The potential impacts from a powerful storm heading toward New Brunswick are starting to become clearer.

Wind warnings were issued by Environment Canada late Thursday afternoon for the entire province.

There is also a rainfall warning for central, southern and eastern regions and a snowfall warning in the northeast.

Precipitation will begin late Friday morning as rain, at times heavy, over southern New Brunswick and as snow and ice pellets over central and northern regions of the province.

The snow is expected to transition to rain over central regions by Friday afternoon or evening. Several hours of freezing rain is possible along the Saint John River Valley near noon Friday before it transitions to rain.

Rain will come to an end early Saturday morning as temperatures drop rapidly behind the storm system.

“Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become icy and slippery,” said Environment Canada. “Significant snowmelt and runoff are likely to occur.”

Between 25 and 40 millimetres of rain could fall in areas under the rainfall warnings, while northeastern New Brunswick could see 15 to 20 centimetres of snow.

Meanwhile, wind gusts up to 90 kilometres per hour are expected between Friday evening and early Saturday morning. Coastal communities in the northeast could see gusts up to 110 kilometres per hour.

“Similar storms in the past have resulted in hazardous driving conditions and utility outages,” said Environment Canada.