An area of low pressure will swirl from the Lower North Shore of Quebec to the coast of Labrador between this evening and Friday evening. As of Thursday evening, rain and snow are moving north over the island on the eastern side of the low. Since the east side of the low is the warm side, the rain/snow line will move north and will eventually pass over all areas, including the Northern Peninsula, by late tonight or early Friday morning.

This transition happens along a warm front, and once it passes, temperatures will moderate above the freezing mark by a few degrees. This rise will be short-lived, and most areas of the Island will see temperatures fall below freezing after midnight. By Friday morning, the brief warm-up will be a distant memory.

Tonight’s rain will be heavy over Avalon at times, up to about midnight. As of Thursday evening, a Rainfall Warning remains in effect. Total rainfall will exceed 35 or 40 mm over the southern and western sections of the Avalon Peninsula. Amounts will be less on the Southern Shore and Metro.

The next phase of this system will be the transition to a colder day on Friday, with areas of flurries Island-wide. The flurries will be the most intense on the West Coast, where snow squalls will develop on Friday. Some of the squalls will be intense, and driving in some areas will be reduced in areas of falling and blowing snow. Temperatures Friday will be near or a bit below freezing for highs. Friday will also be breezy, with wind speeds on the West Coast gusting as high as 70 km/h over exposed areas. A Winter Storm Warning and a Blowing Snow Advisory have been issued by the Gander Weather Office for the area.

Temperatures Friday will be near freezing for most of the Island, with areas of the West Coast staying near or below and other areas near or above.

Meanwile, in Labrador, snow will arrive overnight and will continue in many areas of the north and west through Friday and into Friday night. Wind speeds along the coast will gusts as high as 80 km/h. Winter Storm and Snowfall Warnings are in effect, along with a Blowing Snow Adivsory.

Beyond tonight and tomorrow, the weather across much of the PRovince will be quiet for Saturday. The next system arrives Sunday which will bring rain and snow to the Island and potentially more snow to Labrador. Stay tuned for details on this!