First day of spring weather: Here’s what’s in the forecast across Canada

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First day of spring includes freezing rain, potentially more snow incoming

Friday marks the first official day of spring in the northern hemisphere, but it will still feel like winter this weekend for many Canadians, as snow, sleet, rain and sub-zero temperatures are forecast across the country.

In the nation’s capital, periods of snow are expected on Friday, with wind chill values of -13 through the morning, according to Environment Canada. Saturday is expected to bring clearer skies for the Ottawa area and a high of 5 C, however rain or snow is forecast on Sunday, with a high of 2.

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A large area of Eastern Ontario stretching from Bancroft to the Quebec border was under a special weather statement early Friday afternoon, Environment Canada said. Periods of heavy snowfall were expected with total amounts of five to 10 centimetres, clearing later in the afternoon.

The Quinte West, Belleville and Prince Edward County areas of Ontario were also under a special weather statement Friday due to possible freezing rain and ice pellets.

Elsewhere in Ontario, the Greater Toronto Area is expected to see periods of snow or rain Friday, which could turn to freezing rain or ice pellets in some areas, forecasters say. It’s expected to be cloudy on Saturday with a high of 5 C, and more rain is forecast for Sunday.

Environment Canada placed an area northwest of the city that includes Guelph, Milton and Caledon under a freezing rain warning Friday, with conditions expected to improve in the afternoon.

Quebec and Atlantic Canada

In Montreal, the high Friday is -2 C, with snow expected in the afternoon. Sunny skies are expected on Saturday with a high of 4 C and flurries are forecast to return Sunday.

An area that includes Montreal and spans much of southwestern Quebec was under a special weather statement Friday, according to Environment Canada, due to heavy snowfall that could make roadways and surfaces slippery.

Quebec City will also see a high of -2 C on Friday and snow in the afternoon, according to the forecast, clearing by Saturday morning, with snowy conditions and a high of zero expected on Sunday.

Atlantic Canada is also expected to see a wet, wintry mix of weather this weekend.

Flurries are expected in Fredericton on Friday, with a mix of rain and snow on Saturday and flurries returning Sunday as the temperature drops to a high of -1 C.

Halifax isn’t expected to see precipitation on Friday, but rain and snow are in the forecast for the weekend, with a high of 3 C on Saturday and 1 C on Sunday.

Charlottetown may see flurries on Friday, according to forecasters, but the area is expected to be hit with a mix of rain and snow Saturday, and cloudy skies Sunday.

In St. John’s, snow is expected on Friday, with a mix of sun and cloud Saturday and more snow on Sunday, when the daytime high is forecast to reach 3 C.

Western Canada and the Prairies

Vancouver and Victoria are set for a typical west coast spring weekend, as temperatures are expected to reach 14 C on Friday in the B.C. capital, and periods of rain forecast in both cities.

Vancouver’s daytime high is 13 C for Friday, clearing on Saturday as the temperature drops slightly, with rain expected to return Sunday, Environment Canada predicts.

East of Vancouver, Environment Canada warned of a potential prolonged atmospheric river event Friday that could dump up to 120 millimetres of rain on an area that includes Abbotsford and Chilliwack.

Other rainfall warnings were in place across the B.C. interior, as well as a snowfall warning further north in the province.

Snowfall warnings were also in place northwest of Edmonton in neighbouring Alberta, while areas in the southern part of the province were under fog and wind warnings, Environment Canada said Friday.

Calgary’s daytime high on Friday is an unseasonable 16 C, but it will drop to 1 C by Saturday, with some snow expected, the forecast suggests. Edmonton could see snow Friday morning, with a high of 1 C, and flurries could return to Alberta’s capital on Sunday.

In Saskatoon, light snow or rain is expected Friday, with a chance of flurries on Saturday, clearing by Sunday. Winnipeg could also see flurries on Friday, with periods of snow mixed with rain expected on Saturday, clearing Sunday with a high of -2 C.

In Canada’s territories, Yellowknife is expected to see light snow Friday, but clear skies over the weekend with daytime highs around -18. A similar forecast was issued for Iqaluit, with slightly colder temperatures expected.

Whitehorse, meanwhile, could see snow on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with daytime highs of -5 C across all three days.