Heavy rain forecast for HRM on Thursday, freezing rain warning issued inland

CITYnews halifax / By Dan Ahlstrand

Thursday will be a rainy day around HRM as a rainfall warning issued yesterday remains in effect today.

In its latest forecast, Environment Canada says HRM and areas to the south of the city, including Lunenburg, Queens, Shelburne, Yarmouth, and Digby counties, can expect heavy rainfall through the day today before the precipitation changes to freezing rain, ice pellets, and eventually snow.

These regions can expect 30-50 mm of rain by this evening, possibly more in heavy downpours.

In HRM, rainfall amounts are expected to fall between 35-40 mm, with winds gusting as high as 50 km/h. Friday, there is a risk of freezing rain early in the morning and then about 2 cm of snow before the precipitation tapers off.

Annapolis, Kings, Hants, Colchester, Pictou, Antigonish, parts of Inverness, and Victoria counties are currently under a freezing rain warning. The rainfall there is expected to transition through a period of freezing rain and ice pellets through the day today and then to snow by evening.

All CCRCE schools in Cumberland County and Tatamagouche will be closed Thursday.

The national forecaster says that in areas with extended periods of freezing rain, a build-up of ice on surfaces can create slippery driving and walking conditions, break tree branches, and cause power outages.