As a nor’easter approaches, here’s the latest on what to expect in Halifax (update)

As the latest nor'easter approaches the province, meteorologists are getting a better idea of what conditions we can expect.

Early Friday, a winter storm warning was expanded to the Halifax Regional Municipality. It's also in effect for much of the mainland.

In addition, a special weather statement is cautioning of a possible storm surge in some communities along the Atlantic coast and HRM east of Porters Lake is also under a rainfall warning.

In a 9 a.m. interview on Friday, Environment Canada's Bob Robichaud said to expect a bit of rain throughout the day here in Halifax.

“The more organized rain should move in late afternoon and into the evening hours,” he explained. “That should persist, and close to midnight is when we expect to see a changeover through freezing rain, then ice pellets, then eventually snow.”

Robichaud expects a couple of hours of freezing rain or ice pellets overnight.

“We're not expecting a ton of snow out of this,” he added. “Probably just a few centimetres at the coast and maybe 10 or so inland.”

But wind gusts of up to 90 km/h could blow that snow around, reducing visibility, and make that overnight low of minus 7 feel like minus 18 with the wind chill.

The temperature is also expected to continue falling to minus 13 Saturday afternoon with a wind chill of minus 25.

“Conditions should gradually improve around midday tomorrow, but it's still going to remain fairly cold for the rest of the day and into Sunday as well.”

Snowfall totals will be higher in other parts of the province, with 30 to 50 cm of snow expected in the Valley and northern Nova Scotia, so it might be a good idea to delay weekend travel plans.