UPDATED: 5 p.m.
A blizzard warning has been put into effect for Northern Nova Scotia.
UPDATED: 1:30 p.m.
AMHERST – It's looking like it's going to be a stormy end to 2012.
Environment Canada will put a blizzard warning in place for northern Nova Scotia later this afternoon.
A low pressure system is forecast to develop near Cape Hatteras today and intensify as it passes south of Nova Scotia tonight and Sunday.
"What we're looking at is heavy snow developing overnight. That will persist through most of the day Sunday, lightening up toward the afternoon," meteorologist Andy Firth said Saturday afternoon. "We have a winter storm warning in effect now, but we will be upgrading that to a blizzard warning later this afternoon."
Firth said up to 40 centimetres of snow could fall in northern Nova Scotia as the storm tracks across the eastern part of the province. That will be accompanied by blowing and drifting snow.
The storm, the second in three days, will have winds forecast to gust out of the north up to 70 km/h early Sunday.
A storm surge warning is also in effect for portions of northern Nova Scotia including Antigonish County and Cape Breton. A similar surge two years ago caused lots of damage two years ago in southeastern New Brunswick and in Cumberland County.
Firth said the storm will be followed by cold temperatures early in the week.
On Thursday, close to 15 centimetres of snow, followed by ice pellets and rain, fell on parts of northern Nova Scotia creating slippery driving conditions and numerous motor vehicle collisions.
Police are urging people to stay off the highways tonight and tomorrow.
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