Another late-season blizzard in Canada could drop 15+cm of snow
We're still in the first week of May and we've now seen a second blizzard warning issued in Canada this month. A potent storm is expected to bring a swath of 5-15+cm of snowfall and wind gusts of up to 120 km/h on Thursday
It’s a week into May but that won't stop Mother Nature from bringing blizzard conditions to northern Quebec on Thursday.
Typically, when we think of a blizzard, we think of copious amounts of snowfall, but this one is a bit different.
SEE ALSO: Where's spring? May kicked off with blizzard warning and up to 20 cm of snow
A factor in this forecast is the very strong winds forecast, along with a healthy amount of snow on the ground in the region.
A wind warning was also issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) for the risk of 90-120+ km/h wind gusts on Thursday for the Akulivik, Kangiqsujuaq and Raglan Lake regions of northern Quebec, including thousands living in the village of Salluit.
The storm moving over Baffin Island with high pressure to its south will strengthen what meteorologists call a pressure gradient. A strong pressure gradient means there is a large pressure change over a relatively short distance. This drives what we know and feel as wind.
These strong winds will likely lift and whip up the snow on the ground in the blizzard-warned regions.
A blizzard warning was issued for Kangiqsujuaq-Raglan Lake regions of northern Quebec through Thursday, with conditions worsening by the afternoon. A blizzard warning is issued when winds are expected to produce blowing snow with widespread visibility of 400 metres or less for at least six hours.
It is pretty rare for blizzard warnings this late in the season, but it is not unheard of. In fact, it was just last week that a blizzard warning was issued for the Dempster Highway.
In 2022, the Dempster Highway saw another blizzard warning issued on June 7-8.
Additionally, this storm will bring a swath of fresh 5-15+cm of snowfall across Northern Canada through Thursday.