Our first major winter storm of 2024 is expected to bring a mix of snow and rain to the region.

Environment Canada issued a special weather statement for all of New Brunswick on Monday morning.

Meteorologist Jill Maepea said snow and strong winds are expected to begin early Wednesday morning.

Maepea said the snow will change over to rain across southern and central regions of the province by afternoon.

“In terms of snowfall in southern New Brunswick, we’re basically expecting anywhere from five to as much as 15 centimetres before that changeover to rain,” Maepea said in an interview Monday.

Rainfall totals could be as high as 20 to 40 millimetres along the Fundy coast, according to the meteorologist.

Maepea said snow and rain may not be the only precipitation we have to contend with on Wednesday.

“Ice pellets and freezing rain are likely to occur [during the changeover], but they should be very minor and the duration should be very brief,” she said.

Strong winds are also expected across the province, with gusts exceeding 90 kilometres per hour possible along the Fundy coast.

Elevated water levels will also be possible near high tide along the Bay of Chaluer coastline in northeastern New Brunswick, according to Maepea.

Environment Canada said more specifics about the timing of the storm and precipitation totals will be provided as the details become more certain.

New Brunswickers are encouraged to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by the national weather agency.

With files from Tara Clow.