Atlantic Canada under special weather statement, rainfall warnings issued

Most of the Atlantic provinces are in for some nasty weather, with warnings andspecial weather statements issued by Environment Canada.

Atlantic Canada, like the rest of Eastern Canada, is under a deep freeze Monday, with temperatures in the minus double digits. Meanwhile, southwestern Newfoundland is expected to be batteredby strong winds of up to 100 km/h, while snow squallsare expected in the eastern part of the province.

However, that weather is expected to change dramatically over the next two days.

"This system will be accompanied by a significant warming trend driven by strong southerly winds," says a weatherstatementfrom Environment Canada.

New Brunswick

According to the national weather service, a low-pressure system developing over the southern U.S. will bring up to 10 centimetres of snow to parts of New Brunswick beginning early Tuesday,then change to freezing rain and showers during the day.

Thatextended period of freezing rain over northern New Brunswick Tuesday afternoonwill change to a significant amount ofrain at night and Wednesday morning.

Nova Scotia

The same system will result in light snow over westernNova Scotia on Monday night and into Tuesday morningfor eastern areas. Nova Scotia will get a significant amount of rainTuesday night into Wednesday morning.

As of 4:15 p.m. AT on Monday, parts of Nova Scotia were upgraded to a rainfall warning.

Areas that could see up to 40 millimetres of rain include:

• Annapolis County.
• DigbyCounty.
• Halifax Metro and Halifax County West.
• Kings County.
• LunenburgCounty.
• Queens County.
• ShelburneCounty.
• YarmouthCounty.

A wind warning is also now in effect for Inverness County. Gusts could exceed 110 km/h overnight Tuesday, Environment Canada said.

Newfoundland and Labrador

The low pressure system out of the U.S. will make its way to Newfoundland and Labrador overnight Tuesday and into Wednesday.

"Although the highest rainfall amounts are expected to occur along the south coast, the warm temperatures, rainfalland strong southerly winds are expected to cause significant snow melt across the island," according to a special weather statement by Environment Canada.

Prince Edward Island

All three countiesinPrince Edward Island were placed under the special weather statement on Monday afternoon.

Environment Canada says significant amounts of rain may fall Tuesday night, with a risk ofwarning-level rainfall on Wednesday.

For all regions, frozen ground could cause inland flooding as warmer temperatures melt snow.