Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, P.E.I. brace for major winter storm Tuesday

CBC Meteorologist Peter Coade says the Maritimes will experience its first major winter storm Tuesday. He says there will be a mix of heavy east winds, snow, rain and ice pellets beginning Monday night.

In mainland Nova Scotia, from the Canso Causeway to Yarmouth, the storm will begin as flurries and showers around midnight. The storm will start in the Yarmouth, Digby and Shelburne area.

Winds could be as strong as 60 km/h to 80 km/h.

Temperatures will range from 6 to 12 C.

In Cumberland County andColchester County, freezing ice pellets will start before morning.

The storm should hit Cape Breton around noon Tuesday as snow, ice pellets and freezing rain.Coade predicts windgustsin Cape Breton could reachas high as 100 km/h.

Temperatures will likely bebetween 0 and 2 C.

New Brunswick and P.E.I.

Western New Brunswick will get a taste of the storm Monday evening. Snow and ice pellets will continue overnight. It will change to rain around the Fundy coast by Tuesday morning.

Coadesays it's too early to say how much snow will fall in New Brunswick, but he is predicting a "significant amount."

Temperatures in southern New Brunswick will be around 2 to 6 C.

Northern New Brunswick, temperatures will fall to 2 C.

He predicts the weather will have an impact ontravel plans. He says on top of the ice, snow andrain,heavy winds couldalsoaffect all travel plans Tuesday, including crossings across the Confederation Bridge.

In Prince Edward Island, the snow and ice pellets will begin overnight Monday. By Tuesday morning, it will likely change to freezing rain.

Temperatures on P.E.I. will range between 0 and 2 C.

Coade says people should make sure their cars are gassed up, that their pantries are stocked,and to have cash on hand in case there are any power outages.

Coadesays Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Southern New Brunswick can expect more rain in the later half of the week. He says northern New Brunswick will get snow or rain.