Early snowfall Wednesday will complicate commute in Halifax

HALIFAX, N.S. — If Tuesday is the treat, Wednesday will be the trick as an early snowfall will complicate the drive home.

A special weather statement from Environment Canada said most of mainland Nova Scotia and southern Cape Breton will get around five centimetres of snow. Not a lot, but more than enough to make driving a challenge for many Nova Scotians, many of whom haven’t made the switchover yet to winter tires.

“Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become difficult to navigate,” according to the Environment Canada alert. “Motorists should be prepared for winter driving conditions, especially during the afternoon commute.”

Panic mode

Phones were ringing off the hook at several mechanics’ shops in Halifax on Tuesday.

“Considering I can’t even get into where I work and I didn’t know where I was going to park, that’s a pretty good indication of what’s going on,” said Lori MacLeod at MacLeod’s Auto Service on Herring Cove Road on Tuesday.

“We just can’t stay off the phone, the parking lot is full and we just can’t keep up.”

She said they’re running “flat out” installing winter tires and fixing maintenance issues on 20-25 cars a day, which is unusual for this early in the season.

“It’s usually busy but not just this panic mode. I mean, we knew this was going to happen as soon as you knew the weather.”

It begins in the morning

Expect wet snow mixing with rain thanks to a low-pressure system that is tracking off shore, said Allister Aalders, SaltWire’s weather specialist.

“When it comes down to the timing, it looks like it will arrive first in the southwest of the province in the morning and quickly fill in along the Atlantic coast as we go through the morning into the afternoon.”

The Annapolis Valley and Cumberland County might get off easy this time, Aalders said, but the rest of the province can expect five to 10 centimetres of wet snow mixing with rain.

Most of it will stick to the grass and not as much on the road and not for long, as the ground isn’t frozen yet, Aalders said. And all this mess will be a memory by Friday.

“Temperatures are going to be warming back up to more normal values as we head into the weekend. We’re talking nine to 12 degrees across much of the province.”

It’s not a significant dump of snow — we’ve certainly seen much worse — but the early timing is the issue.

It’s unusual to see snow this early, but Aalders said that as our climate changes, snow is arriving later and we’re just getting used to that.

“Some people will recall Halloween when there was snow but for the most part we don’t see snow this early in the season,” he said.

Don’t have winter tires on yet? Here’s some advice

Const. John MacLeod with Halifax Regional Police said they know many drivers won’t have their winter tires on yet and are asking people to slow down and be extra cautious Wednesday.

“Remember to allow extra time for your commute so you do not feel that you need to rush,” he said in an email.

“When the roads are slippery, a vehicle’s stopping distance increases so allow extra space between you and the road user ahead. When approaching a red light or stop sign, begin stopping earlier to help prevent sliding into the intersection.”

Part of preparing for winter driving is knowing the tools available to make your trip safer. Use our online Plow Tracker to track snow removal on provincial roadways near you. Be winter ready. Learn more at https://t.co/bsA39kyUtR . #NSStorm pic.twitter.com/4kimILovul

— Department of Public Works (@NS_PublicWorks) October 31, 2023

Take the extra few minutes to clear the snow and ice off of windows — including the roof — for visibility and because it’s the law, MacLeod added.

“Motorists are asked to turn on their headlights and watch for pedestrians, cyclists and other vehicles. Pedestrians are reminded to make eye contact with drivers and wait until the vehicle comes to a complete stop before attempting to cross the road.”

An HRM spokesperson said crews are standing by and may be deployed overnight Tuesday or early Wednesday morning, depending on the conditions.