Santa's coming ... and he's bringing snow, freezing rain, ice pellets

Get ready to kick off your Christmas holidays with a bit of snow shoveling, mixed in with someicy winter driving.

Environment Canada issued a special weather statement on Thursday morning for the entire province.

The weather agency said adeveloping, low-pressure system is coming in from theGreat Lakes and it will spread snow into New BrunswickonFriday night into Saturday.

• First winter storm of the season brings snow and power outages to N.B.

The snow will change tofreezing rain or ice pellets into rain for both southern and western New Brunswick.

"While there is uncertainty in the forecast guidance, there is a significant chance of an extended period of freezing rain or ice pellets, with the greatest risk for western and central areas," Environment Canada said in the special weather statement.

There'salso a possibility thatsnowfall amounts will reach or exceed15 cmin the northwestern part of the province. There could also be significant rain in the south, particularlyalong the Fundy coast.

"At this point it looks like rainfall warning criteria will not be reached."

Environment Canada advises thatthe public should monitor upcoming forecastson Thursday and Friday.