New Brunswick weather: Freezing rain and rain warnings today
Environment Canada says 'travel is not recommended' in areas where freezing rain is expected
Weather warnings are blanketing the province as a storm is expected to arrive today, bringing with it a mix of snow, rain and freezing rain.
Environment Canada has issued freezing rain warnings for the north and rainfall warnings for the south.
Rainfall warnings are in place for Fundy National Park, Grand Manan and Coastal Charlotte County, Moncton and the southeast, Saint John and county, St. Stephen and northern Charlotte County, Sussex, Kennebecasis Valley and Kings County.
"Snow will develop … this morning and the precipitation will then change to rain as the front pushes northward this afternoon. A brief period of freezing rain is possible over inland areas around midday," according to the statement.
"The rain will intensify early Thursday and taper off late in the day. Rainfall amounts of 25 to 50 mm are expected by Thursday evening."
All of central and northern New Brunswick is under a freezing rain warning with significant ice build-up expected as the snow changes over to freezing rain late this afternoon and this evening.
"The freezing rain will affect many regions for several hours and it may persist until early Thursday morning over northernmost portions of the province," says the statement.
"Travel is not recommended. Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots will become icy, slippery and extremely hazardous."
On Thursday very mild temperatures are expected with a strong southerly wind.
"All in all we are in for some rather blustery but very mild weather more so tomorrow than today," says CBC meteorologist Peter Coade.
New Brunswick forecast
Northern New Brunswick
Wednesday: Snow will develop this morning with about 10 cm expected before changing to freezing rain late this afternoon in the west. The afternoon high will reach 0 C.
Wednesday night: The snow will change to freezing rain this evening and then to rain overnight.
Further snowfall about 10 cm is expected and 5 mm of rain. Winds will be from the southeast at 20 km/h with the temperature rising to 0 C by morning.
Thursday: It will be windy with rain, heavy at times, bringing about 20 mm and a high of 10 C. Winds from the south will gust to 60 km/h.
Fredericton and area
Wednesday: Snow will develop this morning with 5 to 10 cm expected before it changes to freezing rain in the afternoon. The afternoon high will reach 0 C.
Wednesday night: Freezing rain will change to rain late in the evening with 5 mm of rain expected and winds from the southeast at 20 km/h after midnight. The temperature will rise to near 6 C by morning.
Thursday: It will be cloudy and windy with 10 to 20 mm of rain before it ends by afternoon. Winds from the south will be gusting to 50 km/h with a high of 12 C.
Southern New Brunswick
Wednesday: Snow will spread from west to east this morning and then change to rain this afternoon with the risk of freezing rain. Snowfall amounts of 2 to 5 cm and rainfall amounts of 2 to 5 mm are expected with a high of 4 C.
Wednesday night: It will be windy with 5 mm of rain and winds from the southeast gusting to 40 km/h. The temperature will rise to 10 C by morning.
Thursday: It will be windy with rain, heavy at times, brining 15 to 25 mm and winds from the south gusting to 60 km.h. The high temperature will reach 12 C.