Bad weather forces some New Brunswick schools to close

March will come in like a lion for much of New Brunswick with rain, freezing rain and snowfall warnings in effect forseveral areas.

"Portions of northern and central New Brunswick will see significant snowfall and an extended period greater than four hours of freezing rain with the majority of the snowfall occurring tonight into tomorrow," said Brennan Allen, CBC's meteorologist.

The weather has forced all schools in the Anglophone North School District toclosetoday. The following schools in theFrancophone South School District are also closed today:

• Rgionale de BaieSainte-Anne in Baie Sainte-Anne
• Carrefour Beausoleil in Miramichi
• Soleil Levant in Richibouctou
• Secondaire Assomption in Rogersville
• W.-F.-Boisvert in Rogersville
• Mgr-Marcel-Franois-Richard in Saint-Louis de Kent

Environment Canada has issued a freezing rain warning for the Acadian Peninsula, the Bathurst and Chaleurregion, Campbellton and Restigouche County, Kent County, Kouchibouguac National Park, Miramichi and area, Mount Carleton-Renous Highway and the Stanley, Doaktown and Blackville areas.

"For regions along the Bay of Chaleur, an easterly flow will keep temperatures near or below zero, resulting in an extensive period of freezing rain that is expected to last into late afternoon," Environment Canada said.

"Rain will change over to snow mixed at times with ice pellets near midnight tonight and the snow will continue for most of the day Thursday."

Meanwhile, there isalso a snowfall warning for the western half of Restigouche County where 15 to 25 centimetres of snow is expected, beginning near midnight Wednesday and continuing for most of the day on Thursday.

Finally, there are rainfall warnings in place for Saint John, Grand Manan and coastal Charlotte County, Grand Falls and Victoria County, Fundy National Park and Edmundstonand Madawaska County.

Rainfall amounts of up to 30 millimetres are expected over parts of southern New Brunswick.

In the northwest, precipitation will begin as flurries or freezing rain before quickly changing over to rain, according to Environment Canada.

"Rain will continue tonight before changing to snow Thursday morning. Total rainfall amounts up to 30 millimetresare expected over parts of northwestern New Brunswick."

Allen expects temperatures to fall, beginning Thursday afternoon, as a cold front moves through the region.

New Brunswick forecast

Northern New Brunswick

Today: Flurries and freezing rain will change over to periods of rain with accumulations of 15 to 25 mm expected. Winds will be from the northeast at 20 km/h, gusting to 40 km/hwith a high near 6 C.

Tonight: Rain will change over tosnow with snowfall accumulations of 5 to 10 cm expected. Winds will be from the northeast at 20 km/h, gusting to 40 km/h by morning with a low near 6 C.

Thursday: It will be mostly cloudy with periods of snow and a high near 5 C.

Fredericton and area

Today: Freezing rain in the morning, changing to periods of rain with accumulations of 10 to 20 mm. Winds will be from the south at 20 km/h, gusting to 40 km/h with a high of 7C.

Tonight: Periods of rain and the risk of freezing rain with southwest winds at 20 km/h, gusting to 40 km/h and a low near 1 C.

Thursday: It will be partly cloudy with fog patches and showers. There will be a chance of flurries as temperatures fall to 0 C by late afternoon.

Southern New Brunswick

Today: Periods of rain today with the risk of freezing rain this morning bringing accumulations of 10 to 15 mm, 20 to 30 mm along the Fundy coast. Winds will be from the southwest at 40 km/h, gusting to 60 km/h with a high of 9 C, 6 C along the Fundycoast.

Tonight: Rain and the risk of freezing rain in the southeast with fog patches. Winds will be from the southwest at 20 km/h, gusting to 40 km/h by morning with a low of 7 C, 0 C in the southeast.

Thursday: It will be partly cloudy with fog patches and showers. The temperature will fall to 5 C in the afternoon.