The chance of a white Christmas for southern New Brunswick this year is essentially zero given the very mild temperature and heavy rain this weekend.
Weather Network Meteorologist Doug Gilham most of the Maritimes is getting heavy rain but some areas in Canada will have a white Christmas.
“Edmonton is probably your biggest city that will have a white Christmas, you know, Montreal, Ottawa in severe jeopardy, may get a dusting,” says Gilham. “Toronto could have a dusting, St. John’s after having so much snow, they’re losing their snow.”
As of 7:30 this morning, Moncton area had received anywhere between 20 and 30 millimetres of rain, which is quite a lot for this time of year, according to the Atlantic Storm Prediction Centre.
Operational Meteorologist Marshall Hawkins says the Moncton area has escaped relatively unscathed compared to the southwestern parts of the province.
He says as you head further south towards the Bay of Fundy, the rain amounts are approaching 80 millimetres.
Hawkins says the St. Stephen area has recorded 83.8 millimetres so far.
He predicts the Moncton area will see another 10 to 15 millimetres of rain before things taper off by the end of the day.
Then a cold front sweeps in tonight bringing with it temperatures of minus five, but minus 12 with the windchill.
Gilham says it’s amazing to be having this discussion when at the end of November so much of the country was covered in snow.
“Much of southern Canada will be lacking snow on Christmas Day, this system is bringing record warmths throughout the Maritimes,” says Gilham. “The rain/snow line is going to extend all the way to northern Labrador.”
Gilham says the one up side is the weather will be great for travel with an extended stretch of quiet weather from Sunday to Thursday.
“Lots of sunshine just mixed with some clouds at times, temperatures will actually be rather chilly,” says Gilham. “Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, high temperatures running several degrees colder than seasonal, generally around minus five to minus eight or nine.”
Gilham says there will be double digit temperatures all the way to the Gaspe Peninsula.
