Maritimes bracing for high winds, heavy snow

A powerful winter storm is expected to sweep over the Maritimes on Sunday, bringing snow and winds of up to 100 km/h, Environment Canada warns.

Prince Edward Island, as well as much of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, can expect up to 30 centimetres of snow, forecasters say.

Blizzard-like conditions are in the forecast, beginning around 10 p.m. local time, because of a low-pressure system moving in from the south.

A heavy snowfall warning has been issued for the northwest of New Brunswick, and blizzard warnings for the northeast, Environment Canada meteorologist Mike Campbell said.

A winter storm warning covers the rest of the province, while a storm surge warning is in effect for Kent County, just north of Moncton, Campbell said.

The bridge to Prince Edward Island could be closed to traffic after 11 p.m. because of high winds, officials say.

Halifax International Airport officials have advised travellers to arrive early for any flights on Sunday.

Airport spokesman Peter Spurway said the storm has the potential to create a few delays.

"Give yourself some extra time, an extra hour even, because it's an extremely busy travel time," he said.

There were about a dozen late flights posted on the airport's website of as noon on Sunday.

Spurway said it's likely those delays are the result of some bad weather over the past 48 hours in Ontario and Quebec.