Storm Watch: Freezing rain, snow set to fall in Atlantic Canada

Sunday, January 4, 2015, 6:51 PM - Widespread watches and warnings have been issued across Atlantic Canada as snow, freezing rain and strong winds hit the region. 

It began in the pre-dawn hours in New Brunswick, and it's spreading across the region Sunday, lasting to Tuesday in some places.

This is happening with a major cooldown looming for the region, with temperatures dropping from positive single digits down to negative single digits in the span of 24 hours.

• New Brunswick and PEI: Freezing rain and winter storm warnings are in effect for central and northern areas of New Brunswick, including Fredericton. Snow continues Sunday morning, with up to 15 cm possible, before switching over to freezing in the afternoon and rain in the evening, tapering off into Monday morning. 
• Nova Scotia: Rainfall warnings over much of the province. Starts as snow, then transitions to ice pellets in the afternoon, then rain in the evening. Saturated ground will struggle to absorb it, so prepare for localized flooding.
• Newfoundland: System moves in as snow Sunday evening, with ice-pellets and then rain possible by Monday morning. 5-10 cm of snow, locally higher, along with 5-10 mm of rain by Tuesday, higher along the southwest coast. Wind warnings in place for western parts of Newfoundland and Cape Breton for tomorrow. Winds will pick up through the day Sunday with the system moving in. Gusts could exceed 100km/h into Sunday evening.

The transition from snow to rain is being facilitated by roller-coaster temperatures, with temperatures being above zero for most cities on Sunday and Monday.

But Soderholm says it'll be short-lived, with temperatures dropping well below the seasonal mark by Tuesday after the system moves out.

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