Weather Watch: Rain, snow, high winds and coastal flooding possible Friday BY STAFF The Guardian

A man with a red umbrella stands during the first snow of the winter at the Alexanderplatz in Berlin, Germany on Wednesday. Prince Edward Island may get its first taste of snow on Friday. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

Prince Edward Island’s first blast of winter is heading this way for Friday.

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for Friday.

Forecasters are warning of a mix of rain and snow, heavy winds and possible coastal flooding.

Meanwhile, the Confederation Bridge is warning of possible travel restrictions as wind gusts hit nearly 100 km-h over the Northumberland Strait.

A developing low-pressure centre off the American seaboard will deepen rapidly as it passes by the Atlantic Coast of Nova Scotia after midnight to lie just east of Cape Breton late Friday.

Northeasterly winds will develop overnight over the Island and strengthen considerably on Friday as the low approaches Cape Breton.

Most precipitation is expected to fall as a mix of rain and snow.

About 10-15 mm of rain is expected.  About 5 cm of snow is also expected on the Island by Friday evening.

Environment Canada is also warning of higher than normal water levels that are expected on the coastlines of the Gulf of St. Lawrence late Friday as very strong North to Northeast winds will bring high waves to north facing shores. 

Higher water levels will also be notable along the Northumberland Strait coast even though waves will not be as high.

The Confederation Bridge is also expected traffic restrictions.

Commencing at about 8 a.m. Friday winds are projected in the 70-90 km-h range gusting to 100 km-h.

Winds are expected to stay high until 11 p.m.

On land, winds are expected to be 50 km-h with gusts to 80 km-h.

Parts of Cape Breton are expecting more than 20 cm of snow by late Friday.

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