Hop to it! Planning around showers and wind for Easter weekend

As the Easter long weekend approaches, CTV Atlantic's Kalin Mitchell says the Maritimes can expect a chance of showers on Saturday and Sunday.

A split between fair weather and showery conditions this holiday weekend. Here’s a breakdown of when to expect the best egg hunting weather.

Friday looks great!

A ridge of high pressure will build over the Maritimes Friday. This is one of the better-looking days of the holiday weekend for outdoor activities.

Mainly sunny conditions are expected with some broken cloud developing in Cape Breton by the afternoon. Additionally, some high cloud may move into western areas of New Brunswick. No precipitation is expected on Friday.

Mid-morning temperatures will be in the mid-to-high single digits. Mid-afternoon temperatures in the low teens except on the coast where temperatures between 6 and 10 are expected.

A breezy west wind changing to southwest is expected with gusts from 20 to 40 km/h.

Showery Saturday

A warm front extending from a low-pressure system in Quebec moves into the Maritimes Saturday. Cloudier conditions and periods of showers along with patchy drizzle and fog expected.

Every community in the Maritimes should expect a shower or some rain at some point during the day Saturday. The highest chance of showers is in New Brunswick and western Nova Scotia Saturday morning. Later Saturday afternoon the highest chance of showers will be in northern New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and eastern Nova Scotia. Patchy showers and drizzle expected Saturday night.On the plus side, the wet weather is intermittent in nature and mostly light. Precipitation totals are only expected to reach two-to-five millimetres except in northwest New Brunswick where there could be as much as 10 millimetres.

A gusty southwest wind will accompany the showers. Peak gusts will be between 30 and 60 km/h. Daytime highs will be in the low-to-mid teens, except where the southwest wind is blowing directly onshore where temperatures are expected between six and 10 degrees.

Windier Sunday as weather front moves through

The warm front Saturday is followed by cold air on Sunday. Further periods of showers are expected along with a blustery wind that will change to blow west and northwest.

The most widespread chance of showers in the Maritimes on Sunday will be in the morning. By the afternoon the highest chance of remaining showers will be in northern and eastern areas of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and eastern Nova Scotia. Lower shower chances in southwestern New Brunswick and western Nova Scotia are expected.

Rain and showers could be stronger on Sunday. Totals of 5-to-10 millimetres could fall on parts of northern and eastern New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and eastern Nova Scotia. Lower rain totals are possible in southwestern New Brunswick and western Nova Scotia.

The wind will also be stronger Sunday. Peak gusts increase to a range of 40-to-70 km/h.

Daytime highs cool into the mid-to-high single digits.

Weather improves Monday

High pressure builds from the west on Monday, the second of the fair-weather days expected for the weekend.

A mix of sun and cloud with a low chance of showers arrives on the North Shore of Nova Scotia and Cape Breton.

The wind will still be gusty early in the morning but is expected to diminish for the afternoon. Peak wind gusts will fall into a range of 20-to-50 km/h.

High temperatures will reach the high-single digits and low-teens for most areas. Exceptions include Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton which could maintain highs in the mid-to-high single digits.