Snowy, icy mess on the way for most of the Maritimes this weekend

If you have travel plans this weekend, Saturday is definitely going to be the better day to hit the roads.

A snowy and icy mess is on the wayfor many on Sunday.

Southerly winds arriving across the Maritimes today and tonight will have temperatures on the rise, with a very mild day shaping up for Saturday across the region.

Widespread mid-to-high single-digit temperaturesare on tap for Saturday afternoon with the potential for double digits across southern New Brunswick and across Nova Scotia.

The clouds will dominate with fog patches and a chance of showers for most, especially into the afternoon. Expect steadier rain across northern New Brunswick.

As a system tracks in from the west with more moisture, we'll see the snow, ice pellets and freezing raincontinuingright through Sunday for much of the Maritimes.

The exact track of Sunday's system will be critical. Some willsee snow, some will see ice continuing throughout the day and some will have rain. Be sure to stay tuned to the forecast.

As of now, the area stretching from the Fundy coastline andsouthwest New Brunswick, across to the Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia and throughcentral regions and eastern regions, includingLunenburg and Halifax counties, is going to be a tricky forecast.

Rain on Saturday night will mix to freezing rain through Sunday morning and this may persist throughout much of the day.

There may be a significant accumulation of ice, especially for inland areas.That said, areas right along the coastsmay mix back to rain for a time on Sunday afternoon, depending on the track of the system.

Further north, areas from Frederictonto Moncton, to much of P.E.I., to the Northumberland shore, as well as much of Cape Breton, are likely to see amix of ice pellets andsnow, with some freezing rain mixed in at times as well.

Across northern New Brunswick, western P.E.I. and across to Inverness and Victoria counties of Cape Breton, it appears the snow will dominate, with significant accumulation likely.

Thankfully, our active pattern will take a break early next week.

It appears Monday throughWednesday will be quietwith our next storm threat not until Thursday.

I'll have an update on weekend mess and your latest seven-day forecast at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. on CBC-TV and GEM.

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