Markham, ON - Winter Storm Watch had just been issued to much of Southern Ontario. Southern Ontario, Southern / Eastern Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland will be a target for the upcoming winter storm to hit. According to the 18Z GFS, by the end of the next 72 hours period, on a 20:1 ratio, the snowfall amount is going to total up to 20 to 40 cm, depending where you are. With such a rough sketch of the system right now, it is impossible to determine the exact snowfall value.

Many forecasters are "betting their money" on this storm, as to this storm will dump over 30 to 60 cm of snow across Eastern Canada. However, as of 18Z GFS, I am not seeing anything remarkable and impressive, hence, my prediction will stay around 20 to 40 cm, and the outcome may even be slightly lower. I'll revise my prediction if there's any sudden changes to the models.

Currently, the system is now situated over Texas, and is dumping snow to cities like Dallas, and surrounding areas. The system is expected to "dip" south, dipping into the Gulf of Mexico, where it "sucks" up its moisture, then ride along the jet stream to meet the arctic air, and releases its moisture as snow for much of Canada. For all of Ontario, Quebec, and western parts of New Brunswick, this will be an all snow event. It is when we get to anything east of the New Brunswick, we will see a mess of mix precipitation and rain. The 0 C 850 mB line is projected, like the last storm we've seen a few days ago, and anything east of that line will see rain.

Right now, it looks like the most populous part of New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island is in for a major freezing rain event. The freezing rain periods could prolong for up to 10 hours! (By the way, it is now just a rough sketch, more accurate forecasts come tomorrow). Looks like most of Nova Scotia, including the Cape Breton, and Newfoundland is in for rain. The Northwest corner of Newfoundland, parts of extreme Eastern Quebec, and parts of Labrador, will see this as all snow.

Currently, this is my proposed draft of snowfall amounts:

Southwestern Ontario (London, Windsor, Brantford) - 5 to 15 cm
Southcentral Ontario (Toronto, Niagara, Hamilton) - 15 to 25 cm
>>> NOTE: Some forecasters are suggesting 30-45 cm of snow for Southcentral Ontario.
Southeastern Ontario (Kingston, Ottawa, Cornwall) - 20 to 30 cm
Southwestern Quebec (Montreal, Sorel, Sherbourne) - 25 to 35 cm
Southcentral Quebec (Quebec, Trois-Rivieres, Shawanigan) - 25 to 40 cm
Gaspe Peninsula; Western New Brunswick (Bathurst, Gaspe, Rimouski) - 30 to 40 cm
Eastern New Brunswick (Moncton, Fredericton, St. John) - 10 to 15 cm PLUS 10 to 15 mm of rain
Nova Scotia (Halifax, Dartmouth, Yarmouth, Amherst) - Trace to 5 cm PLUS 25 to 35 mm of rain
Prince Edward Island ; Anticosti Island; Magdelene Islands - 15 to 25 cm PLUS 5 to 10 mm of rain
Eastern Newfoundland (St. John's, Gander, Conception Bay South) - 2 to 8 cm PLUS 10 to 20 mm of rain
Western Newfoundland (Corner Brook, Stephenville, Port-aux-Basque) - 5 to 15 cm PLUS slight risk of rain
Northwestern Newfoundland; Labrador; Eastern Quebec (L'anse-aux-meadows; Sept-Iles) - 15 to 25 cm

A more detail analysis and forecast of the storm will be posted tomorrow. Right now, just be head's up that a storm is coming to Eastern Canada.