sunday morning over eastern portions of the province. Rain at times heavy will affect most areas of the province on Sunday before changing back over to snow late in the day Sunday.

At this time the highest rainfall amounts are expected over Southeastern Nova Scotia along the Atlantic coast where 40 to 55 millimetres are possible through Sunday evening. Northern areas of the province could receive near 20 millimetres with lesser amounts expected to the west where only 15 are forecast before rain turns to snow. Snowfall amounts of 5 to 10 centimetres are expected for western regions Sunday evening. Note that with these very intense systems even a slight change in track can significantly affect the rain/snow boundaries as well as the amount of precipitation received.

Strong southeast winds ahead of the system will give Les Suetes wind gusts to 130 km/h from Margaree Harbour to Bay St Lawrence beginning Sunday morning.

Very strong northwest winds will develop Sunday evening and may approach warning criteria in some areas on Monday behind the storm. Additionally these winds will give reduced visibilities in blowing snow especially over western parts of the province.